Fifth-grade sleuth Cam Jansen returns in this twenty-sixth entry in David A. Adler's beginning chapter-book series devoted to her crime-solving adventures. When the governor, who is running for president, and two benefactors come to Cam's school for a library-opening ceremony, they are accompanied by Secret Service agents and police. When a loud gunshot-like noice is heard during said ceremony, these figures spring into motion, but for all their experience, they fail to prevent the theft of a valuable pearl necklace, or to even realize that the theft has occurred. It is Cam who stumbles upon the puzzle and, naturally enough, solves it...

Like its predecessors, Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery presents a fairly simple story of suspense, one in which the eponymous heroine's photographic memory - although her real name is Jennifer, our crime-solver's unusual memory led people to nickname her Cam, short for 'camera' - plays a vital role. Unlike other entries in the series, here the help is provided, not by Cam's best friend Eric, who is her usual companion, but by mischievous Danny, who has featured in a few previous entries in the series. I don't know that I found this one of the more convincing entries in Adler's series - it stretched my suspension-of-disbelief a bit, that fifth-grade Cam would understand the sharp report of a falling object better than a Secret Service agent - but I think fans of the character will enjoy the book, and it is to them that I would recommend it. ( )

Cam and her friend Danny help solve the mystery of a stolen pearl necklace when the governor comes to visit their school for the dedication of the new library. Book #26

I had mixed feelings about this book. One reason I liked this book was because of the characters. The main character Cam Jansen was a young girl who loved to solve "mysteries" and had a photographic memory. I thought that Cam can be relatable in some ways but I also believe that not most kids have a photographic memory, so they could get sad that they don't or maybe they would pretend they did. I really liked the organization of the story and the sense of suspense. Even though the book was "suspenseful" it was done in a way where it was easy enough for children to follow a long. There was a clear climax section in the book and that would be when cam figures out what happens to the governor when he visits the school. I also feel that the case was easy enough for young readers to understand and can figure it the mystery out on their own.

“Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery” by David A. Adler is a mystery series book #26. One of the wonderful things about series books is that if a child loves just one of these books, then they may get hooked on reading the whole series. To a young reader mastering reading, this type of commitment is very important since it develops interest in a genre as well as develop reading fluency. The main character is interesting in that she is a modern type of Nancy Drew character. However “Cam” is unique in that she has a photographic memory that allows her to remember many clues that later help her solve mysteries adults are unable to piece together. The narrative, as well as the language, is simple to follow filled with stock characters that are in the most part supportive and caring people. She is surrounded by friends and family who care about her as she spends her time making the world around her a better place. She is a problem solver who is talented and smarter than the adults around her.
Ages: 2nd – 5th grade ( )