The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit

August 19, 2013
Academy Award–winning actor Spencer debuts with an assured, entertaining whodunit that launches the Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective series. Still smarting from her mother’s death, 12-year-old Randi finds comfort in solving neighborhood mysteries, mimicking the heroine of her father’s detective novels. A black belt in Tae Kwon Do, headstrong Randi resents her father’s overprotectiveness and his decision to relocate from Brooklyn to Tennessee. It proves to be a saving move for Randi, who swore off friends after her mother died (“It was easier to be alone than it was to feel pitied all the time”). She lets her guard down and befriends two boys who help her locate a missing time capsule. The curlicue mystery involves some silly small-town drama and a few extraneous loops, but also considerable suspense. There are genuinely affecting moments, too; one of Randi’s friends, whose father abandoned his family, tells her it’s okay to cry: “You don’t have to be tough all the time.” To contributes polished, cinematically lit illustrations (not all seen by PW), and appendices outline tips for aspiring sleuths. Ages 8–12. Agent: Andy McNicol, William Morris Endeavor. Illustrator’s agent: Shannon Associates.

Author and narrator Olivia Spencer knows her characters well and sounds as if she's having great fun bringing them to life. Twelve-year-old Randi Rhodes has the pluck of a do-it-yourself detective with a black belt in tae kwon do and the angst of a teen who is navigating the loss of her mother. In Spencer's delivery, the town authorities--from mayor to chief of police, town crank, and ice cream parlor gossip--all reflect the twang and drawl of Deer Creek, Tennessee. Spencer brings boyishness to Randi's new friend, D.C., but is a bit off mark with her Boston accent for Pudge, who is new to town. The mystery involves a missing time capsule, which could help save Randi's dying town. A.R. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

February 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-Actress Spencer's debut novel (S & S, 2013) is everything a middle-grade mystery should be: fast-paced, packed with interesting characters, and sprinkled with just enough clues that listeners can piece together the solution alongside the main characters. The additions of a haunted cabin in the woods, a loose skunk, a couple of fake secret service agents, and some expert ninja moves don't hurt either. The story centers around 12-year-old Randi, who has been solving crimes in her Brooklyn neighborhood since her mother died more than a year ago. But when her suspense-writer father moves the family from bustling New York to sleepy Deer Creek, Tennessee, Randi fears her sleuthing days are behind her. All that changes when the town's 200-year-old time capsule is stolen right before the annual Founder's Day celebration. Randi teams up with martial arts enthusiast D.C. and fellow Deer Creek newcomer Pudge to crack the case and return the capsule. Spencer narrates herself, and her New York, Boston, Japanese, and Southern accents help listeners distinguish between the characters. Her enthusiasm and intimate knowledge of her characters really makes them come to life. Readers and listeners will be anxious to see what is next for Randi, D.C., and Pudge and will eagerly await the book's planned sequel.-Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, PA

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