Author: Robin Stevens
Publication: Knopf Books for Young Readers (October 16, 2018)
Description: The adventure that began in Siobhan Dowd's popular and acclaimed novel The London Eye Mystery at long last continues with Ted, Kat, and their cousin Salim investigating a theft at the Guggenheim Museum that's been pinned on Salim's mother!
When Ted and his big sister, Kat, take a trip to New York to visit their cousin Salim and their aunt Gloria, they think they're prepared for big-city adventures. But when a famous painting is stolen from the Guggenheim Museum, where Aunt Gloria works, the surprises begin to mount faster than they could have anticipated. With the police looking at Aunt Gloria as the prime suspect, Ted, Kat, and Salim become sleuthing partners, following a trail of clues across NYC to prove her innocence--and to pinpoint the real thief. Ultimately, it comes down to Ted, whose brain works in its own very unique way, to find the key to the mystery.
My Thoughts: Ted, Kat and Salim solve their second mystery when Salim's mother is accused of stealing an important painting by Kandinsky from her new job at the Guggenheim Museum. Ted, Kat, and their mother are visiting in New York City which is a very stressful thing for Ted. Being autistic, he is better if he can stay in familiar surroundings. He is also concerned that people aren't staying the same. Kat and Salim seem to be communicating from London to New York and leaving him out. He's wondering if Salim is still his friend.
Ted, Kat, Salim, his aunt and his mother are all visiting the Guggenheim Museum on a day when it isn't open and a new exhibition - the first one his Aunt Gloria is in charge of - when smoke fills the museum, the fire alarms go off, the fire department comes, and when the smoke clears it is discovered that the painting is missing. Being Ted, he knows to the minute when each person left the museum. That list of people helps the kids when they begin to try to figure out who is trying to frame his aunt for the theft.
I liked the way Ted thinks and his unique viewpoint on events. I also liked that both Salim and Kat added their own viewpoints on the case. The pace was fast and the story was filled with action as the kids use their subway passes to travel all around New York City pursuing leads and eliminating suspects.
I liked the Author's Note which explains how Robin Stevens came to write this book after the untimely death of Siobhan Dowd who first introduced these characters in THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY and who had contracted for, but not yet begun, the mystery with this title.
Favorite Quote:
"Ted," she said. "I was stupid, and I'm sorry I was cross with you. It's just--look, it's not easy, being part of your family. You don't know it, but you need so much. All the time. Appointments, and lessons, and--things, Ted. And the more things you have, the less there is to go around. And I know you don't mean it, and you can't help it, but sometimes I wish...I wish everything wasn't always about you, all right? When I try to make it about me, I get yelled at. Mum and Dad want me to be sensible all the time, but I can't."I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.
"I can't help being me either, Kat," I said.
I love mysteries about art museums or pieces of stolen art. This one sounds great.
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