THE HAUNTED STUDIO

Things take an eerie turn when the production of a TV show moves onto a purportedly haunted stage.

Hayley LeBlanc (depicted on the book’s cover as light-skinned with brown hair), who shares the same name as the book’s author, teen actress and social media personality LeBlanc, is the star of Sadie Solves It, a TV show about a young amateur sleuth. She and her castmates Aubrey Rivera (who has brown skin and dark hair) and Cody Smith (who has blue eyes and blond hair) learn that years ago, an up-and-coming teen star named Betty died on Stage 5 in an accident; rumor has it that her ghost sabotages Stage 5 productions. Though Aubrey is excited to meet the ghost and Cody believes there is an explanation for the odd occurrences, Hayley is uncertain how she feels. On the first day of filming, Amelia Hart (who has brown pigtails and gray eyes), who plays Sadie’s younger sister, Pepper, faints, and when she comes to, she claims she saw a ghost. As ghostly encounters, stage accidents, and production delays mount, Hayley begins to wonder if Betty has it in for the show or if someone else could be to blame. This first book in a trilogy starts off well. The mystery unfolds nicely, with just enough exposition to introduce the characters but not bog down the pace. Hayley and her character, Sadie, both encounter mysteries, which blend together well, leading to a satisfying conclusion. The characters are especially interesting and likable.

A fun Hollywood-set mystery.