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latad_books 's review for:
The Curious Vanishing of Beatrice Willoughby
by G. Z. Schmidt
Full of charm, quirkiness and humour, G.Z. Schmidt’s mystery about the disappearance of young Beatrice Willoughby (and mayor's daughter) at an annual party thrown by the Amadeus family kept me grinning and entertained from start to finish.
The Amadeus annual costume party is the talk of the town, and a favourite of those who have attended in the past. When Beatrice mysteriously vanished, the Amadeus family stopped holding the party, and isolated themselves, particularly after one of their own was arrested for the disappearance.
Interestingly, there have been other children who have also disappeared without a trace around the town.
The story opens some years later with a select group of individuals in the town receiving invitations to this year's party. Additionally, a travelling father and son, the Chaucer and Dewey O'Connor, are brought along with one of the guests. Chaucer is fascinated by magic and folklore, and Dewey O'Connor is a boy who likes the read,. and doesn't have friends, as other kids think he's weird.
When all the guests assemble, the Amadeus' caretaker advises them that they're there, which is to determine who is really responsible for Beatrice's disappearance. What ensues is a funny, sloppy, melodrama-filled investigation, which reminded me of the oddball energy of the "Clue" movie from many years ago. Dewey watches and listens carefully, slowly piecing together all the seemingly random facts we've been given up to this point about each guest and the other disappearances in the town, before figuring out who is actually behind the disappearance.
I totally enjoyed this. It's full of silliness, magic, a ghost dog, a countdown till midnight to keep the tension building, and over the top behaviour from all the characters, except from the delightful Dewey.
I also loved all the in-story folk tales as related by Chaucer (an amusing reference to the other, medieval Chaucer?), as they enriched the world author G.Z. Schmidt has created. The slightly ominous ending was also great, perhaps hinting at further encounters between Dewey and the culprit?...
Thank you to Netgalley and to Holiday House for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The Amadeus annual costume party is the talk of the town, and a favourite of those who have attended in the past. When Beatrice mysteriously vanished, the Amadeus family stopped holding the party, and isolated themselves, particularly after one of their own was arrested for the disappearance.
Interestingly, there have been other children who have also disappeared without a trace around the town.
The story opens some years later with a select group of individuals in the town receiving invitations to this year's party. Additionally, a travelling father and son, the Chaucer and Dewey O'Connor, are brought along with one of the guests. Chaucer is fascinated by magic and folklore, and Dewey O'Connor is a boy who likes the read,. and doesn't have friends, as other kids think he's weird.
When all the guests assemble, the Amadeus' caretaker advises them that they're there, which is to determine who is really responsible for Beatrice's disappearance. What ensues is a funny, sloppy, melodrama-filled investigation, which reminded me of the oddball energy of the "Clue" movie from many years ago. Dewey watches and listens carefully, slowly piecing together all the seemingly random facts we've been given up to this point about each guest and the other disappearances in the town, before figuring out who is actually behind the disappearance.
I totally enjoyed this. It's full of silliness, magic, a ghost dog, a countdown till midnight to keep the tension building, and over the top behaviour from all the characters, except from the delightful Dewey.
I also loved all the in-story folk tales as related by Chaucer (an amusing reference to the other, medieval Chaucer?), as they enriched the world author G.Z. Schmidt has created. The slightly ominous ending was also great, perhaps hinting at further encounters between Dewey and the culprit?...
Thank you to Netgalley and to Holiday House for this ARC in exchange for my review.