Good enough for the target audience. Somewhat stereotyped (what isn't, for this age?), but reasonably done story. The clues for the mystery were fairly laid and solved by the kids (age 12). ( )

A simple mystery that reads fairly quickly. The kid detective storyline was a bit silly, but not totally over the top or far fetched, and the characters were likeable. One of the leads has asthma (which I don't know much about, so I can't really speak to the realism of that depiction), the ninja detective part comes from two of the leads being very passionate about martial arts, and there's a fat cat named Pumpkin. Small town mystery with small town stakes and a few red herrings. ( )

Randi Rhodes is less than thrilled when her father moves the two of them from Brooklyn to sleepy small town Deer Creek, where they used to spend summers. She's also dismayed that he has arranged for May Ling to live with them and help around the house - Randi does NOT need a nanny. Unbeknownst to her father (she thinks), Randi is a practicing detective, and as soon as they arrive in Deer Creek she has a new mystery to solve: the town's 200-year-old time capsule has been stolen, and without it, the Founders' Day celebration can't happen, and if it doesn't, many in Deer Creek will lose their homes and businesses. Randi and her new friend Dario Cruz (DC for short) team up to solve the mystery, but the clock is ticking.

Fun and clever. The audio version was excellent, except for Pudge's voice - I think he was supposed to have a Boston accent.

"What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing that wasn't in me before!" ( )

Narrated by Octavia Spencer. I was a little apprehensive hearing Octavia Spencer start out in a bit of a monotone but she hits her stride as a reader when Randi and her father move down south and Spencer plays with the various accents of the townspeople such as the Sheriff, Angus, and Pudge. In the end, a pleasant production for the family to enjoy. ( )

Adult Reader Reaction: This is a fast-paced mystery that seems to get ahead of itself at times. The story is fun and enjoyable to read, but I found it somewhat predictable. Many of the adults were pretty stereotypical, as were the festival queen and her friends. Randi is a great character, and D.C. and Pudge also have the potential to be strong parts of the ensemble. They deserve more than the cursory backstories they have now. Randi's relationship with her widower dad is also uneven, which is a shame, because there is an opportunity for the book to fill a void in middle-grade fiction.

Pros: Readers looking for a fast-paced story with crime-solving kids will enjoy this adventure. There are some detective-like activities in the back for readers, as well.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.