Tess Kendrick is pulled from her life on her grandfather's ranch into her sister's high profile life as a D.C. fixer. Soon she is making friends, and enemies, with the offspring of the D.C. elite. When the latest Washington scandal impacts her inner circle, Tess is pulled into her sister's footsteps, albeit a little against her will. Soon her social group is changing and she finds herself on the trail of a potential murderer. 
 This book was exactly what I needed. A fast-paced contemporary adventure with big players and high stakes. A YA Scandal with less romantic drama (though I wouldn't be opposed to some romances developing over the course of the series). There were some plot points I could see coming, but the pieces were well placed and they were twists I wanted, so hey. 
 I loved Tess. She is strong, if stubborn. She believes in doing the right thing. She looks after the underdog, and her own. And she's not one to jump to conclusions or judgements. She can actually see things from someone else's point of view. I loved Tess's classmates: Vivvie and Asher and Henry. Asher and Henry are perfect foils for each other. I loved the adults Ivy and Adam and Bodie. This was a great cast of characters and I look forward to getting to spend more time with them. I want to see how all of their arcs continue. 
 This is just a really well crafted novel. The pacing is superb. It moves at a quick pace, but everything is revealed and handled in a natural manner. I could feel the craft in making something move and feel this effortless. 
 If you're looking for a quality YA mystery/thriller that will introduce you to some lovable characters, have at it! I am ready for the next book, and honestly hoping this is an open ended series. The only upside I can find to waiting this long to read this novel, is that I only have to wait until the beginning of June for the sequel. Even that feels too long.