Title: Eleanor Jones is NOT a Murderer

Author: Amy Doak

Reviewer: Rhonda Bruce

Audience: Older Readers (contains drug references)

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I thought you were a drug-dealing, knife-wielding psychopathic killer."

This time he does laugh. " Well, thank you Eleanor Jones for saying that." (Page 94)

An immensely readable Australian novel by author, Amy Doak.  Set in a small country town, it takes the new girl, Eleanor Jones, and has her involved in an attempted murder on her first day at a new school.  This is Eleanor's ninth school in five years. As she and her mum move so often, Eleanor has a technique for moving into new schools - stay on the outer and observe.  Unfortunately, another student that she meets on her first day and offers to help with his chemistry homework is stabbed that night and Eleanor has left the last text message on his mobile. Eleanor decides to investigate the stabbing with the help of an eclectic group of friends.  A real page-turner.