At All Costs (Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys: Super Mystery #33) by Carolyn Keene

Title: At All Costs

Series: Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys Super Mystery

Author: Carolyn Keene

Release Date: October 1, 1997

Publisher: Archway Paperback

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★★★★☆

Synopsis:

While Nancy visits a friend at the University of Utah, Frank and Joe work undercover outside Salt Lake City at the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, where they investigate acts of sabotage by ecoterrorists and worse.

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My Review:

At All Costs is a Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Super Mystery that has been on my TBR since forever. There was just something about the cover that drew me to it. I guess I just loved the wintery vibes.

I eventually found it on Used Amazon at a good price. I instantly bought it, and because I've been busy catching up on other books, it's been left unread on my shelf for a long time until I picked it up. I'm glad I finally did!

In At All Costs, the Hardys and Nancy solve a mystery in Utah!

While Nancy visits an old friend, Allison Fernley, at the University of Utah, the Hardys are working undercover outside Salt Lake City at the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics to investigate acts of sabotage that could be done by ecoterrorists.

At All Costs was intriguing, with intense scenes and every chapter ending on a cliffhanger!

The mystery started right away with Allison's boyfriend, Tyler Conklin, going missing.

It was fishy; was Tyler Conklin innocent or guilty? He quit the Earth At All Costs group, but he sent a letter to the American Progress office, threatening to blow up the new ski-jump tower at the Sports Park!

I loved the brotherly love when Frank got buried in the avalanche, and Joe got worried about him. I felt the need to wrap Frank in a blanket.

I may not be a Frank/Nancy shipper like most fans in the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew fandom, but I love their connection. Thankfully, there was no romance between them in this one.

Finally, At All Costs may not be a five-star read, but I loved it.

I had to knock down a star because there were times when I felt the mystery was complicated, with so many things happening and a lot of connections to the mystery that I had to flip the pages back to remember. Also, in the beginning, we don't get the chance to know the character of Tyler Conklin, since his disappearance happened right away. In order for us readers to care about the characters, we have to know them. While it was suspenseful, the story would have been more intriguing if we knew Tyler.

Overall, I loved the wintry setting.

Would read again sometime in future.

***Spoiler***Deep inside, I knew Tyler was innocent. No criminal would be stupid enough to sign their name.***Spoiler***

The End of The Trail (The Hardy Boys #162) by Franklin W. Dixon

Title: The End of The Trail

Series: The Hardy Boys

Author: Franklin W. Dixon (Pen name)

Release Date: July 1, 2000

Publisher: Aladdin

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★★★☆☆

Synopsis:

Hiking the Appalachian Trail with their friends, Chet, Phil, and Biff, the Hardys hit a snag when daredevil Biff gets hurt. The old mining town of Morgan's Quarry is the nearest place for help. But even the run-down, isolated town turns menacing when two tough locals drop a bag full of money in front of the brothers!

Joe and Frank are stonewalled when they ask about the money. The roads are washed out, the phones are down, and a crumbling mansion hides a gold mine of secrets. Every fork in the road leads to more danger...and everyone in Morgan's Quarry seems bent on makng sure the boys don't make it out alive!

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My Review:

Another Hardy Boys done rereading.

It's been years since I read this, so I completely forgot the story. It was good to read it again and refresh my memory.

The End of The Trail starts with the Hardys hiking on the Appalachian Trail with their friends, Chet, Biff, and Phil. Then Biff gets hurt.

They're in the middle of nowhere, so where can they find help?

The Hardys and their friends eventually come across an old, strange town...

Two guys drop a bag full of money in front of them.

I loved the Hardys making a makeshift stretcher for Biff. That's exactly what they would do in this kind of situation!

Also, I enjoyed the humour about Chet's big appetite. Chet and food!

Based on the four stars I gave it before, I really enjoyed this Hardy Boys book at the time, but now, after reading it again...

I mean, I still enjoyed it, but it's not the best, to be honest.

The idea of an old, strange town was intriguing, but there was not much action. The mystery was pretty predictable with only one surprising twist.

I'm not sure if it was just me, but the ending was a bit rushed.

***Spoiler***What happened to Rhonda?***Spoiler***

Secrets That Find Us by Sahar Abdulaziz

Title: Secrets That Find Us

Author: Sahar Abdulaziz

Release Date: June 9, 2016

Publisher: Rukan Press

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★★☆☆☆

Synopsis:

Buried Secrets, protected lies, and cunning deception all play a pivotal role in Sahar Abdulaziz’s new Contemporary Fiction, Secrets That Find Us.

Seventeen years ago Terri Ann Stone began serving a life sentence, charged with the double homicide of her mother and stepfather. Up to now, Terri’s anger, hate, and relentless commitment to hiding the truth kept her alive behind bars. However, the bitterness that once fueled Terri's center begins to wane. Her pledge to secrecy dissolves. With no prospect of ever being set free, she reveals the entire ugly truth to the single person left in the world who still matters to her.

Riddled with intrigue and the ability to destroy, can the power of Terri’s secrets live on, or will disclosure at long last uncover the answers so desperately desired?

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My Review:

What a dark read. Sahar Abdulaziz's Secrets That Find Us is sure not for the sensitive heart.

I've been wanting to check out Sahar Abdulaziz for a long time, and Secrets That Find Us caught my eye. Purchased it on my Kindle and forgot about it for a while before eventually picking it up after a long time.

It took me almost a month to finish; I kept putting it down. I'm glad I finally finished it!

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I did not care for any of the characters (I hated Terri Ann Stone! She was so stupid!). Every time a chapter ended, I would gladly put it down.

If it weren't for all these juicy secrets, I would've stopped reading it, but curiosity kept me going as I wanted to know Terri's big secret. There were a lot of surprising twists. The only good thing I can say about it is that Sahar Abdulaziz has a way of making you turn the page.

Overall, it was a disturbing, disgusting story. Also, I didn't get the ending.