LOOKING FOR HAMLET: A Haunting at Deeping Lake

by Hope Campbell ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1987

Distraught after quitting a hopelessly inept production of Hamlet, thwarted in her all-consuming goal of playing Ophelia, the young but experienced professional actress Taryn repairs to an Adirondack resort where Mom and some old friends (all former pros) stage a play. There, Taryn falls in love with Craig (he overhears her doing Ophelia and chimes in with Hamlet's lines) and is haunted by the ghost of Caroline, drowned after playing Ophelia. Caroline was Craig's grandmother; there may have been foul play; three old actors in residence at the hotel behave oddly. The play produced in the present is based on the 40-year-old mystery, and serves to ""catch the conscience of the king"" as well as to set the ghost to rest. Campbell, a former actress and author of several other books for young people (Mystery at Fire Island), sets her scenes well, gives her characters engaging dialogue laced with Shakespearean quotes, and keeps her story moving On closer examination, the plot has more drama than logic (since the culprit is elderly and incompetent, revenge is irrelevant, and the denouement proves to be Craig's introduction to a long-lost great-uncle). Still, this will amuse mystery and ghost fans.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 238

Publisher: Macmillan

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1987

Categories: CHILDREN'S