Res Judicata (Young Adult Novels) [Paperback]

Vicki Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

Cyril MacIntyre, son of firebrand lawyer Andy MacIntyre, smells something fishy about one of his mother's cases. And it's not just that there are sea lice in the coffee. When Cyril starts investigating the death of a millionaire inventor, he gives a whole new meaning to the term "legal aid." Long on smarts and short on—well, just plain short, Cyril tangles with deranged criminals, indulges in a little bit of B & E and confronts the scariest person in the world—his mother.

(20090401)

Editorial Reviews

Review

*no details* (Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee 20081024)

"Funny and clever, with twists and turn in the plot and just a bit of serious thrown in, Res Judicata is a worth sequel to Quid Pro Quo and fans will be left wanting more." (Canadian Children's Book News 20090501)

"A fast-paced narrative with a skillfully woven plot and a highly entertaining cast of offbeat characters...[Cyril is] an instantly likeable, wisecracking teen who infuses the story with humour." (Atlantic Books Today 20081227)

"Recommended." (CM Magazine 20081201)

"The perfect environment for humor and mix-ups and mystery. The novel features laugh-out-loud bits between mother and son and plenty of hilarious insights...Students who enjoy quick-witted writing and good mysteries will enjoy how well Vicki Grant cracks the case...Highly recommended." (Library Media Connection 20090101)

"...Filled with quirky characters and great detective work. Cyril's off-beat life provides a colorful backdrop for the action, and readers will be kept on their toes right up until the end." (Readingjunky's Reading Roost blog 20090201)

"The author's plot development is fast-paced, well-crafted and fun, and makes the whole novel one suitable for even less enthusiastic readers. Highly recommended." (Resource Links 20091001)

"Recommended." (Tucson Unified School District 20090201)

"A delightful, page-turning stand-alone sequel to Quid Pro Quo...This mix of wisdom beyond his years and familiarly realistic teen concerns makes Cyril a winning, engaging narrator." (VOYA 20090317)

"What a fun book from Orca Book Publishers!...A great choice for your more reluctant readers." (Puget Sound Council )

"Cyril's cheerful tolerance of his mother's irresponsibility and lack of organization makes him an extremely charming main character...This book is highly recommended." (The Bookmark (BCTLA) )

"A hilarious romp featuring a teenage sleuth and his friends. Recommended." (Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group )

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The guy had his hands around my neck and was slamming my head against the floor. I guess he couldn't decide whether he wanted to strangle me or bash my brains in. Either that, or he'd just got tired of killing people the usual way.

(20090401)

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551439409
• ISBN-13: 978-1551439402
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,763,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, December 30, 2008

By 

TeensReadToo "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Res Judicata (Young Adult Novels) (Paperback)

Cyril MacIntyre is furious at his mother, Andy. That's not unusual. She is always doing things that infuriate Cyril. She is careless, competitive, cheap, she's a constant worrywart, and she is forever involving Cyril in her crazy legal cases. Andy is an overzealous attorney who gets wrapped up with some of the most bizarre cases and weird clients, and somehow Cyril ends up helping her fight her courtroom battles.

Andy's most recent case has her defending a local college custodian. Newspaper stories first heralded Chuck Dunkirk as a hero, but his attempt to save the life of a famous scientist was quickly turned into an accusation of murder. It seems that Chuck was present when a small laboratory fire ignited, and when he came to the scientist's rescue by throwing a substance known as Power Powder in an attempt to put out the blaze, the opposite happened, resulting in an explosion that killed the poor man. Now the scientist's widow is pressing murder charges. Cyril's mother has taken the case.

Having helped with so many previous cases has given Cyril a certain knack for recognizing when things don't look quite right. That, combined with the fact that he has decided to use this case as the subject for a school project, cause Cyril to examine the details of the case even closer, and he soon begins to question the true identity of Chuck Dunkirk.

There are certain facts that don't quite add up.

RES JUDICATA, which in legal terminology means "the thing has been decided," is filled with quirky characters and great detective work. Cyril's off-beat life provides a colorful backdrop for the action, and readers will be kept on their toes right up until the end.

Cyril's adventures can also be enjoyed in another novel by Vicki Grant called QUID PRO QUO.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky"