Carina Axelsson

Clues and red herrings and all the requisite twists and reveals make this a compelling read as Axelle and her sidekicks, supermodel Ellie, and journalist Sebastian race against time to discover the whereabouts of international designer Belle La Lune. It opens with a kidnapping
She was being pushed up a stairwell – Of that much Belle was sure.
“Come on, faster,” urged the gruff voice behind her. “Do you think we’re window shopping at Channel?”
The writing is simplistic and very literal, but it’s redeemed by the narrator’s sartorial humour, often at the expense of the fashion world, which the author knows first hand. The glamourous descriptions of clothing contrast sharply with the very real objectification of the models by agents, dressers and photographers. I was personally a little disappointed that the narrator who began as a fashion-hater who presents a deliberately mundane face to the world in order to maintain her cover as a detective, is so quickly absorbed into the world of high fashion. Early in the story she tells us
The problem with [best friend] Jenny’s ideas for self improvement is that they always involve my appearance.
“It’s your hair, Axelle. It’s too overwhelming. And those glasses – do they have to be so big? And heavy? And why can’t you let me do your makeup instead of…”
But these masks are quickly stripped off to reveal the long legs and high cheeks beneath Axelle’s resentment of her fashionista family.
Axelle is highly relatable, though, and her understatements, clichés and hyperboles offer a unique brand of humour that , most often turned against the fashion industry:
“I know I was angry when I called my aunt a dragon, but, honestly, my Aunt Venetia really is a dragon – and a dragon of the worst kind. She’s a fashion dragon – which means that instead of breathing plain old flames, she breathes silk and patent leather and address books filled with unpronounceable names.”
The author is at her best when presenting us with this backstage pass to Paris fashion week; her action scenes, however, tend toward the clichéd and banal.
“Belle was no longer alone.
Someone else had been dragged into the room. Not that she had any idea who was sharing this prison with her. They were refusing or unable to speak and there was no light: no window, no candle, no lamp.
Darkness engulfed her”
There’s nothing especially sophisticated about this novel, but it’s a fun read with some good twists. Axelle is a highly relatable character with a witty outlook on life that perfectly encapsulates pop culture’s simultaneous obsession and resistance to high fashion. Despite some structural issues (her best friend, for example, disappears once she gets to Paris; Axelle can instantly maintain her poise on the catwalk next to highly experienced models, despite her towering heels), Model Undercover: A crime of fashion will be enjoyed by Nancy Drew fans from years 5-9 who enjoy their mysteries without too much darkness.… (más)

I thought it is a great book. I recommend this book to people aged 13-16 because of the language used. Its an amazing book because a normal detective girl called Axelle really wants to be a detective like her great grandfather but her mother loves fashion and modelling and always gives Axelle opportunities for modelling even though Axelle hates it. Suddenly she goes to Paris to her aunt and stays in an appartment with her because her mother booked a fashion week for Axelle. In that time Belle La Lune is missing and she spends the whole week with a model. The models job is cancelled in Spain and spends time with Axelle as she grows more opportunities to be a model while solving the case of missing Belle. The aunt gives more clue away towards the end. This book features Carina Axelsson best places to go to in Paris and meanings of words in the fashion industry also some fashion phrases.… (más)

Model Undercover: London by Carina Axelsson felt like a very contrived novel. Axelle Anderson is a fashion model, but she prefers mysteries (solving them). It has been three months since her last case in New York and Axelle is itching for a new mystery. Axelle is hired by the Tallulah Tempest. Her brother, Gavin, is a fashion photographer and he was recently attacked. The police believe it was a random mugging, but Tallulah believes it was a deliberate attack. Her theory is proven when Gavin’s flat is also searched. Someone is searching for something! Gavin had given Tallulah a flash drive which she gives to Axelle. It contains photos from a shoot on fashion designer, Johnny Vane. There is one pic of an old photograph on the flash drive. Why does someone want to hide this old photo? Axelle sets out to find out what is so important about the photo and who is behind Gavin’s attack.

Model Undercover: London is a young adult novel. Unlike a lot of young adult novels, this novel is definitely not for adults (too immature). We get pages of Axelle thinking (about herself, her looks, boys, modeling, and a little bit about the mystery). The novel felt fake. I give Model Undercover: London 2 out of 5 stars. The novel lacked depth (lacking in details). I just found the book to be boring. There was not enough mystery in this mystery novel. There are other books in the Model Undercover series, but this novel can be read alone. Information from the other books are repeated a few times in this novel (especially at how well Axelle did at solving the mysteries).

I received a complimentary copy of Model Undercover: London from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.… (más)