"A terrific yarn, full of smart detection and hip good humor" (Stephen King)
Behind the Curtain is the second book in the Echo Falls mystery series by bestselling crime novelist Peter Abrahams, following the acclaimed Down the Rabbit Hole. Perfect for middle school readers looking for a good mystery.
In this "deliciously plotted, highly satisfying adventure" (Kirkus), the Sherlock Holmes-loving eight-grade heroine, Ingrid, starts to see some alarming signs of trouble in her home. Her dad is surfing the internet in search of a job when Ingrid had no idea his job was in jeopardy. Her brother, Ty, is trying to succeed on the high school football team--perhaps at the cost of his health. And Ingrid's beloved soccer coach is replaced by an icy newcomer who seems a little too savvy to be in it for the postgame pizza.
True to her hero, Sherlock Holmes, Ingrid begins fishing around to find out who's really pulling the strings in her hometown of Echo Falls. But one morning, while en route to the dreaded MathFest, Ingrid is kidnapped and locked in the trunk of a car. Even if she escapes, will anyone believe her story?
The third and final book in this Edgar Award-nominated series is Into the Dark.
- Sherlock Holmes for Kids: Eighth-grader Ingrid Levin-Hill lives by the master detective's rules of observation, but noticing too much is exactly what gets her into serious trouble.
- Small Town Secrets: Behind the perfect facade of Echo Falls, Ingrid uncovers a web of secrets involving her own family, the high school football team, and a mysterious newcomer.
- Pulse-Pounding Suspense: Locked in the trunk of a moving car, Ingrid has to rely on her wits to escape. But getting out is only the beginning of her problems.
- A Hero No One Believes: After her terrifying ordeal, Ingrid's biggest challenge isn't finding the culprit--it's getting a single person, from her parents to the police, to believe her story.
About the Author :
Peter Abrahams is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-five books, including the Edgar Award-winning Reality Check, Bullet Point, and the Echo Falls series for middle graders. Writing as Spencer Quinn, he is also the author of the Chet and Bernie series--Dog on It, Thereby Hangs a Tail, and To Fetch a Thief. He and his wife live in Massachusetts with their dog, Audrey.
Review :
"A timely issue gives this mystery a 'ripped from the headlines' flavor, but the real kick for readers comes from a believable eighth-grade heroine's investigation of a school scandal." - ALA Booklist (starred review)
"In a literature notoriously light on mysteries, Abrahams' second outing for kids stands out as a deliciously plotted, highly satisfying adventure." - Kirkus Reviews
