Kirkus Review

Best friends Cameron Muñoz and Blair Johnson return to tackle another mystery in this follow-up to Missing Clarissa (2023). The traumatic events surrounding their solving of a cold case still deeply affect both Cam and Blair, albeit in different ways. Smart, unsentimental Cam finds herself prone to unwelcome waves of emotion as she tries to simply reason her way out of her newly developed anxiety attacks, while talented writer Blair longs for the fulfillment she experienced while producing their popular yet controversial podcast. Then Mattie, a freshman at Oreville High, where the girls are seniors, approaches them and begs for their help. This case involves investigating the strange appearance after five years of a girl who claims to be Lola, Mattie's missing sister. Lola's mom and brother believe the girl's claims, but Mattie isn't so sure. Blair convinces Cam to take the mystery on, even though Cam is distracted by her early-decision MIT application and worries about her long-distance girlfriend. The book includes several missives from Lola to Mattie interspersed between chapters that alternate between Cam's and Blair's third-person perspectives. This carefully structured tale paints Mattie's complicated family with a wash of dysfunction, which, along with Cam's realistic struggles with her mental health, will easily encourage readers to feel empathy. Cam is white and Mexican American; Mattie uses they/them pronouns, and they and Blair read white. A poignant, intricately plotted novel that will keep readers guessing. (Mystery. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.