USELESS BAY by M.J. Beaufrand is a heart-pounding thriller with elements of magical realism.

The Gray quintuplets along with their adopted dog are known for their search-and-rescue skills. However the disappearance of a young boy and the discovery of his dead stepmother become a mystery that’s difficult for even the Gray siblings to solve.

Librarians will find that fans of mystery and detective novels will devour this exciting story set on Whidbey Island in Washington state. The magical realism and touch of romance will broaden its appeal. The short sentences and fast-paced approach make it an effective choice for reluctant readers.

Published by Amulet, a division of Harry N. Abrams on October 18, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher. ( )

The Gray quintuplets have lived their whole lives on Whidbey Island, Washington. It seems like they are more a part of the island’s ether than merely its inhabitants. The four boys and one girl, named after Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack (Peter, Frank, Lawford, Sammy and Marilyn, aka Pixie), are an integral part of the community, performing search and rescue operations and owning the bloodhound with the best nose in the state.

Bazillionaire Rupert Shepherd’s family are weekend and summer residents, owning the adjacent land that separates the Grays from the sea. Ten year old Grant Shepherd is a constant Gray visitor, especially on Sunday nights, hiding to delay his trip back to the mainland. So when Grant is missing one Sunday evening, Rupert immediately suspects the Grays of having a hand in it. However, this is the one time Grant is not there. While no one knows where he is, Pixie was the last Gray to be with him, earlier that morning, stating he was afraid of something.

Useless Bay combines the perfect proportions of mystery and mysticism in this absorbing missing person story. While searching for Grant, Pixie communes with the long deceased Joseph Whidbey, skipper of the HMS Discovery, who in 1792 discovered the island bearing his name. There is an ample amount of search and rescue hampered by wind and driving rain, mystery as bodies are discovered, a touch of romance and a good dose of danger. Astute readers will figure out ‘who done it’ about two thirds of the way through the book, but that doesn’t dampen (yes, pun intended) the reading pleasure. Useless Bay is a perfect read for middle and high schoolers when the wind is howling outside and the rain is pounding against the windows. This is one of the few teen mysteries I really liked. ( )