Synopsis: Jas thinks that everyone has a super power. Everyone, that is, except herself - unless you count her extraordinary ability to get herself in trouble. But the last thing Jas expected to do on her family holiday in glitzy Las Vegas was to survive a cat attack and solve a celebrity murder mystery. As she finds herself tracking an unknown killer through a bevy of Vegas parties, Jas develops a huge crush on the possibly evil - but gorgeous - Jack, and manages to collect some valuable life lessons for her "Summer Meaningful Reflection Journal" along the way. Little Life Lesson Number 5: when you go to prison, try not to be wearing a bikini. But despite a few 'mishaps', Jas finally solves the case. And to top it all off, Jack isn't evil, and has a bit of a crush on Jas too. Perhaps she does have some super powers after all...

Review: Michelle Jaffe’s first detective novel incorporates something for everyone – packed within the pages are comedy, romance, mystery, fashion and humour, making this a whirlwind blend of teen chick-lit fodder.

Jas tells her story in the first person. She’s 17, and has wanted to be a detective since she was a small child. While on holiday with her father and stepmother, Jas somehow manages to get herself tangled up in a murder mystery – and all because of a boy and his three-legged cat. Jas then finds herself head over heels in love with Jack, a handsome British guy – who seems to be hiding something. Jasmine’s closest friends decide to come and join the party, and together they try and solve the mystery.

The book is littered with footnotes, which act as conversations between the characters, adding to the main action. While these are humorous in parts, they can also be incredibly distracting and disappointingly, take the focus away from what the reader is supposed to be concentrating on. They remove you from the story, and aren’t a technique usually seen in fiction used to this extent. On the whole, although they’re amusing, they’re rather an irritation and prove why they’re usually confined to academic textbooks!

Bad Kitty concentrates on being fun and full of action, rather than being believable. It has witty dialogue, and the characters are drawn well, but several aspects of the storyline are completely implausible. However, any reader who can pu t this to one side and just go along for the ride will thoroughly enjoy this one. Even Meg Cabot recommends it!

2006-11-19