Who Could That Be at This Hour?

In this elaborate mystery, twelve-year-old Lemony Snicket finds his search for a stolen statue complicated by secret identities and double- and triple-crosses that will keep readers guessing until the end. Kids will be intrigued by the book’s unique setting—a near-ghost town on the edge of sea drained of its water—which is just as odd as the case Snicket sets out to solve. Snicket’s trademark dry humor is here in abundance, whether he’s describing his attempt to climb out the bathroom window of a tea room that serves “the worst eggs in the entire city,” or investigating a hotel suite that has been “ransacked, a word for something that is fun to do to someone else’s room but no fun to have done to yours.” Frequent wordplay, including rhyme and alliteration, is entertaining and could provide useful examples for writing units: “In the olden days, a gong was rung in the town square to warn away the beast on moonless nights. The gong was long gone, but the legend lingered.” Seth’s art deco-style illustrations perfectly suit this take on old hard-boiled detective novels.

Where did Lemony Snicket spring from? This detective novel/faux memoir provides a partial, gnomic, and Snickety answer. Young Lemony is a detective apprentice, in the Sam Spade mode. "I used to be that young man, almost thirteen, walking alone down an empty street in a half-faded town." Under the aegis of his hapless "chaperone," S. Theodora Markson, Lemony successfully investigates the theft of a black wooden statue. In a style equal parts deadpan and just plain nutty, Snicket demonstrates his gift for metaphor -- "he looked like the child of a man and a log"; "he had the hairstyle one gets if one is attacked by a scissors-carrying maniac" -- and includes a game of referencing classic children's books in noirish terms: "I sat in my usual spot and read about someone who was a true friend and a good writer who lived on a bloodthirsty farm where nearly everyone was in danger of some sort." In terms of actual story, "loose ends" doesn't really begin to cover it, as per the Series of Unfortunate Events. Illustrations by cartoonist Seth are a perfect tonal match. Seth and Snicket, separated at birth? Take a deep breath, fans: this is the first of a new series. sarah ellis