Nooks & Crannies

Starred review from April 27, 2015
Packed with the delicious elements—hidden passages, unexplained noises, suspicious servants—of a traditional British mystery, Lawson’s (The Actual and Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher) story, set in 1907 England, will keep readers engagingly puzzled throughout its multilayered twists and tangles. Six children on the cusp of turning 12 are summoned to the country estate of Countess Camilla DeMoss, who soon reveals the competition she has planned. Among them is Tabitha Crum, whose parents plan to abandon her to an orphanage, and whose only friend is her pet mouse. Tabitha is obsessed with mystery books and dreams of working for Scotland Yard; as unnerving events unfold, she is in her element. The Dahl-esque story, humorously peopled by distinctive children and adults, poignantly captures the loneliness and longing of an unwanted child: when Tabitha finds a disguised keyhole that perfectly accepts her key, she has “the odd wish that she could be key-shaped and could find a space where she fit so perfectly.” Well thought-out and deftly executed, Lawson’s novel will appeal to a wide audience. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. Illustrator’s agent: Jen Linnan, Linnan Literary Management.

April 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-Tabitha Crum and her sidekick, a mouse named Pemberley, love a good mystery. Luckily, she has so many in her life: why don't her parents love her? What will she do when they abandon her at the local orphanage? Why has she, of all people, been invited to spend the weekend at the estate of the reclusive Countess Camilla DeMoss? It is soon revealed that Tabitha, along with five other children, might be the long-lost grandchild of the eccentric Countess, thus inheriting her large fortune. However, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems at Hollingsworth Hall. Why does the Countess always carry knives? What really happened to the Countess' dead son? Are there ghosts at the Hall? When the electricity goes out and a dead body turns up, the whole house goes into a panic. But the biggest mystery of all is: who is the true heir to the fortune? While the story certainly gets its inspiration from many places-Roald Dahl, Trenton Lee Stewart, and Scooby Doo-the way in which it is told is original, engaging, and funny. Tabitha is a smart, plucky heroine whom readers will get behind: they'll cry with her when she feels unloved, they'll be scared with her in the dark, and they'll cheer when she wins in the end. The writing is beautiful, expertly capturing all the suspense, hope, and love in the story. The conclusion is satisfying but, thankfully, with the possibility of further adventures. VERDICT A delightful gem that will fly off the shelves.-Laura Lutz, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City

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