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A review by drops_everything_and_reads
It's Elementary by Elise Bryant
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
My mystery book reading binge continues! This time with It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant.
It pubbed last July from Berkley and I’m annoyed with myself that I didn’t read it sooner!
How much did I like this book? Well, I immediately looked up when book two comes out because it’s a series! Yay!
FYI, book two is The Game is Afoot and pubs July 8, 2025.
The MC, Mavis, is very relatable: a single mother, working a job she doesn’t love, tries to avoid the other “perfect” moms at the school drop-off, and constantly feels the pressure to Do It All and Do It Perfectly.
She inadvertently gets caught up in investigating the disappearance of the school principal after witnessing some sketchy behaviour from the president of the PTA.
Her partner in sleuthing is the good looking school psychologist who makes her feel things….
This is a pretty light-hearted mystery, and there’s a secondary mystery that allowed for some misdirection. I had a suspicion about the character who is the main culprit early on so I wasn’t surprised when I was proven correct, but the motive was definitely interesting. And I liked that there was nuance and things weren’t all wrapped up neatly.
The book doesn’t focus solely on the mystery, but also how Mavis navigates her life as a single mom to a young daughter, living with her father (who is a delight), a job where she feels unappreciated, her relationship with her daughter’s father, friendships, and more.
I’m thrilled this is a series!
It pubbed last July from Berkley and I’m annoyed with myself that I didn’t read it sooner!
How much did I like this book? Well, I immediately looked up when book two comes out because it’s a series! Yay!
FYI, book two is The Game is Afoot and pubs July 8, 2025.
The MC, Mavis, is very relatable: a single mother, working a job she doesn’t love, tries to avoid the other “perfect” moms at the school drop-off, and constantly feels the pressure to Do It All and Do It Perfectly.
She inadvertently gets caught up in investigating the disappearance of the school principal after witnessing some sketchy behaviour from the president of the PTA.
Her partner in sleuthing is the good looking school psychologist who makes her feel things….
This is a pretty light-hearted mystery, and there’s a secondary mystery that allowed for some misdirection. I had a suspicion about the character who is the main culprit early on so I wasn’t surprised when I was proven correct, but the motive was definitely interesting. And I liked that there was nuance and things weren’t all wrapped up neatly.
The book doesn’t focus solely on the mystery, but also how Mavis navigates her life as a single mom to a young daughter, living with her father (who is a delight), a job where she feels unappreciated, her relationship with her daughter’s father, friendships, and more.
I’m thrilled this is a series!