From the blurb: "Unoccupied and unsupervised while their mother is working furiously on her new book, the children of widowed mystery writer Marion Carstairs find diversion wherever they can. So when the kids hear two gunshots at the house next door, they jump at the chance to launch their own amateur investigation into the murder--after all, why shouldn't they? They know everything the cops do about crime scenes, having read all about them in their mother's novels. They also know what her literary sleuths would do in such a situation. Plus, if the children solve the mystery before the police, it will do wonders for the sales of their mother's novels. And maybe, they can hook her up with the lead detective on the case at the same time."
My thoughts: I don't always enjoy reading books about precocious children--I often find them annoying rather than funny--so I wasn't sure I was going to like the three Carstairs children. But Dinah, the most responsible and also oldest at 14, April, the dramatic and all-knowing middle child, and Archie, their impish and active 10-year-old brother, quickly grew on me. Despite their bickering and disagreements, I loved how they worked together to solve the murder of Mrs. Sanford and get a date for their mother with Detective Bill Smith. Their King Tut alphabet language and 1944 slang sprinkled throughout the book was also fun. And their meddling in the investigation, from lying to the police to hiding clues and interrogating suspects on their own, led to some very entertaining antics. This classic mystery was unexpectedly comedic. And I enjoyed every page of it.
Happy Reading!
P.S. Craig Rice is the pen name of Georgiana Ann Randolph Craig who, in 1946, became the first mystery writer to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
I like the idea of kids as well as very old ladies solving crimes. Glad this one was comedic and a fun book to read.
ReplyDeleteIt was just funny. Not a book to be taken seriously, but definitely one to just be enjoyed.
DeleteWow! I have never known of this book, but it does sound like a fun one. Will see if I can find it and maybe try it. Thanks for the info, Lark!
ReplyDeleteI ran across it at my library and am so glad I did. It was a little silly but a lot of fun.
DeleteIt's hard to write children well. But it sounds like this author knows how and I enjoy classic mysteries. That is something that Craig Rice was the first mystery writer to appear on the cover of Time. It tells me she must have been popular and so I will check her out.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by that because I'd never heard of her or her books. But I did enjoy this one.
DeleteThis sounds very appealing. I agree that writers tend to depict children as infantile or precocious - that is why, growing up, I liked books about children who reminded me of myself, like the Melendys or Beany Malone.
ReplyDeleteI had favorites growing up, too...like Laura Ingalls, Lucy Pevensy... :D
DeleteThis sounds so good! Glad you enjoyed it. I'm adding it to my wishlist. Hope you have a wonderful week! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ashley! :D
DeleteI, too, generally tend to steer clear of books featuring precocious children as their main characters but this one sounds like a winner. I might be persuaded to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteAt first I was shaking my head at their antics, but then I just relaxed and went with it and it ended up being a lot of fun.
DeleteGlad you found it enjoyable! I do usually enjoy precocious children, LOL!
ReplyDeleteWell then you'd find a lot to like about this book. :D
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it. I don't usually enjoy child based books.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was fun to see an adult mystery play out with children as the amateur detectives.
DeleteInteresting to know she was on Time magazine. I hadn't heard of her.
ReplyDeleteMe either.
DeleteSounds good. Different too.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fun read. :D
DeleteI like the premise of the amateur sleuths being the children of a mystery novelist. This sounds like a fun read!
ReplyDeleteI think those kids would make me laugh! This sounds like a lot of fun. Adding it to my TBR. :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a super fun read! I don't always like precocious children in novels either, but, in this case, I think I would. I'll have to see if I can find a copy of this book. It sounds entertaining.
ReplyDelete