The Night in Question Review: Is Agathas 2 Worth Reading?
Yes, The Night in Question is worth reading if you loved The Agathas, but start with book one. This Agatha Christie–inspired young adult mystery by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson sends amateur sleuths Alice and Iris from a Castle Cove school dance turned crime scene into an unsolved 1940s film-starlet death.
If you’re wading through confusing characters or wondering whether it suits a younger teen, you’re not alone, and you deserve a straight answer. Drawing on Kirkus Reviews, reader reviews, and publisher details, this guide covers plot, pacing, friendship, and content notes, so you can decide before you commit to 416 pages.
The Night in Question (The Agathas 2)
The Night in Question is the second Agathas Mystery, published by Delacorte on May 30, 2023, and running 416 pages. It picks up months after they solved Brooke Donovan’s death, following Alice Ogilvie and Iris Adams, two teen detectives whose friendship anchors the young adult mystery series.
Set in the seaside town of Castle Cove, the story alternates between the two girls’ perspectives in short chapters, according to Kirkus Reviews. Expect a stormy night, a secret staircase, and Agatha Christie homages layered over small-town secrets and old family ties.
From the Agathas Mystery Series, Vol. 2
Kirkus lists the book as volume two of the Agathas Mystery series, following The Agathas (2022). That first mystery centered on Brooke Donovan’s death, and the sequel builds on its cast, its Castle Cove setting, and its Agatha Christie–obsessed heroine, Alice, so series order genuinely matters.
About The Night in Question
The Night in Question begins at a Sadie Hawkins dance held inside Levy Castle, once home to a millionaire whose girlfriend, film starlet Mona Moody, died there in the 1940s. When a classmate is violently attacked, Alice and Iris start digging into both crimes.
| Quick fact | Detail |
| Series | An Agathas Mystery, Vol. 2 |
| Authors | Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson |
| Publisher | Delacorte |
| Release date | May 30, 2023 |
| Length | 416 pages |
| Age guidance | 14–18 (Kirkus); 12 and up (The Story Sanctuary) |
Review of The Night in Question
Reviews lean positive on this sequel, which delivers a twisty, clue-packed whodunit. Kirkus praised its puzzle-box clues and simmering tensions, while a Story Sanctuary reviewer found the pacing excellent and liked how the plot tied the past to the present.
Not every reader agrees. One blogger wanted more recap of the first book and found the opening two-thirds confusing, and some readers felt the ending came too quickly. Still, teen mystery fans who enjoy amateur sleuths, secret passages, and Agatha Christie nods will find plenty to enjoy.
BFF Detectives in The Night in Question
Friendship drives the entire series. Alice moves in the wealthy Mains crowd, while Iris belongs to the working-class Zoners, and Kirkus notes their friendship sometimes plays out like a war of wills. Their complementary methods, though, still make them a genuinely capable detective duo.
By book two, the girls are much friendlier than in The Agathas, where they began as near-frenemies. One reviewer missed some of that early prickliness, while another enjoyed watching Alice thaw as Iris’s empathy balanced her sharper edges throughout the case.
Can You Read The Night in Question Without Reading The Agathas?
It’s possible, but one reviewer wouldn’t recommend it. The girls’ relationship develops across both books, and the sequel drops you straight into the action with little recap of the first mystery, the death of Brooke Donovan, or the core cast of Castle Cove characters.
The safest reading order is The Agathas first, then the sequel. That way, Mona Moody’s unsolved 1940s death, first mentioned in book one, lands with more weight, and the many Castle Cove students, cliques, and family connections feel genuinely less overwhelming.
Book Amnesia?
Book amnesia is a real risk if years pass between installments. The first book came out in 2022, and one reviewer suggested a character list or family tree would help; the sequel does include a map. A quick series recap before starting can save confusion.
Other Readers’ Opinions on The Night in Question
Reader reviews on Goodreads and book blogs describe the sequel as fast-paced, well-plotted, and fun. YA All Day notes that many readers praised it as a solid locked-room mystery, and fans love the Agatha Christie–inspired, girl-power spirit of the series.
Complaints cluster around a large cast, clique nicknames one reviewer disliked, a slow start, and an ending some found rushed. Others found the pacing excellent, so reviews split, and your patience for layered whodunits with many suspects will likely decide your own rating.
Content Notes for The Night in Question
Age guidance varies slightly: Kirkus lists the book for readers 14 to 18, while The Story Sanctuary recommends ages 12 and up. Profanity is mild and infrequent, but the plot centers on a violent attack on a classmate and includes situations of real peril.
Parents should also know the story references domestic violence, shows teens with a flask at a school dance, and includes a flare-gun threat and violent injuries. A peripheral friend is mentioned as working at a strip club to pay for college. Kirkus notes the main characters are white.
The Night in Question rewards readers who arrive prepared: start with The Agathas, keep a character list nearby, and check the content notes for younger teens. If you enjoy Agatha Christie–style puzzles wrapped around a prickly friendship, this sequel is a satisfying return to Castle Cove.
Conclusion
The Night in Question is a compelling read for anyone who enjoys stories that blend mystery, tension, and deeper questions about the people involved. As the plot unfolds, it encourages readers to look beyond the obvious and consider how memories, choices, and hidden truths can shape a story.
Whether you are reading it for personal enjoyment, a book club discussion, or simply exploring what makes the novel interesting, there is plenty to think about after the final page. Its twists and underlying themes make it a book worth discussing from different perspectives. Sometimes, the most memorable part of a mystery is not simply discovering what happened, but understanding why it mattered.
FAQs
Author
Hi, I’m Alex, and I enjoy learning through quizzes, trivia, and interactive questions. I love discovering new conversation starters, relationship topics, and educational challenges. This website is my go-to place for fun, practical, and reliable question-based content. I’m always excited to learn something new and share it with others.
