Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen

December 1, 2019
A fictional version of young Agatha Christie, a bloodthirsty writer, is in an excellent position to solve a gruesome mystery. It's 1902, and 12-year-old Aggie is a strange child in her largely white, English hometown. She's overwhelmingly shy yet gifted with a cutthroat imagination. Thanks to her "Morbid Preoccupation," Aggie is nearly unfazed when she discovers a corpse at her dancing lesson. But when two of Aggie's favorite people are suspected of the murder, she is determined to learn the truth. With the help of a Belgian refugee boy named Hector Perot, Agatha must find the real killer even if her mother, the constables, and an eager journalist all get in her way. A classic anonymous letter made of letters cut out of newspaper must be a key clue, surely. Fictionalizing both the author Agatha Christie and her famous creation as characters in the same mystery is an infelicitous choice at best. Within the world of the tale, Hector adds little; Aggie is the real detective of the pair. Nonetheless, myriad little touches keep this both exciting and enjoyable. Aggie's grandmother is funny and quite saucy. The girl's grief over her recently dead father manifests genuinely: as sudden flashes of grief, as irritation with his financial mismanagement, and as fond recollections of the delicious cake that had appeared in the wake of his death. The protagonist makes a remarkable, cool, and likable detective despite some literary dead weight. (author's note, sources) (Historical mystery. 9-11)

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December 23, 2019
Child sleuths investigate a poisoning in this winning whodunit based on Agatha Christie’s childhood. In 1902 Torquay, Aggie Morton, 12, whose father recently died, has what her mother calls a “Morbid Preoccupation.” Additionally, the aspiring writer, homeschooled and often shy, likes crafting descriptive variations (“eyes like lime cordial?... Glittering emeralds?”). In a chance sweet-shop encounter, she befriends Belgian refugee Hector Perot, a fastidious boy staying for a time nearby (“our own little immigrant,” his hosts call him). After leaving her journal at her dance studio one evening following a charitable “Befriend the Foreigners” concert, Aggie returns to find a disagreeable local woman dead beneath the titular instrument. When an anonymous note with clues to the murderer’s identity appears, the children jump on the case, much to the delight of a prolific reporter and the keen frustration of the constabulary. Though Perot’s presence adds little more than Easter eggs (e.g., his namesake’s phrasing habits) to the otherwise well-plotted mystery, he is set up to play a larger role in future installments. Jocelyn (One Yellow Ribbon) offers an enjoyable entrée to the Queen of Crime and to the genre; the narrative’s arch tone, the girl’s vital grandmother, and the novel’s surfeit of extravagant teas should please. Character portraits and chapter heading spot art from Follath (Joy) add whimsical appeal. Ages 10–up.

January 1, 2020
In 1902 Torquay, England, twelve-year-old Aggie befriends a Belgian refugee, Hector Perot, and investigates a murder roiling the town. When Mrs. Eversham, known throughout town for her sharp tongue and bad temper, is found dead on the floor of her sister-in-law's dance studio, Miss Marianne is the prime suspect. Aggie is certain her beloved dance teacher is innocent, so she evades adult oversight to solve the crime (with Hector's help). Plenty of red herrings keep Aggie discovering and discarding clues, and she finds as her investigation intensifies that the adults of Torquay appreciate her assistance less than they should. The young characters have a good deal of autonomy, driving a plot where parents, grandparents, and police officers are merely tolerated presences in the children's world. Aggie, an observant outsider, is an engaging protagonist, with wide-eyed curiosity balanced by acute insights about many of the people in her community. Jocelyn keeps readers guessing throughout the book, but the eventual reveal of the perpetrator is believable, carefully clued, and satisfying. A solid dose of tart wit ("Irma Eversham will be honored by more people as she enters her eternal slumber than she spoke to civilly in all of 1902") makes it an extra-enjoyable read; readers will eagerly anticipate the (hinted-at) further adventures of Aggie and Hector. An author's note explains that the story is inspired by Agatha Christie's childhood, and while Christie fans may pick up on the many subtle references to her books and characters (Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple), the mystery stands on its own.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2020
In 1902 Torquay, England, twelve-year-old Aggie befriends a Belgian refugee, Hector Perot, and investigates a murder roiling the town. When Mrs. Eversham, known throughout town for her sharp tongue and bad temper, is found dead on the floor of her sister-in-law's dance studio, Miss Marianne is the prime suspect. Aggie is certain her beloved dance teacher is innocent, so she evades adult oversight to solve the crime (with Hector's help). Plenty of red herrings keep Aggie discovering and discarding clues, and she finds as her investigation intensifies that the adults of Torquay appreciate her assistance less than they should. The young characters have a good deal of autonomy, driving a plot where parents, grandparents, and police officers are merely tolerated presences in the children's world. Aggie, an observant outsider, is an engaging protagonist, with wide-eyed curiosity balanced by acute insights about many of the people in her community. Jocelyn keeps readers guessing throughout the book, but the eventual reveal of the perpetrator is believable, carefully clued, and satisfying. A solid dose of tart wit ("Irma Eversham will be honored by more people as she enters her eternal slumber than she spoke to civilly in all of 1902") makes it an extra-enjoyable read; readers will eagerly anticipate the (hinted-at) further adventures of Aggie and Hector. An author's note explains that the story is inspired by Agatha Christie's childhood, and while Christie fans may pick up on the many subtle references to her books and characters (Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple), the mystery stands on its own. Sarah Rettger

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)