Have you ever looked forward to reading a book only to be disappointed? That was me reading ‘The Trophy Case’. The book cover and summary had me intrigued but I found the story disappointing for the mixed messages it gives readers. Written for a young teenage audience, it’s difficult to find Tessa likeable with the double standards and prejudices she displays throughout the book. Whilst younger readers may not identify this, older readers certainly will. Kelly Swan Taylor risks alienating groups of readers based on the social and economic observations she makes and the gap between the ‘well off’ and ‘financially challenged’. Tessa’s attitude toward taking any means necessary to solve a case further defines her character as questionable. She is not above breaking the same rules as the criminals described in the trophy case, using questionable means to obtain clues, and engaging her father – the chief of police – to garner information from his files. Every girl deserves to think she can be a heroine and have it all. She may not be an amateur detective or sports star, but after reading this she will be aware of society and the way it works. Kelly Swan Taylor introduces young women to the inequity of life through her book and that makes it worth reading. The message of where people live, influencing how they are viewed and treated in society is made blatantly clear in ‘The Trophy Case’. The recommended reader age of 10-16 is too wide. At most I would suggest 13 years of age as the top end of suitable reader age. It was evident I had expected too much from Kelly Swan Taylor’s book. My thought process was too critical for a book written for a younger audience. However, some book series deserve to have the magic maintained and this is one of them. After all, every young girl wants to have it all. ( )

The Trophy Case is book two of the Wright Detective series featuring our heroine Tessa Wright, and her friends, Skylar, Leah, and Riley. The early teens head up their own detective agency, the TSLR Detective Agency. With a natural penchant for sleuthing, they are on the case once more to delve into a missing basketball championship trophy. All, while coping with family changes, friendship, and boys! I remember the very same topics being the focus of my attention as a teen. Gone are the carefree days and now you are more aware of those tough topics. I think the author does a great job of illustrating such growth with her characters! I love the genuine mystery and there were two of them here. But it leaves you wanting more! Which is a good thing. I'm looking forward to more adventures from the TSLR Detectives! Big thanks to LibraryThing and the author, Kelly Swan Taylor for an advanced read! ( )

What a pleasure to meet Tessa and her incredible friends again ! It is summer break for the teenagers, but the TSLR Detective Agency members still have plenty of work to do. The Basketball team’s State Championship trophy has been stolen, and even Greeneville police force have no clue. Therefore a perfect job for Tessa !

I love how Tessa is evolving as a character and how her father takes her gift for mystery solving very seriously. She is definitively a strong heroine and a good role model for young readers. She is smart, hard working and never afraid of a new experience. But she is also far from perfect. I love how she is always doing her best, and recognize her mistakes when she acted wrongly. As she is searching to solve the mystery, she also deals with her family changes, as her new born baby brother Cam asks for a lot of attention. I love how she reacts as any teenager would, and also how her parents try to adapt to the big change.

In her novel, Kelly Swan Taylor explores thematics such as divorce, siblings relationships or first love. The book’s atmosphere reminds me of Carolyn Keene’s Nancy Drew’s mysteries, but also of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five or the Secret Seven that I read as a kid. There is also a little bit of Veronica Mars, especially with Tessa’s relationship with her father.

The Wright Detective is a very good mystery series for lovers of Middle Grade books. Kelly Swan Taylor’s characters are loveable and love how they grow from one book to another. I definitely cannot wait to read the next TSLR Detective Agency’s adventures ! ( )