Book of the Week: Investigating Julius Drake by Daisy Harris #Review

Author: Daisy Harris
Book: Investigating Julius Drake
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Publication date: October 3, 2016
Length: 258 pages

Synopsis

After arriving at Seattle’s prestigious Clinton Academy, fourteen-year-old Henry Walker realizes he won’t fit in. If he’s going to run with the rich and powerful, he’ll have to hide his modest background, his lack of interest in girls, and most importantly, his fascination with his handsome but troubled classmate Julius Drake.

When Julius draws Henry into the investigation of a classmate’s suicide attempt, Henry can’t resist the case—or Julius. Soon, Henry’s not only facing the truth about his feelings for Julius, but also risking his life to unmask a social media imposter. “The Other Woman” is manipulating his classmates, searching out their vulnerabilities, and driving them to desperate actions. Julius himself is at risk, what with his callous parents threatening to send him away, and his mental health taking a beating both at school and at home.

If Henry’s going to save the day and get the boy of his dreams, he’ll have to stop worrying what everyone thinks and stop pretending to be someone he’s not. Most of all, Henry will have to be honest about who he loves.

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Review

Investigating Julius Drake is quite the book. Where do I begin… This is a YA mystery novel and the best of it’s kind. Seriously, Daisy Harris really fleshed out these characters perfectly, nailed the plot, rocked the flow, and kept it entertaining to the end.

Who is Julius Drake? Well, he’s pretty much the center of this story though not told from his POV. Julius is a 14 year old kid who has lived in Seattle his whole life, known these same kids, gone to the same schools. Then there's Henry Walker, military kid also 14, gets into the same school as Julius through a scholarship. This is told in Henry’s POV.

There’s a mystery going on with the kids at the school and strange happenings from attempting suicides, runaways, and other seriousness. The culprit is on the internet and is quite the puppet master. Julius being the fabulous, hyper, brilliant person he is MUST find out what’s going on. He sort of gravitates toward Henry and Henry doesn’t mind at all. They are 14 and though Julius is out, Henry is confused. He knows he really likes Julius but Julius is a mystery in himself.

So we are going through this book trying to figure out who this person is who is terrifying these young kids while Henry is also figuring out Julius and the past that haunts him.

I love a great YA book. Henry is such a wonderful character. Not rich but strong, brave, loyal. I truly adored his character. There wasn’t a passive aggressive bone in his body. Even if he thought he’d get pummeled he stood up for himself. He was protective of his friends and in the end he always does the right thing. Such an admirable character. Someone you could look up to.

These boys, they have the stress of life and when they crack I found myself cracking with them. I wiped tears from my eyes right along with them.

There is a great level of suspense to this story as well which perfectly rounded out this book. I highly recommend this for ANYONE. It’s an all-around fabulous book!