Originally reviewed over at More Than Just Magic 
 Attention Veronica Mars fans - there is a new teenage sleuth on the block and she has more than managed to fill the pint-sized, wise-cracking, badass hole in my heart. 
 Scarlett lives in Las Almas, one of California's seedier neighbourhoods. Her father was murdered a few years back and not long after that her mother lost her battle with cancer. Since then it's just been Scarlett and her sister, Reem. Things aren't easy but they make it work. Reem slaves away trying to finish her medical residency, while Scarlett (who tested out of high school early) runs her own private investigation services. 
 Scarlett Undercover opens with Scarlett taking on a new case. It's a case that seems simple enough - middle schooler, Gemma Asher, is worried about her brother and wants Scarlett to find out what he's been up to lately. Scarlett figures it'll be an easy solve and agrees to help, but in no time at all she finds herself deep into something much bigger (and much more dangerous) than a moody teenager. 
 The case Scarlett takes on was an intriguing mystery but it took a few unexpected turns, and it left me wondering what was real and what was fantasy. There was a bit of a paranormal slant, that didn't really feel like it fit with the rest of the story and the world that had originally been presented. 
 Despite a few reservations about the mystery, I still really enjoyed this book and would love more stories about Scarlett's adventures. Because it is really Scarlett herself that sells this novel. She is a bright young girl, with an affinity for getting into trouble. Her distinct voice and sharp whip rang through loud and clear and the entire novel is littered with the kind of humour that always puts a smile on my face - In particular, her hard-boiled, old school way of speaking, such as, "smoother than freshly shaved legs" and "My patience hit its limit faster than a college freshman's credit card." 
 As the description above mentions, Scarlett is a Muslim American. And the amount of detail put into this aspect of the story really shows that Jennifer Latham did her research. It wasn't tacked on detail, it was fully integrated with the story, the setting and Scarlett herself. Her faith is something that influences her attitude and interactions with others. In addition to being caught up in the mystery, I also feel like I learned a lot about Scarlett and Reem's culture. 
 Though there is a bit of a romance with a young, Jewish boy named Decker, by far the most important relationship in this novel was that between Scarlett and her sister Reem. After the loss of both their parents, they're forced to stick together and are quite close. Their love and dedication to one another was really heart warming. Representation of different family structures, in such a positive light, is an element that YA needs to see more of. 
 If you're a fan of the early Veronica Mars episodes, Scarlett Undercover is the book for you. It's smart and funny and I think you'll fall in love with Scarlett in no time at all. I've got all my fingers and toes crossed that this is only the beginning of a brilliant series.