Book Review: Gilda Joyce series Book 2

TITLE: The Ladies of the Lake
AUTHOR: Jennifer Allison
PART IN SERIES: Book 2 in the Gilda Joyce series
PUBLISHED: 2006
GENRE: Childrens, series, mystery, paranormal (to an extent)
PREMISE: Sassy girl detective Gilda Joyce returns and this time she's stuck going to a snobby private school. But things aren't so bad because there may or may not be a ghost there.
MY REVIEW: This book series isn't that well known and it's a shame because it's real fun. To best describe it, think if Nancy Drew was combined with Harriet the Spy and Haruhi Suzimiya from the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzimiya (and book of the same name which the anime is based on, read the novels they're hysterical). Yeah, I know, scary thought but it WORKS (and Gilda, while zany is not nearly as crazy as Haruhi...but then very few people are). Gilda is the main reason to read this series. She is hysterical. Even when there are slightly boring parts, her commentary will crack you up. She even writes a letter to the pope that is priceless. To give you a hint, the subject is on women priests.
While the book is hysterical, I do give that the writing is average and sometimes the outcome is pretty obvious. The ghosts are also a secondary thing. But that's fine because of Gilda's fun character. You also get her family drama and how she interacts with others. It's especially fun seeing adult's reactions to her.
So long story short, no the series isn't super amazing. But it is a fun mystery series for kids and will have you laughing.
WHO SHOULD READ: Nancy Drew fans, Harriet the Spy fans, kids/young adults looking for a fun light mystery read
MY RATING: Four out of Five mystery notebooks

FOR THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES:
12 by 12 in March
One Hundred Plus Books
Finish that Series