The Mystery of the Third Lucretia
by: Susan Runholt
Published by: Viking Children's Books
Buy From Amazon.com
Reviewed by Andrea Sisco
Do you remember Judy Bolton? Perhaps you remember Trixie Belden? No? You would if you grew up in the ‘olden days.’ Well then, how about Nancy Drew? Even young girls recognize Nancy’s name.
If you’ve read every Nancy Drew ever written and longed for more excitement in solving mysteries by a young person, you HAVE to read Susan Runholt’s The Mystery of the Third Lucretia. I want to call her book the Nancy Drew of the twenty-first century, but somehow that doesn’t seem to do Runholt’s novel justice. It’s in a league all of its own because it’s not just a mystery. It’s an exciting travel lesson and an art class–and the heroines have VALUES that surface regularly but do not slap you in the face with them.
Kari Sundgren and Lucas Stickney are fourteen. They are from St. Paul, Minnesota, love art and are best friends. Kari’s mother’s job takes her all over the world and Kari and Lucas get to accompany her occasionally. The girls love to travel so it’s a perfect set up. Kari needs a guardian while her mother is gone and Lucas escapes her dysfunctional family.
Kari and Lucas spend a day at the Minneapolis Institute of Art where they encounter a crabby man painting in the room where the famous painting of Lucretia is hung. Indelibly embedded in their minds is his secretiveness and anger as he snarls “Go Away” when they try to see his work. A year later, they see the same man in London. He looks different, but his voice and the words, “Go Away” are the same.
The girls put together some clues, and with their intelligence, artistic talent and gutsy determination, they decide to solve the mystery of the Gallery Guy using a few things like disguises, fake accents and the little ‘ole snake they use for diversion. What begins as an exciting ‘game’ while traveling becomes a dangerous mission. It could be deadly if the adults in charge don’t believe two ‘kids.’
I hope that this is just the first in a long series of Kari and Lucas adventures.
Armchair Interviews says: The Mystery of the Third Lucretia is a must read.
Author’s Web site: http://www.SusanRunholt.com
From our armchair to yours...
