Reviews for Mayhem and madness : chronicles of a teenaged supervillain

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

An average teen unravels the mystery of his missing father.High school junior Bailey's father disappeared seven years ago without any clues as to where he went. There were no warning signs, his parents were happy together, and his father loved him. So where did Dad go? Bailey's spent the time without his dad trying to suppress his abandonment issues and move forward, but when he discovers a secret basement under his house that contains an Iron Man-esque supersuit, Bailey starts to piece the puzzle together. The suit is identical to the one worn by the long-forgotten villain Mayhem, a domestic terrorist who'd smash up banks, steal the money, and deliver it to orphanages and other downtrodden folks via wire transfers and anonymous donations. It isn't long before Bailey tries on the suit and steps into his father's shoes, looking for more answers to his questions. The mystery unravels at a steady pace, never letting readers get too far ahead or moving too quickly so that they become lost. There are some clever twists and turns here along with strong character work. Bailey is a compelling protagonist, and the author smartly shades his parents enough to make their relationship just as interesting. The novel's end points to a possible sequel, but the emotional arcs have a solid conclusion that will leave readers feeling satisfied. Characters are assumed white.A nifty mystery with pleasant superhero twists. (Adventure. 12-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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