It’s so fun for me to read this YA series by Jane Casey, because it really does seem like these books are written by a totally different author than that of her adult series about Detective Constable Maeve Kerrigan.

This is the third in a succession of books about sixteen-year-old Jess Tennant, a girl who moves with her single mom from London to the small wealthy seaside town of Port Sentinel, where her mom grew up. The two are living with Jess’s mom’s twin Tilly and Tilly’s big, likable family. Jess is naturally curious and a bit of a Veronica Mars. In the first book in the series, How To Fall, Jess solved the mystery of the apparent suicide of her cousin Freya the year before. In the second, Bet Your Life, Jess helped solve another mystery involving her peers. Now, a classmate, Gilly Poynter, goes missing, and Jess once again gets involved and aids the police in finding out what happened to Gilly. This time though, she no longer is protesting that she is not “Port Sentinel’s answer to Nancy Drew.” On the contrary, she is beginning to realize that becoming a detective is what she is meant to do with her life.

As with the previous books, the relationships among Jess and her friends, as well as with her family, continue to develop in interesting ways.

Evaluation: I wouldn’t classify this one as among Casey’s best. Jess’s nosiness seems a bit annoying (although it turned out to serve a useful purpose); there is not as much humor as in previous books; and the development with Jess's boyfriend Will’s mom struck me as a little unrealistic, or at least, I want to believe it was. I also think Casey still hasn’t decided on what sort of character Will’s dad is. Nevertheless, Jane Casey writes very likable books, with interesting and appealing characters. ( )

I really enjoyed the first two books in this Jess Tennant series, this one was just okay for me.
Jess finds herself yet again, in the middle of another mystery in the town of Port Sentinel that she moved into with her mother at the beginning of the school year.
This one started out better for me, eluded to a mystery that was better that actual reality. It was quite predictable to me and I still felt a little let down when it all came together. I did like the surprise revelation from Jess's dad near the end tho. I didn't expect that.
There are so many unlikable main characters in this book that I found it difficult to bond with them or care what happened to them. And I think Will and Jess need to just move on, they're at odds or fighting more often than they are together, I don't see any kind of lasting relationship there at all.
It was still an okay read, pretty quick too. I have heard so much about this author's Maeve Kerrigan series, I am eager to read them. ( )

As with the last book, romance was a bit much, but, in this case, nicely solved with a twist in the end I did not see coming.
So, again, 5 stars it is, with a bit dragging in the middle of the search for the missing girl.
The bad weather and the scenery makes me long for the UK.
Not to repeat myself, read my review of How to fall (and a little of
Bet your life).
Nice fast read, highly recommended, and while it could be read as a standalone, it is better for understanding to have read the others in the series. ( )