Sammy Keyes and the Sisters of Mercy

Sammy Keyes is serving her school detention time at St. Mary's Church when Father Mayhew's valuable cross is stolen. This is only the first of several robberies at the church, and Sammy is drawn into a mystery in which all the suspects are religious figures and seemingly above suspicion. Sammy juggles her detecting with her junior high softball tournament, which pits her against Heather, her nemesis, in a battle that is quickly escalating out of control. Tara Sands's narration provides a realistically young voice for Sammy and adds emotion and shading to Van Draanen's well-rounded characters. This, Sammy's third outing, is a mystery suitable for the entire family. B.F. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine