Elizabeth Webster and the Court of Uncommon Pleas

September 1, 2019

Gr 5-8-Henry Harrison, star swimmer at Elizabeth Webster's school, has asked her to tutor him. In reality, what he really needs is help with a ghost who has been haunting his house. Why Elizabeth? Because the ghost asked for her. Elizabeth's tutoring gig ends up being much more than she anticipated when she learns that her missing father and grandfather own the secret family law firm Webster & Son, Attorneys for the Damned. She has to learn to defend someone in court, run for her life from people and demons, and find the truth about the death of Henry's ghost. The quick-moving dialogue and witty banter keep the story moving at a quick clip. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing about who is responsible for the ghost's death and how she died. The courtroom for the underworld is an unusual setting, but it's still scary fun. VERDICT This blend of ghost story and mystery will satisfy readers who ask for "the scary stories." Recommended.-Julie Overpeck, Holbrook Middle School, Lowell, NC

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2019
A middle schooler discovers her calling. Elizabeth Webster is hoping to get through middle school with as little a reputation as possible, but that gets complicated when star athlete Henry Harrison approaches her one day in the middle of the crowded cafeteria for extra help with his math lessons. It's quickly revealed that Henry doesn't need Elizabeth for math but rather to investigate a ghost that's appeared in Henry's house and is asking for Elizabeth by name. As Elizabeth and Henry work to get to the bottom of things, Elizabeth discovers secrets in her own past involving a long-lost grandfather, demons, spirits, an unsolved murder, and a profession that Elizabeth might just be destined for. Former federal prosecutor Lashner brings his legal expertise to the tale, crafting a spooky legal thriller for middle-grade readers that is just technical enough to feel grounded in reality and just unearthly enough to keep readers on their toes. This blend of ghostly apparitions and legal exposition should absolutely not work--but yet it does, engaging readers in a compelling mystery and a world that functions seamlessly. Twists and turns arise, but narrator Elizabeth's spunky attitude and earnestness provide an emotional spine that couples with the novel's mystery, dovetailing together at the right moment, making for a very engaging read. Elizabeth presents white; her best friend, Natalie, is Latinx; and Henry is black. A superb mystery. (Mystery. 10-13)

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September 15, 2019
Grades 5-8 Lashner's magical and mystical legal adventure may sound daunting to some young readers, but those who stick with it will be treated to a dark mystery filled with spooks, spectres, and middle-school silliness galore. Relatable, admirable protagonist Elizabeth Webster transforms over the course of the story to accept her place in the family business, Webster & Son, Lawyers for the Damned. With the help of her goofy and extroverted (not to mention resourceful) best friend, Natalie, along with the unlikely ally of the school's star swimmer and budding Casanova, Henry Harrison, Elizabeth goes from being as invisible as the ghosts she now deals with to being a lauded lawyer, daughter and stepdaughter, sister, and friend as a result of her newfound talents and confidence. Lashner's middle-school narrative voice feels organic and his legal experience lends credibility. Replete with demons, gruesome family secrets, a house haunting, and the mysteries of both a murder cold case and the recent disappearance of her father, this book puts Elizabeth on the case?and it's a matter of life or death.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)