Why Teen Drama Mystery Fans Should Read "The Pool Guy's Kid"

If you’re missing “Veronica Mars,” the TV show and the character, then The Pool Guy’s Kid, the book and the character, may be the answer.

Written by “Beverly Hills, 90210” executive producer Larry Mollin, The Pool Guy’s Kid tells the story of Guillermo “Gilly” Montrose, a hardworking teen whose everyday high school life is upended by a murder. Like the titular teen detective in “Veronica Mars,” the title character in Mollin’s novel finds himself pulled deep into the local scandal and ends up on a quest to uncover the truth.

The book brings the teen drama mystery sub-genre into the present day, with TikTok, Uber, and other aspects of modern life playing a role in the sordid tale. But with no need to play out over the course of a lengthy television season, The Pool Guy’s Kid is no slow burn. The novel starts with the mystery and action already in full gear. There are twists and turns on almost every page. If “Pretty Little Liars,” “Riverdale,” and “Outer Banks” had you gripped, the continual surprises in The Pool Guy’s Kid will, too.

Oh, and did I mention the teen romance and angst? The story is filled with the hormonal curiosity baked into any good teen drama. What you won’t find, however, is too much in common with “Beverly Hills, 90210,” aside from the general setting — and characters named Duke, Chuck, Rosin, Johannessen, Shepard, and DeShawn (IYKYK). I personally enjoyed the inclusion of a shih tzu and Peter Luger’s.

In our 2010 interview, Mollin explained the beats he and his fellow “Beverly Hills, 90210” writers-producers would try to hit in each episode: emotion, passion, bonding, and fun, mixed with commotion, fashion, blonde-ing, and sun. It’s clear he approached The Pool Guy’s Kid with a similar mindset, but with some danger and mystery mixed in.

The ending suggests a sequel could be in the offing, but in the meantime, Mollin will be hosting a book club of sorts on an upcoming edition of “The Beverly Hills 90210 Show.” You can tune in here.

Want more recommendations? Find out why teen drama fans should watch “Normal People” and why “Gossip Girl” fans should watch “Clique.”