I was super excited when I was given a copy of Lili Wilkinson’s new novel, The Zigzag Effect. Having thoroughly enjoyed her past two girl detective stories, with their clever plots and flirty romances, I was keen to see what she had thought up this time.

Sage has moved from sunny Queensland to wintery Melbourne with her family, a move made brighter due to the exciting prospect of doing a short workshop with her favourite photographer. But when her mum explains that they can’t afford the course, Sage lands a holiday job at a theatre in the city, helping out with the magic show that resides there. All is going perfectly until a wand gets broken onstage, a sign of bad luck. Armand the Magician goes missing and Bianca, the magician’s assistant, finds a series of creepy notes on her desk. The crew begin to wonder if they have the theatre ghost on their hands.

Where has Armand gone? Who is sending Bianca those notes? Why is Jason Johns, the rival magician, hanging around all of a sudden? Is there really a ghost? Will Herb hurry up and kiss Sage already?

These are just some of the questions that arise in this clever and super fun detective novel. For ages 13 and up.

Katherine Dretzke