June 1, 1990
Gr 5-9- -Jade and Deena find typical adolescent amusement in harmless crank calls until Deena's half-brother, Chuck, joining them, overhears a murder being committed. The three teenagers' bravado in seeking out the crime scene leads them into grave danger. This is a good thriller-type mystery in the style of Edith Maxwell's Just Dial a Number (Archway, 1988), but is limited by the stilted dialogue of the adult characters and an unconvincing, overwrought portrayal of the killer. The dominant theme, which could have been excellent, is undermined by inappropriate melodramatic scenes. However, high-traffic murder-mystery sections in young adult departments would not be downgraded by adding this title .-Alice Cronin, Mountainside Public Library, NJ