What do you think?
Rate this book
Dani Spevak Mysteries #2
Pointe of No Return
When her nemesis Hadley mysteriously disappears, Dani is assigned to dance her role in The Nutcracker. But something doesn’t feel right, so Dani decides to investigate, even if it means she won’t get to perform. Will she find Hadley before the curtain rises?
- GenresMysteryYoung Adult
148 pages, ebook
First published May 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Brice
23 books44 followersAs a little girl, Amanda Brice dreamed of being either a ballerina or the author of a mystery series featuring a cool crime-solving chick named Nancy Flew, but her father urged her to “do something practical,” so she went to law school and spent her days writing briefs and pleadings instead of fiction.
But dance and writing have remained a part of her life. Amanda was a member of the ballroom dance team at Duke University, and continues this interest by her obsession with Dancing with the Stars, so it was only natural for her to set a teen mystery series at a dance school.
Amanda is the Vice President of Washington Romance Writers, and is a two-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award. She blogs every other Wednesday with the Fictionistas and every other Friday with Killer Fiction. She is also a popular conference presenter, speaking on basic copyright and trademark law for writers.
In her spare time, Amanda enjoys dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, and obsessing over whether Duke will beat Carolina in basketball. Go Devils!
But dance and writing have remained a part of her life. Amanda was a member of the ballroom dance team at Duke University, and continues this interest by her obsession with Dancing with the Stars, so it was only natural for her to set a teen mystery series at a dance school.
Amanda is the Vice President of Washington Romance Writers, and is a two-time finalist for Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® Award. She blogs every other Wednesday with the Fictionistas and every other Friday with Killer Fiction. She is also a popular conference presenter, speaking on basic copyright and trademark law for writers.
In her spare time, Amanda enjoys dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, and obsessing over whether Duke will beat Carolina in basketball. Go Devils!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 22, 2013
This is the long awaited sequel to code name dancer: It felt like forever before this book came out and I was so curious to what troubles Dani was going to get her self into as well as see how the potential relationship of Craig was going to pan out.
When there is trouble you will find Dani and her friends. After Dani's last escapade she and others feels like she is a natural detective. So when her frenemy goes missing of course the most logical option is to find her (NOT!) That makes sense why leave it to the police when the 14 yr old detective can solve the case.
Dani and her friends find the clues and save the day. While saving the day Dani makes assumptions and accuses Craig of the crime without thinking it through but you can't really blame her because when I was 14 yrds old I made a tons of bad choices.
When there is trouble you will find Dani and her friends. After Dani's last escapade she and others feels like she is a natural detective. So when her frenemy goes missing of course the most logical option is to find her (NOT!) That makes sense why leave it to the police when the 14 yr old detective can solve the case.
Dani and her friends find the clues and save the day. While saving the day Dani makes assumptions and accuses Craig of the crime without thinking it through but you can't really blame her because when I was 14 yrds old I made a tons of bad choices.
March 21, 2017
Inspiring
Begin an ex Ballet Dancer I had to see what this book was about. Truly delightful! A great read very interesting!
Begin an ex Ballet Dancer I had to see what this book was about. Truly delightful! A great read very interesting!
January 17, 2013
When this book came up as the November selection for the Washington Loves Romance bookclub, I hesitated. I seldom read young adult books, and this book borders on mid grade (young teen and pre-teen). I wasn’t sure how I’d like reading a young adult book with a 14 year old protagonist who goes to an elite arts school to practice dance (ballet specifically) and solves mysteries. But hey, I did have fond memories of Nancy Drew, so I took the plunge.
I’m glad I did. Dani Spevak is a typical young teen (extraordinary dance skills aside). She’s a freshman at a nationally recognized dance school in Arizona, a boarding school where the kids have a grueling academic, as well as arts schedule. Tryouts are on for the Nutcracker production, and although good, Dani realizes that this first year, she’ll probably be assigned a snowflake role. Imagine her surprise when she discovers she’s an understudy to the Sugar Plum Fairy role, and the dreaded diva Hadley Turner. It’s a great honor to be an understudy to the lead, especially as a Freshman, but since she’s been given no other role, Dani will work hard for the production and never make it on stage. Unless, that is, something happens to Hadley. Hadley vanishes, and Dani enthusiastically begins investigating her disappearance, as much because she loves amateur detective work as to clear her name as a suspect.
The plot is nicely put together, and everything moves along at a steady pace. There is a bit of a love interest, and a whole host of friends and frenemies. This book is written from the point of view of a 14 year old, and not an adult stuck into a young body. The language, the tone, the thought process is absolutely true to the age of the heroine. That’s a skilled bit of writing on Brice’s part. I’ve got a 15 year old son, teen nieces, and since I horseback ride, I hang out at the stable with a lot of teenage girls. Teens are desperately trying to find themselves, and their place in a competitive and fast moving society. Dani Spevak is no different.
The one complaint I have about the book is something that I’ve found typical with teens, especially girls. Dani meets Hadley’s mom and can’t see anything past the designer clothes, the bumpit hair, the botox and fake boobs. Kristen Taylor comes across as vapid, shallow as a saucer. There’s got to be something deeper, something about Hadley’s mom that we can connect with, but we just can’t see it through a 14 year old lens. Later in the book we see Kristen Taylor a wreck, crying over the disappearance of her daughter, but even that seems flat. Yes, I know, the protagonist is 14, and I should give her a break, but I wanted Dani to be more sleuth-like in her assessment of others. I wanted her to shrewdly see beyond the surface.
That made it difficult for me as an adult to fall in love with the book, but I did enjoy it, and I think it will absolutely appeal to teens and to those adults that love young adult fiction. Rating it within the genre and as a book suitable for ages ten to fourteen,
I’m glad I did. Dani Spevak is a typical young teen (extraordinary dance skills aside). She’s a freshman at a nationally recognized dance school in Arizona, a boarding school where the kids have a grueling academic, as well as arts schedule. Tryouts are on for the Nutcracker production, and although good, Dani realizes that this first year, she’ll probably be assigned a snowflake role. Imagine her surprise when she discovers she’s an understudy to the Sugar Plum Fairy role, and the dreaded diva Hadley Turner. It’s a great honor to be an understudy to the lead, especially as a Freshman, but since she’s been given no other role, Dani will work hard for the production and never make it on stage. Unless, that is, something happens to Hadley. Hadley vanishes, and Dani enthusiastically begins investigating her disappearance, as much because she loves amateur detective work as to clear her name as a suspect.
The plot is nicely put together, and everything moves along at a steady pace. There is a bit of a love interest, and a whole host of friends and frenemies. This book is written from the point of view of a 14 year old, and not an adult stuck into a young body. The language, the tone, the thought process is absolutely true to the age of the heroine. That’s a skilled bit of writing on Brice’s part. I’ve got a 15 year old son, teen nieces, and since I horseback ride, I hang out at the stable with a lot of teenage girls. Teens are desperately trying to find themselves, and their place in a competitive and fast moving society. Dani Spevak is no different.
The one complaint I have about the book is something that I’ve found typical with teens, especially girls. Dani meets Hadley’s mom and can’t see anything past the designer clothes, the bumpit hair, the botox and fake boobs. Kristen Taylor comes across as vapid, shallow as a saucer. There’s got to be something deeper, something about Hadley’s mom that we can connect with, but we just can’t see it through a 14 year old lens. Later in the book we see Kristen Taylor a wreck, crying over the disappearance of her daughter, but even that seems flat. Yes, I know, the protagonist is 14, and I should give her a break, but I wanted Dani to be more sleuth-like in her assessment of others. I wanted her to shrewdly see beyond the surface.
That made it difficult for me as an adult to fall in love with the book, but I did enjoy it, and I think it will absolutely appeal to teens and to those adults that love young adult fiction. Rating it within the genre and as a book suitable for ages ten to fourteen,
December 18, 2012
In Pointe of No Return, Amanda Brice's awesome sequel to Codename: Dancer, Dani Spevak's arch nemesis Hadley is cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Mountain Shadows Academy of the Arts production of the Nutcracker. Dani's friends get roles as Snowflakes, soldiers, flowers, and ensemble members, and Dani is happy to be cast as the understudy for Sugar, but disappointed that she won't have a role. Unless, Hadley is unable to play the part. Never in a million years would Dani imagine something would happen to stuck-up, rich, snotty Hadley. But then Hadley disappears. Though Dani wants the part in the ballet, she can't stand to let an unsolved mystery opportunity pass before her. Dani rounds up her friends, and they investigate to find Hadley. Will they find her in time? Or will Dani get to play the role, only to muffled by the cacophony of Hadley's strange disappearance?
I absolutely loved this book. The ending caught me completely off guard, and it was such a clever plot twist. Though a short read on my Kindle, Pointe of No Return builds up in great rising action the details of the production, the disappearance, and Hadley's obnoxious friends and family. Throughout the plot, I felt like one of Dani's friends, helping her solve the mystery along the way. So just as it surprised her, I never saw the ending coming. But boy, was it a good ending! As a dancer myself, I greatly respected Brice for her use of dance terminology, though it felt like she was only 90% sure of what she was talking about. Nonetheless, I give her props for trying. I have looked long and hard for a good dance author, and at last I have found my hero. Now, if she could just get the books rolling out a little faster... I would put this on a MUST-READ LIST for dancers, and i would recommend it to girls 13+, especially those who like mystery.
I absolutely loved this book. The ending caught me completely off guard, and it was such a clever plot twist. Though a short read on my Kindle, Pointe of No Return builds up in great rising action the details of the production, the disappearance, and Hadley's obnoxious friends and family. Throughout the plot, I felt like one of Dani's friends, helping her solve the mystery along the way. So just as it surprised her, I never saw the ending coming. But boy, was it a good ending! As a dancer myself, I greatly respected Brice for her use of dance terminology, though it felt like she was only 90% sure of what she was talking about. Nonetheless, I give her props for trying. I have looked long and hard for a good dance author, and at last I have found my hero. Now, if she could just get the books rolling out a little faster... I would put this on a MUST-READ LIST for dancers, and i would recommend it to girls 13+, especially those who like mystery.
May 25, 2012
I don't know what I was thinking when I downloaded this book, maybe because it was free or maybe because one of the characters was named Hadley, the same name as my new grand-daughter. Anyway, I obviously didn't catch that this was a young teen novel.
In a nutshell, Dani is a 14-year-old girl attending an arts high school in Arizona. She is chosen as the understudy for the Sugar Plum Fairy, only the girl who is actually dancing the part has disappeared. Dani has already solved one mystery and now to prove she didn't off Hadley so that she can dance the part - Dani sets out to solve the mystery.
Can you say Nancy Drew in the 21st century? Except, Dani is younger and can't drive and is still in school and doesn't have a boyfriend, although there is a charming, cute guy who helps out.
This is part of a series and all of the titles have a dance word in the title.
Would I read this author again? Yes! The writing was good. I was impressed with the vocabulary she uses. The story is intriguing enough to keep me guessing who did it.
When my Hadley gets old enough, this is a book I'd let her read. It touches on some of the problems young people face - this one touches on eating disorders, but doesn't have bad language or sex. The violence is minimal. Dani gets hit over the head and there is a gun, but it never gets used.
In a nutshell, Dani is a 14-year-old girl attending an arts high school in Arizona. She is chosen as the understudy for the Sugar Plum Fairy, only the girl who is actually dancing the part has disappeared. Dani has already solved one mystery and now to prove she didn't off Hadley so that she can dance the part - Dani sets out to solve the mystery.
Can you say Nancy Drew in the 21st century? Except, Dani is younger and can't drive and is still in school and doesn't have a boyfriend, although there is a charming, cute guy who helps out.
This is part of a series and all of the titles have a dance word in the title.
Would I read this author again? Yes! The writing was good. I was impressed with the vocabulary she uses. The story is intriguing enough to keep me guessing who did it.
When my Hadley gets old enough, this is a book I'd let her read. It touches on some of the problems young people face - this one touches on eating disorders, but doesn't have bad language or sex. The violence is minimal. Dani gets hit over the head and there is a gun, but it never gets used.
April 2, 2013
My Thoughts on the Series:
See my review of Codename: Dancer (Dani Spevak #1) here
What I said in that review mostly applies to books 2 and 3 in the series as well. The series can be read by anyone but it feels like it’s mostly geared towards the younger end of young adult. All three books in the series are easy and quick reads.
Each book has a bit of a modern Nancy Drew feel to them. Most people would stay as far away from sticky situations as possible but not Dani, the main character, she sleuths her way through them and to the truth. I also think it’s funny (and maybe a tad irresponsible) that Dani’s grandma encourages her.
I enjoyed the dance references in books 1 and 2. The third book steers away from that little and I kind of missed it but I was still able to enjoy the dance aspect that was there.
Overall it’s an enjoyable series and one that I’ll continue to follow as new books are released.
Overall Series Rating: 3.75 out of 5
You can see this review and more on my blog:
http://lratrandom.blogspot.com/
See my review of Codename: Dancer (Dani Spevak #1) here
What I said in that review mostly applies to books 2 and 3 in the series as well. The series can be read by anyone but it feels like it’s mostly geared towards the younger end of young adult. All three books in the series are easy and quick reads.
Each book has a bit of a modern Nancy Drew feel to them. Most people would stay as far away from sticky situations as possible but not Dani, the main character, she sleuths her way through them and to the truth. I also think it’s funny (and maybe a tad irresponsible) that Dani’s grandma encourages her.
I enjoyed the dance references in books 1 and 2. The third book steers away from that little and I kind of missed it but I was still able to enjoy the dance aspect that was there.
Overall it’s an enjoyable series and one that I’ll continue to follow as new books are released.
Overall Series Rating: 3.75 out of 5
You can see this review and more on my blog:
http://lratrandom.blogspot.com/
May 29, 2013
I liked this one even better than the first one. This is such a nice series. There are very likable characters, and real nice little mystery. It was a very light, clean, entertaining read.
My own daughter took Ballet for years so this brought back lots of memories for me.
The character development is very good. I love that these take place in a boarding school - so the kids can get into more trouble without their parents!
The flow of this book was very nice. It was not slow or boring at all. I also thought the mystery part was written very well, it seemed well thought out, and had a great ending.
There was also the makings of a cute little romance... maybe? I guess we will see in the third book how it pans out (even though I think she is a little young at 14 to be dating).
I do think this book would be great for older or younger teen readers (or even adults, as you can see how much I liked it). There is no sex and I only found one swear word.
My own daughter took Ballet for years so this brought back lots of memories for me.
The character development is very good. I love that these take place in a boarding school - so the kids can get into more trouble without their parents!
The flow of this book was very nice. It was not slow or boring at all. I also thought the mystery part was written very well, it seemed well thought out, and had a great ending.
There was also the makings of a cute little romance... maybe? I guess we will see in the third book how it pans out (even though I think she is a little young at 14 to be dating).
I do think this book would be great for older or younger teen readers (or even adults, as you can see how much I liked it). There is no sex and I only found one swear word.
December 4, 2013
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of the book from the author, since I am the translator of the upcoming Spanish version. My review is in no way biased by that fact.
I don't belong to the intended audience for this book, but I thought it was a cute story. I am fond of ballet since I went to ballet lessons when I was about 5 years old. Dani is a hormone-driven teenager that loves investigating mysteries as much as she loves dancing. So when her arch-enemy, Hadley, disappears, she cannot do another thing but try to discover what happened to her. Meet Dany in this fast-paced adventure and learn more about life in a boarding School for the Arts.
I found the ending totally predictable, and I even guessed who was behind Hadley's kidnapping, but maybe it is just because this book is not intended to be read by adults, but teenagers. Notwithstanding, it's an easy read that can keep you entertained if you are looking for a fresh new book to read.
I don't belong to the intended audience for this book, but I thought it was a cute story. I am fond of ballet since I went to ballet lessons when I was about 5 years old. Dani is a hormone-driven teenager that loves investigating mysteries as much as she loves dancing. So when her arch-enemy, Hadley, disappears, she cannot do another thing but try to discover what happened to her. Meet Dany in this fast-paced adventure and learn more about life in a boarding School for the Arts.
I found the ending totally predictable, and I even guessed who was behind Hadley's kidnapping, but maybe it is just because this book is not intended to be read by adults, but teenagers. Notwithstanding, it's an easy read that can keep you entertained if you are looking for a fresh new book to read.
January 22, 2013
This YA book was one of my favorites in a group I was given to review for Read2Review. It was very easy to slip into and enjoy the ballet and mystery as well as a little love story. Amanda Brice brings all her characters to life! Pointe of No Return lets you see the background feelins of the "bunheads" as they try for roles in the Nutcracker. Yes, it's the classic teen angst, love, and rivalry, but with a very interesting twist! Reading this was a great reminder of growing up reading Nancy Drew Mysteries. The character of Dani just captured my attention with her issues trying to become the best she can be while competing with older, more experience girls. All the characters came together to help when needed and exposed the true villan. Any more and I'll spoil the twist ending! Definitely a great little read!!
January 27, 2013
This YA book was one of my favorites in a group I was given to review for Read2Review. It was very easy to slip into and enjoy the ballet and mystery as well as a little love story.
Amanda Brice brings all her characters to life! Pointe of No Return lets you see the background feelins of the “bunheads” as they try for roles in the Nutcracker. Yes, it’s the classic teen angst, love, and rivalry, but with a very interesting twist! Reading this was a great reminder of growing up reading Nancy Drew Mysteries.
The character of Dani just captured my attention with her issues trying to become the best she can be while competing with older, more experience girls. All the characters came together to help when needed and exposed the true villan.
Any more and I’ll spoil the twist ending! Definitely a great little read!!
4/5
Amanda Brice brings all her characters to life! Pointe of No Return lets you see the background feelins of the “bunheads” as they try for roles in the Nutcracker. Yes, it’s the classic teen angst, love, and rivalry, but with a very interesting twist! Reading this was a great reminder of growing up reading Nancy Drew Mysteries.
The character of Dani just captured my attention with her issues trying to become the best she can be while competing with older, more experience girls. All the characters came together to help when needed and exposed the true villan.
Any more and I’ll spoil the twist ending! Definitely a great little read!!
4/5
March 17, 2016
2.5 stars
Another cute story, though again I'm not really in the target age group. A bit of a Nancy Drew story combined with a dance story. Dani has been named the understudy for the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in her arts school's performance of the Nutcracker, with her nemesis Hadley getting the part. When Hadley disappears, Dani is slightly torn between enjoying her good fortune with taking over the role and continuing her newfound love of investigating, picked up in the first book Codename: Dancer. I did guess the final whodunnit, but not the why. Overall a cute story, and probably much more enjoyable for readers in their early teens.
Another cute story, though again I'm not really in the target age group. A bit of a Nancy Drew story combined with a dance story. Dani has been named the understudy for the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in her arts school's performance of the Nutcracker, with her nemesis Hadley getting the part. When Hadley disappears, Dani is slightly torn between enjoying her good fortune with taking over the role and continuing her newfound love of investigating, picked up in the first book Codename: Dancer. I did guess the final whodunnit, but not the why. Overall a cute story, and probably much more enjoyable for readers in their early teens.
May 17, 2012
You know that moment when you’re reading a book and you realize that it isn’t just really good? It’s brilliant. I just had a moment like that in Pointe of No Return. Amanda Brice charms and entertains with this clever, fast-paced mystery. I adored Codename Dancer, but this sequel blew me away. Dani Spevak, a talented fourteen-year-old with issues of her own, gets drawn into another crime investigation. Don’t miss out on her adventures or the romantic misadventures along the way. Amanda Brice brings YA mystery like nobody else. I can’t wait for book three in the series, Pas de Death.
August 9, 2013
Previewed to check if it was clean enough for my daughter. This series is great for young teenage girls who love dance and mysteries. Nothing heavy, but dance themed information. Hoping she'll enjoy it!
April 2, 2013
I read this book because I used to dance classical ballet. I was not disappointed by the ballet subplot but it is a very "young adult" book, simple, basic.
May 23, 2015
Awesome!
great book!
I really liked it and would totally recommend if you love dance or mystery! I enjoyed it a lot
great book!
I really liked it and would totally recommend if you love dance or mystery! I enjoyed it a lot
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews