Mickie McKinney

Boy Detective, Connections in Chemistry

By: R.L. Fink

Narrated by: Hannah Edelson

After a week of nothing, things are going seriously weird at Maple Ridge Middle School. First, Jamie “Burners” Burns, is asked to be the substitute teacher for the chemistry class, then the class experiments go horribly wrong...and it isn't Mickie's fault. The new man in charge, Principal Morgan, wants to pin the blame on the school's girl genius but Mickie is certain that someone else is behind the whole thing. With only a couple mysterious substances left behind as clues, a strange school-wide computer problem and an alliance with the school's reporter, AJ Harris, do Mickie and Sam have enough to clear Burners once and for all? Can Maple Ridge Middle School's detecting duo prove that there is a different culprit behind the accidents? And catch the real wrong-doer before it's too late?

©2022 R.L. Fink (P)2022 R.L. Fink

Great story with expert narration!

This is a super fun book thanks to all the characters working together! The narrator weaves them all together with individual voices and attitude! Easily hooks you into the investigation. Tweens will love it!

I love these wonderful kids

Connections in Chemistry is the third charming YA book from award-winning author R.L. Fink starring the endearing Boy Detective Mickie McKinney, Maple-Ridge Middle School’s former one and only Private Detective, and his recent partner in crime, excuse me, mystery-solving, Sam.

I can say without any doubt that these two are some of the most colorful, endearing, and lifelike fictional characters I ever got to meet so far in my life. Since I made their acquaintance in The Case of the Absent Answers and later as I got to spend even more time with them in Troubles with Teamwork and now in Connections in Chemistry, I discovered that I fell in love with them even more thanks to the brilliant writing by talented author R.L. Fink who, for a third time now, has lovingly written with care, respect, and wit another beautifully crafted story that successfully combines excellent character development with humor and mystery.

Of course, these stories and characters couldn’t have been what they are for us as audiobook listeners without the absolutely phenomenal narration delivered by voiceover artist, singer, and narrator Hannah Edelson. With Connections in Chemistry, she delivers one of the most energetic, amusing, breathless, and riveting performances that I have ever experienced in an audiobook.

As I said in my other two previous reviews, I think that Hannah is perfectly suited for bringing to life these unforgettable kids and their adventures. I can’t think of anyone else who could have done a better job!

I love her narration, her voice is young and absolutely beautiful! I can’t wait to hear Hannah again, either in Mickie’s next chapter or in another totally different audiobook as she reads with enthusiasm, acts with talent, switches between voices and accents easily, and has managed to always put a smile on my face.

I am turning 40 years old this July but Troubles with Teamwork, The Case of the Absent Answers, and now Connections in Chemistry have delighted and entertained me tremendously. These three short audiobooks offered me unforgettable moments in which I felt the joy that can only come when you experience a well-written piece of literature performed by the perfect narrator.

For me, it is an absolute joy and pleasure to see this tremendously talented author spread her wings and create larger, better, and more captivating stories from one book to the other.

Yes, from time to time we need to take a step back from all the complicated things in our lives and just enjoy a short story that will make us feel again the nostalgia from our childhood and early school years.

Ruby and Hannah are once again a force of nature when working together and I have absolutely no doubt that they will entertain us for many years to come with their combined talents!

This series of fantastic audiobooks is becoming even more awesome with every new installment and although these short stories are usually targeting kids and teenagers, I think they are also perfect for those young at heart!