Mystery & Mayhem

A selection of 12 original, traditional mysteries loosely organized by minigenre: locked rooms, closed systems, poisonings, and dog stories.For readers relatively new to the genre, this British import offers a nice selection of the ways these puzzle pieces can be worked out, with plenty of allusions to classics in the field. The young protagonists include both boys and girls, from preteens to young workers. The title character in the opening "Emily and the Detectives" is "a small muddy brown girl" (wonderfully accomplished but "unfortunately dusky" in the parlance of the time and place); another takes place among Jamaican immigrants in a London neighborhood in which an official is described as a "white woman"; a third is set among an earlier wave of immigration, the French in the late 18th century. Most of the mysterious events take place in England, from the 1700s to the present day. There are murders and stolen jewels, kidnapped dogs and a spoiled Carnival costume. Too many cases depend on the discovery of a stray piece of waste, but others feature the sharp eyes and logical skills of the young puzzle-solvers. Several, including the one from editor Katherine Woodfine, author of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow (2016), feature characters from their authors' mystery series, but otherwise there are no author biographies. This appetizing assortment is a nifty invitation to further mystery-reading. (Mystery/short stories. 10-15) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2016

Gr 4-6-In the tradition of Sherlock Holmes, detectives use deduction to solve 12 crimes ranging from murder to dognapping. Here, however, the detectives are children, tweens, or teens who manage to solve crimes that confound and sometimes even endanger their elders. Also in the Holmes tradition, these entries are ever so British, although one does take place in Southern California. Whether the mystery involves poisoning, a locked room, purloined jewels, or the hound of the Baskervilles, these kids find the answer. The short story format leaves little time to explore characters in any depth or to develop a plot of real complexity. This results in some interesting leaps in logic and a few abrupt endings. However, several tales point readers in the direction of a series that they may enjoy, and this volume can also serve as an introduction to the mystery genre for those reluctant to commit to a novel. VERDICT Readers who are already fans of the genre will love trying to solve the mystery before the young protagonists do; a fine purchase for large collections or where short story anthologies are needed.-Katherine Koenig, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016
Grades 4-7 Sometimes a person needs a mystery fix, and this story collection neatly does the trick. Twelve miniature whodunits, all penned by women, are arranged into four categories: Impossible Plots, Canine Capers, Poison Plots, and Closed-System Crimes. Sure, there's murder, theft, and sabotage, but things never get too grisly, making it a perfect pick for middle-grade gumshoes. Several of the stories give a nod to literary greats, like Poirot and Sherlock, but one of the collection's strongest assets is its variety, ranging from historic to contemporary to the fantastic. Even more important, however, is how kid detectives crack the cases before adults every time. Though a few stories take rather great leaps to reach their conclusions, most are well crafted and intriguing. Among the finest is Frances Hardinge's God's Eye, in which a boy investigates a death-by-hot-air-balloon. Also of note are Katherine Woodfine's The Mystery of the Purloined Pearls, featuring crackerjack detective work by a chorus girl, and Kate Pankhurst's Dazzle, Dog Biscuits, and Disaster. A solid choice for readers looking for a taste of crime.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)