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Trouble is a Friend of Mine

Trouble is a Friend of Mine

by Stephanie Tromly

Sherlock meets Veronica Mars meets Ferris Bueller's Day Off in this story of a wisecracking girl who meets a weird but brilliant boy and their roller-coaster of a semester that's one part awkward, three parts thrilling, and five parts awesome.

When Philip Digby first shows up on her doorstep, Zoe Webster is not impressed. He's rude and he treats her like a book he's already read and knows the ending to. But before she knows it, Digby—annoying, brilliant and somehow...attractive? Digby—has dragged her into a series of hilarious and dangerous situations all related to an investigation into the kidnapping of a local teenage girl. A kidnapping that may be connected to the tragic disappearance of his own sister eight years ago.

When it comes to Digby, Zoe just can't say no. Digby gets her, even though she barely gets herself. But is Digby a hero, or is his manic quest an indication of a desperate attempt to repair his broken family and exercise his own obsessive compulsive tendencies?

A romance where the leading man is decidedly unromantic, a crime novel where catching the crook isn't the only hook, a friendship story where they aren't even sure they like each other—this is a contemporary debut with razor-sharp dialogue, ridiculously funny action, and the most charismatic dynamic duo you've ever met.

***Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year***

"I am in awe of Tromly because of what she has pulled off—a funny, realistic teen crime caper. Do you know how hard it is to get those right? It's basically impossible. But this book sings."—Jesse Andrews, author of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and The Haters

"In what reads like a combination of Veronica Mars and The Breakfast Club, debut author Tromly creates a screwball mystery with powerful crossover appeal."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"This debut novel sparkles. Absolutely nothing slows down the pace of this outrageous romp. . . . This is one of those rare books that promises something unique and actually delivers beyond expectation. At least one copy belongs in every young adult collection."—VOYA, starred review

"Fast-talking, suit-wearing Digby is an exasperating teenage Sherlock—sharply observant, impatient with social niceties, and unafraid of authority figures. . . . Fans of Veronica Mars and Elementary will find much to like here . . . Zoe's sarcastic first-person narration is fresh and funny . . . an offbeat and entertaining caper."—Kirkus

"An engrossing and satisfying read . . . Hand this one out along with a Chandler or Hammett classic and the first season of Veronica Mars."—BCCB, starred review

"A fast-paced story. . . . Readers will find a sharply drawn character in the irrepressible Zoe, who's as dubious about Digby's methods as she is curious about whether or not she can live up to his daredevilry."—SLJ

"With acerbic banter and a healthy dose of high-school high jinks, screenwriter Tromly weaves together traditional elements of teen stories to create a Breakfast Club for a new century."—Booklist

  • Pages: 336 Pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
  • Imprint: Kathy Dawson Books
  • ISBN: 9780698188730
Penguin Teen