Secretly living with your grandmother in a seniors only apartment building makes for a rather boring home for a middle schooler. With not much else to do, Sammy Keyes loves to use her binoculars to watch the residents of the Heavenly Hotel across the street. Grams always warns her not to spy on other people but Sammy can't help herself. When she sees a robbery take place, Sammy becomes a valuable witness that no one seems to believe. She knows what she saw but she can't seem to convince anyone but Grams and her best friend Marissa of the truth. Since the police won't take the case seriously, Sammy takes it upon herself to solve the mystery of the hotel thief once and for all.
I first read this book years ago when I was kid and adored Sammy with her spunky attitude and intelligent mind. I decided to reread it as an adult and I can gladly say it is still a wonderful, short novel for both kids and adults alike. The author is a incredible writer and knows how to make relatable characters and interesting plots. I could easily connect to characters and imagine them as real people. The mystery was not easy to solve and I found myself wondering what would happen next. Full of intriguing twists and unexpected endings, this is a superb mystery book. This is the first book in the Sammy Keyes series, meaning that the reader doesn't have to say goodbye to Sammy until book 18. This book is a great choice for children from upper-elementary through middle school and is available through PINES.
~Abigail C.
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