MYSTERY AT THE BILTMORE

Accompanied by best bud Oscar Delgado and sharp-nosed Carnegie the terrier, 11-year-old gumshoe Elodie LaRue takes on an especially sticky case.

Elodie, who lives at the Biltmore—an opulent apartment building on New York City’s Upper West Side—already has two solved mysteries under her belt, so she’s sure she can help when she’s approached by Sebastian. A young man from Coney Island with bleached blond hair, piercings, and tattoos, Sebastian has an urgent case. His binder of recipes has gone missing—including one for a “cruffin” (a pastry/muffin mashup) he believes will guarantee the success of his nascent bakery. Detection again proves an exercise in careful observation and logical thinking, and attentive readers will spot the clue that helps Elodie figure it all out. In this installment, Elodie becomes more self-assured, and Oscar takes on more of the detecting work, with Elodie’s proud approval. Nelson’s lively writing and expert pacing sustain just-right tension while adding vocabulary-fortifying words like bravado and doppelgänger. Sprinklings of wisdom flavor the text: Vulnerability is normal, failure is OK, and life’s essential ingredients are self-confidence, friends, and imagination. Collins’ colorful art is as delicious as ever, depicting racially diverse, distinctive characters old and young. References to Manhattan institutions such as Zabar’s, as well as the inclusion of the Pawtographer—a pet photographer based on the real-life social media account the Dogist—make for a readily recognizable depiction of a modern-day New York City.

A toothsome treat for mystery fans.