When Eleanor Jones receives a note warning her not to get involved, it makes her determined to do the opposite. The town of Coorinda has been experiencing car thefts and suspicious fires, with the latest one involving a possible murder of her neighbour.
This is a mystery to be solved, warning or not. Could the perpetrator be someone she knows?
From the first page of this book Amy Doak grabs you and doesn’t let go. Eleanor is the kind of character you root for, even when she makes risky choices. As the story unfolds, you want to scream at her and give her loads of hugs all at once.
The writing is sharp and cinematic, driven by Eleanor’s fierce voice, with scenes that play over and over again in your head long after you close the book. The plot is fast paced and has loads of secrets which make you want to flip the pages faster. The build up of suspense and complicated friendships is truly awesome as it explores the messy parts of growing up.
Reading this book made me think, ‘Have I ever been this brave?’ If you want to dive deep into a thrilling and mysterious book, this is the go-to. I would rate Eleanor Jones is Playing with Fire 11/10! It is the perfect mix of boldness, tension and teenage chaos all bundled up in one book.
Reviewed by Jeevikaa, Year 9,
Cerdon College Merrylands NSW
Age Guide 14+
Read our review of What Have They Done to Liza McLean?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Doak is a lifelong lover of books, reading and writing. Her debut YA crime novel Eleanor Jones Is Not A Murderer was released in September 2023 (followed by two further titles in the series: Eleanor Jones Can’t Keep A Secret and Eleanor Jones Is Playing With Fire). In late 2025, her stand alone YA mystery thriller: What Have They Done To Liza McLean? was released.
Eleanor Jones Is Not A Murderer won the 2024 Davitt Award for Best Crime Novel for YA Readers and the 2025 Singapore Red Dot Book Award for Mature Readers.
She lives in Central Victoria (Dja Dja Wurrung country).
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