Asp of Ascension - B.R. Myers - The Nefertari Hughes Mystery Series #1

Asp of Ascension
The Nefertari Hughes Mystery Series #1
B.R. Myers
Blue Moon Publishers
ISBN 9781988279
eISBN 9781988279527
ASIN B00YOFKOTO


This book was my introduction to the writings of B.R. Myers, but it will certainly not be my last! As far as young adult books go this one has a lot going for it. Good plot, intriguing mystery, slight romance, but not too much. Overall it is fairly clean content, a little kissing but that it is. Some violence but mostly just a great adventure with learning about friendship mixed in. And some incredible characters. I was attracted to this book by the cover and the description. The description begins with:

"Nefertari "Terry" Hughes has three rules for surviving high school:
#1 Don't attract attention.
#2 Don't get involved.
#3 Don't make trouble.

A year after the accident that left her crippled and took her mother's life, sixteen-year-old Terry just wants to keep her head down and survive her new high school. When she catches the eye of cute basketball star Zach - who happens to be the boyfriend of mean girl Allison - all hopes of flying under the radar are gone."

Nefertari - Terry just wanted to get through high school, or at least until she could convince her father to let her do online tutors like she did while her and her parents were on archaeological dig in Egypt. But now they are back in the states, her father is preparing a new exhibit at a small museum, Terry is in high school and her mother is dead.

This story has a bit of it all mixed together in just the right amounts. You have the new kid at school. The jock. A mean girl. The editor of the school newspaper. And the Best friend, even if she is a social outcast. And that is just the teenagers. You also have an Egyptian Prince, an Archaeologist, a Museum curator combined with lots of crazy rumours and stories. And at the centre Terry must solve the riddles, and put together the clues, and at every turn it seems like someone else she cares about is in danger. So we have the mystery of a theft 50 years earlier Cleopatra's Armband and the disappearance of a school girl. Two people who are unconscious and the doctor's cannot figure out why. Thugs attack a young man, and at the centre of this swirling storm Terry the girl that wanted to not attract attention or get involved.

I started reading this book without realizing what book in the series it was. I actually though it was book 2 because of all the reference to the accident that killed Terry's mom and destroyed her knee. After finishing I realized this is book one and the story moves forward from here not back to tell how we got here. But to be honest I wish we had books on each end of this story. We can hope for a prequel someday …

This book was a great little read. I know a number of people that I will be recommending it to directly. This book does an excellent job as a mystery and also tackling the theme of bullying. There is a great section at the end for study group or class room discussion. As an introduction to a new author this book has hooked me and I know I will be reading more by Myers soon!

Books by B.R. Myers:
Butterflies Don't Lie
Girl on the Run
Cursed
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Nefertari Hughes Mystery Series:
ASP of Ascension
Diadem of Death
Medallion of Murder
Relic of Revenge
…

Night Shift Series:
Night Shift
Black Firday

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