In a Jersey Shore town, informed by the author’s own experience growing up in Ocean City, N.J., members of “the gang”—rising sophomores blonde Carly Cosentino, soccer player Maddie Petrozza, red-headed tech genius Pilot Owens, and wealthy governor’s son Cornelious Gibbz, all implied white—have more on their minds than their usual surfing and sunbathing. This summer, the Food Network is paying their turf (specifically their favorite food joint, Brady’s) a lot of attention, which threatens the hangout’s reputation amid recent suspicious cases of food poisoning. With the help of a summer visitor, Cornelious’s cousin Dane, the group must navigate the strange happenings to save Brady’s and their hometown as they know it. Interweaving parallel narratives, including troubles at home and interpersonal relationship stress, Channick channels the angst and joys of adolescence as the quartet of amateur sleuths dodges greedy gentrifying mainlanders, local crews of bullies and petty criminals, and buzzing television crews to right an important wrong. While prose and dialogue occasionally feel contrived, and pop cultural references are somewhat dated, this second installment in Channick’s cozy mystery series will keep readers engaged. Ages 13–up. (Self-published)