The characters are diverse and likeable. Fred has appeared in several previous stories in the Formac "First Novels" series. Gran Jackie is a lively character with her skating outfit of "purple leggings, pink roller-blades with gold sequins...she looked like the atomic ant in cartoons." This book is written in first person, past tense which should let the reader identify with the main character. However, the writing (a translation) is uneven with frequent passages where the passive voice is overused: "We were sitting...I was worried...Rick had been spending...I was feeling." This approach tends to slow the pace and distance the reader. It also makes the reading tedious. In addition, cliches turn up too often: "work like a dog," "built like a rake," "tough as old boots." Occasional difficult (for the intended age) vocabulary is used: proffering, accentuated, discombobulated.

      The opening chapters promise an action-filled story. Suspense is created early in this mystery with the nighttime, in-line skate/search party and the spooky description of the house. Unfortunately, the later chapters do not carry it through. The plot is somewhat contrived, and the momentum suffers once the house is located. Everyone avoids the obvious move, going to the door. It does not seem totally credible that caution would completely neutralize curiosity in kids that age. They all end up eating ice cream in Gran's friend's nearby apartment, letting the suspense melt away. Fred wanders off in the wrong direction, gets lost for a whole chapter and does nothing to help himself. He is returned to the starting point by Gran's mechanic. This scene is a distraction which introduces an unnecessary character and does not advance the plot. The mystery is solved half-way through Chapter 6 (of only 7 short chapters) with another complete chapter devoted to the resolution. But Fred does not appear to have learned anything meaningful through the course of the story. Rick returned home of his own accord, once his temporary job was finished.

Recommended.