The Odds of Getting Even

Small Southern towns are seldom what they seem, and Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, is no exception. Boasting a population of 148, it's the site of a string of felonies including murder, bank robbery, and kidnapping. Throw in a ghost, and the per capita offenses are enough for sixth-grade sleuths Dale, Mo, and Harm to revive the Desperado Detective Agency. When Dale's father, Macon, is accused of breaking out of jail (see Three Times Lucky, rev. 7/12, and The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, rev. 1/14, for the backstories to his incarceration and other events in this novel), the Desperados, particularly Mo, have to decide if they want to be successful detectives or staunch friends. Does Mo, as de facto head of the group, follow her gut and hunt down Macon, or does she relinquish power to Dale and support his conviction that his father is innocent? Friendship prevails in this fine novel, with a number of unobtrusive acts of kindness flourishing throughout. There's a complexity to the characters, from mean-as-a-snake Macon to drop-dead-handsome Lavender, all carefully developed throughout the series, creating a terrific read with a hint of at least one more volume to come. Betty Carter

A string of felonies in Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, prompts sixth-grade sleuths Dale, Mo, and Harm (Three Times Lucky; The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing) to revive the Desperado Detective Agency. When Dale's father is accused of breaking out of jail, the Desperados must choose between being successful detectives or staunch friends. Friendship prevails in this fine novel full of complex, carefully developed characters.