Thursday, May 22, 2014

A Hitch at the Fairmont by Jim Averbeck

Can you imagine solving a crime with Alfred Hitchcock as your partner?

Atheneum Books and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published June 24th, so make a note to grab a copy then for your young reader.

I've always loved mysteries and they can be hard to find as a young reader.  I also enjoy Hitchcock's movies and books, so I wasn't going to miss a chance to read this book.

This is a great book.  Mr. Averbeck creates an old fashioned story that catches your interest and makes your curiosity flair right from the beginning.  Nick Bertozzi's illustrations set the stage for this well written story that takes place in a hotel.

Jack Fair is an orphan.  When his aunt sweeps in from San Francisco and grabs him and a few belongings, he doesn't know what to think.  She's fat and lazy.  She lives at the Fairmont Hotel, and she has a white chinchilla for a pet.  She's not fond of children and continually sends Jack running to buy her more chocolates.  She won't share but she'll waste them.  He's not fond of her or the room or her pet, so he visits with the lady who owns the candy store and chats with the employees.

When he goes back to the room and finds his aunt is gone and there's a ransom note written in chocolate on the sheet she was laying on, Jack is flabbergasted.  What's he to do?  He's too young to find her alone.  Then he remembers who is in the room next to him and he impulsively asks for aid.  Hitchcock is busy and hasn't time to help a kid, but how to do you say no to a desperate child?

They investigate, they search, they hunt everywhere, and when they find out who is involved, Jack can't believe it.  Just like he can't believe why they were doing it!  He needs Mr. Hitchcock's help.  Can you see Hitchcock dressed up like a lady with two cantaloupes for boobs?  He does it for a good cause in this story.

It's great fun, exciting and busy and it's silly enough to make you laugh.  I liked this one a lot.  Why don't you give it a try?

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