Amanda Pepper certainly wasn't intending to spend all of her newlywed hours with teenagers; she sees them all day as a high school teacher. However, her husband's family has a strong belief in moving members around familial units to help them make better life choices (and to keep immediate family members from each others' throats when times get tense).

Amanda and C. K. Mackenzie's new charge, a 16-year-old dropout named Pip, thinks living with his moonlighting detective uncle and aunt should be the coolest thing ever -- never mind that his uncle is working on his PhD and his aunt is an English teacher when not "staked-out" in the thrilling activity of attempting to catch insurance fraud in the act.

Amanda has felt that her high school seniors have been acting strangely recently, but everyone assures her that they're being normal teenagers. However, when foolish pranks turn dangerous and every overheard conversation seems to hold infinite meaning, she's sure something is going on.

Seemingly disguised as a cozy mystery (perhaps because of the protagonist's career or the mention of a cat), this book packs a wallop, particularly for those familiar with the faculty politics and seething primal tension that can pervade a high school filled with the drama of frustrated workers and hormonal teenagers. A HOLE IN JUAN is fast- paced, interesting and richly detailed. Readers who know how quickly rumors spread in the educational system will nod knowingly at the details within the school, and mystery fans will enjoy the weaving of the story. This is an excellent book and a treat to read.