THE CASE OF THE NICEFERATU

A 13-year-old paranormal sleuth faces an influx of vampires in Martin’s middle-grade novel, one in a series.

Elderton, North Carolina may seem like any old small town, but it’s home to Dotty Morgan, a clever paranormal detective. Despite her success as a sleuth, her school life hasn’t exactly gotten easier, as Dotty still faces daily teasing from boys on the basketball team. And even though she’s spent the past year training at the local MMA studio, she’s not much use in a fight; after she and her girlfriend, Hannah, are attacked in the locker room following one of Hannah’s wrestling matches, this reality is thrown into stark relief. The incident leaves the girls shaken, and when strange rumors and shadowy strangers begin to circulate, Dotty’s detective instincts kick into overdrive. Her suspicions are confirmed when a swarm of vampires descends on the town for a sinister gathering known as the Fifty-Year Feast (“This cycle will herald an era of unrivaled strength and prosperity”). The arrival of a vampire hunter adds another wrinkle when Dotty discovers that not all vampires are monsters. Still, she can’t ignore the ones who thirst for blood and power, and with Hannah benched by a sledding injury, Dotty will have to investigate without her usual backup. Helping her along the way is her fashion-obsessed friend Parker, whose style and confidence bring levity and warmth to the bleak, snowbound mystery. The narrative juggles horror, mystery, and moral tension with remarkable grace. Readers will admire Dotty’s courage and vulnerability as she navigates her various relationships and the fine line between good and evil. The pacing never lags as each revelation raises the stakes and forces Dotty to make choices with far-reaching consequences. The novel explores themes of bravery and kindness in an easy-to-follow manner. The vampires are frightening, but the story’s power comes from its acknowledgment of the value of different kinds of abilities, the bonds of friendship and young love, and the hero’s determination to do what’s right, no matter what.

A gripping, heartfelt mystery that deftly balances age-appropriate scares and serious themes.