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Summary
Summary
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Clue when six children navigate a mansion full of secrets--and maybe money--in this humorous mystery with heart.
Sweet, shy Tabitha Crum, the neglected only child of two parents straight out of a Roald Dahl book, doesn't have a friend in the world--except for her pet mouse, Pemberley, whom she loves dearly. But on the day she receives one of six invitations to the country estate of wealthy Countess Camilla DeMoss, her life changes forever.
Upon the children's arrival at the sprawling, possibly haunted mansion, it turns out the countess has a very big secret--one that will change their lives forever.
Then the children beginning disappearing, one by one. So Tabitha takes a cue from her favorite detective novels and, with Pemberley by her side, attempts to solve the case and rescue the other children...who just might be her first real friends.
Author Notes
Jessica Lawson is the author of The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher , a book that Publishers Weekly called "a delightfully clever debut" in a starred review, and Nooks & Crannies , a Junior Library Guild Selection and recipient of three starred reviews. She is also the author of Waiting for Augusta , Under the Bottle Bridge , and How to Save a Queendom . You can visit her at JessicaLawsonBooks.com.
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Plucky 11-year-old Tabitha Crum is a neglected only child who is about to be sent to the local orphanage by her callous parents. After she receives an invitation to spend the weekend at the reclusive Countess of Windemere's country estate, Tabitha learns that she, along with five other children, had been adopted by their respective parents, and one of them may actually be the elderly woman's long-lost grandchild who stands to inherit a small fortune. When the children start to disappear, Tabitha is certain something much more nefarious is happening at the supposedly haunted manor house, and it's up to her to figure out what. Although several plot devices are predictable, there are enough twists and turns in the story to keep the audience invested in solving the mystery. The character development, however, particularly that of the clever Tabitha, is top-notch. Loyal, resourceful, and modest, she's a strong heroine who feels fresh and believable; listeners will easily relate to and sympathize with her, thanks in large part to voice artist Susie Riddell. Her clear diction and range of speech patterns give each character his or her own distinct personality and will easily keep listeners engrossed in Tabitha's world. VERDICT A perfect choice for budding detectives and audience members who love a good mystery. ["The writing is beautiful, expertly capturing all the suspense, hope, and love in the story. The conclusion is satisfying but, thankfully, with the possibility of further adventures": SLJ 4/1/15 starred review of the S. & S. book.]-Audrey Sumser, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, New Philadelphia, OH © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Packed with the delicious elements-hidden passages, unexplained noises, suspicious servants-of a traditional British mystery, Lawson's (The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher) story, set in 1907 England, will keep readers engagingly puzzled throughout its multilayered twists and tangles. Six children on the cusp of turning 12 are summoned to the country estate of Countess Camilla DeMoss, who soon reveals the competition she has planned. Among them is Tabitha Crum, whose parents plan to abandon her to an orphanage, and whose only friend is her pet mouse. Tabitha is obsessed with mystery books and dreams of working for Scotland Yard; as unnerving events unfold, she is in her element. The Dahl-esque story, humorously peopled by distinctive children and adults, poignantly captures the loneliness and longing of an unwanted child: when Tabitha finds a disguised keyhole that perfectly accepts her key, she has "the odd wish that she could be key-shaped and could find a space where she fit so perfectly." Well thought-out and deftly executed, Lawson's novel will appeal to a wide audience. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. Illustrator's agent: Jen Linnan, Linnan Literary Management. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
In this pastiche of the classic country-house mystery, aspiring young detective Tabitha Crum, along with her pet-mouse sidekick and five other children, is invited to a mysterious countess's ghost-ridden Lake District manor. The dark humor, arch tone, and Dahl-like secondary characters wear thin in an overstuffed plot; the prose is lively, however, and Tabitha is a sympathetic heroine. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
When 11-year-old Tabitha Crum receives a mysterious invitation for a weekend visit with the reclusive Countess of Windermere at Hollingsworth Hall circa 1907, she uncovers a diabolical plot that changes her life.In the grand tradition of Roald Dahl, Tabitha's despicable, neglectful parents force her to sleep in the attic and wear outgrown school uniforms. Her only friend's a pet mouse. Before Tabitha departs for Hollingsworth, her parents announce they are leaving and sending her to an orphanage as soon as her visit is over. When Tabitha arrives at Hollingsworth, she meets five more clueless kids. Influenced by Inspector Pensive novels, Tabitha readily shifts into detective mode when the eccentric countess reveals she will be interviewing each child to determine which one is her missing grandchild, destined to inherit 100,000. During the isolation imposed by a freak snowstorm, an elderly maid dies under suspicious circumstances, ghostly groans echo behind walls, the countess becomes disturbingly nasty, and children disappear. Dauntlessly exploring nooks and crannies, Tabitha unravels the twisted, shocking truth and finds a real family and friends. Themes of friendship and family permeate this darkly humorous, melodramatic period thriller. Sketchy black-and-white illustrations add to the macabre mood. A plucky amateur detective, secret passages, exaggerated characters, concealed identities, and dastardly villains equal a swell mystery. (Mystery. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* This loving homage to classic mysteries features an early twentieth-century English setting, a snowed-in manor house, mistaken identities, a decades-old secret, hidden passageways, and a passel of precocious children. Tabitha Crum, the unfortunate child of greedy, awful adoptive parents, receives a mysterious invitation to the home of a reclusive, famously philanthropic countess for the weekend. Her parents are hoping for a profitable windfall, but all Tabitha wants is an adventure. Once Tabitha and the other guests, five other children her age, arrive, they finally discover their purpose: the countess is looking for her long-lost grandchild, and since they're all adopted, it's very likely one of them. Yet something is askew. Children start disappearing, and Tabitha, who's a great fan of Inspector Pensive mystery novels, uses her powers of deduction and her faithful pet mouse, Pemberley, to root out clues. But she finds more than just secrets; long starved for affection from her horrid parents, Tabitha is delighted to discover some heartening friendships in the process as well. Lawson offers a compelling puzzle, vividly drawn characters, and a clever and capable young detective, who bravely sniffs out clues before the final secrets are revealed with everyone together in the parlor, naturally.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2015 Booklist