In full preparation mode for the upcoming Debutante Ball and with the Cooinda River in flood now that the drought has broken, Eleanor Jones and her friends have other things on their minds.
The last thing they need is a suspicious death, but Eleanor Jones simply can’t say no when she’s approached by the teen street artist’s girlfriend who refuses to believe that her boyfriend’s death was either by accident or his own hand.
Keeping an eye on the rising water, Eleanor and her friends, Liv, Troy, Ethan and Namita, set about asking questions and checking out Xavi's artwork.
Their investigations lead them first to a rival street artist but as they probe further, it seems he is definitely not the only suspect.
Amy Doak’s Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning is the fourth in this popular Young Adult crime series and, like Eleanor’s earlier adventures, does not disappoint when it comes to high tension and plot twists that keep the readers guessing right until the end.
In Eleanor Jones, author Amy Doak has created a protagonist with characteristics every reader will either relate to or recognise. A bit of a reluctant hero, Eleanor Jones is driven not only by her sense of intrigue and moral compass, but by her friends who are just as curious as she is – albeit secretly in some cases.
In my own teen years, I was a keen reader of Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew, both likeable and driven female role models. It feels like we’ve been waiting a while to see this again, so Eleanor Jones is a welcome newcomer to the teen detective scene.
While this is a series, you do not necessarily need to read the books in order, though I did feel it took me a little while (not long) to catch up on the backstory and understand the relationships among the many characters. It was well worth persevering though, and easy to do so with high stakes right from the opening chapter.
As mentioned already, there is talk of suicide from the outset, and another mention of the accidental death of a child further on in the story. Although there is no graphic detail or sustained dialogue around these issues, readers with sensitivities and who may be triggered are advised to consider whether this book is for them.
Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning is a gripping read that begs to be devoured in one sitting, maybe on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Title: Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning
Author: Amy Doak
Publisher: Penguin $19.99
Publication Date: 30 June 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761357305
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult
Amy Doak’s Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning is the fourth in this popular Young Adult crime series and, like Eleanor’s earlier adventures, does not disappoint when it comes to high tension and plot twists that keep the readers guessing right until the end.
In Eleanor Jones, author Amy Doak has created a protagonist with characteristics every reader will either relate to or recognise. A bit of a reluctant hero, Eleanor Jones is driven not only by her sense of intrigue and moral compass, but by her friends who are just as curious as she is – albeit secretly in some cases.
In my own teen years, I was a keen reader of Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew, both likeable and driven female role models. It feels like we’ve been waiting a while to see this again, so Eleanor Jones is a welcome newcomer to the teen detective scene.
While this is a series, you do not necessarily need to read the books in order, though I did feel it took me a little while (not long) to catch up on the backstory and understand the relationships among the many characters. It was well worth persevering though, and easy to do so with high stakes right from the opening chapter.
As mentioned already, there is talk of suicide from the outset, and another mention of the accidental death of a child further on in the story. Although there is no graphic detail or sustained dialogue around these issues, readers with sensitivities and who may be triggered are advised to consider whether this book is for them.
Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning is a gripping read that begs to be devoured in one sitting, maybe on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Title: Eleanor Jones is Not Drowning
Author: Amy Doak
Publisher: Penguin $19.99
Publication Date: 30 June 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761357305
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult
