Into the Dark: An Echo Falls Mystery

Abrahams, P. (2008). Into the Dark: An Echo Falls Mystery. New York: Laura Geringer Books.

Plot Description: Ingrid has a close relationship with her Grampy, but he isn't as friendly and open with others and tends to come across as brash and moody. One day while Ingrid and her friend Joey are snowshoeing, they find a dead body in Grampy's backyard. The body is that of Harris Thatcher, an employee of the Department of Conservation, who has an uncanny resemblance to Grampy. Unfortunately, a few weeks earlier Grampy had had a disagreement with Mr. Harris and had threatened him with a gun, which leads to Grampy being the prime suspect and ultimately arrested. Ingrid knows that he is innocent. It is up to her to use the skills she has learned from her idol, Sherlock Holmes, to solve the crime and save Grampy from prison.

Her first clue comes when she finds a parking ticket in Grampy's shirt. It indicates that he was at Mercy Hospital in New York City for a four-day period that coincides with the murder. She isn't sure what to do with this information yet, but she knows it will come in useful. Then Ingrid's world starts falling apart when she finds out that her dad has been having an affair, her best friend is moving away, and her Grampy is going to take a plea bargain and admit he is guilty. Ingrid decides to go to New York to try to find more evidence. While there, she finds Grampy's hospital file, which gives him an alibi for the time of the murder. This is great news, but the file also indicates that he has terminal cancer. Ingrid is torn about what to do. Part of her wants to tell the police about her new evidence, but the other part doesn’t want to betray Grampy and violate his privacy.

After returning from New York, Ingrid finds out more bad news: Her dog, Nigel, is missing. After spending hours looking for him, she collects enough clues to realize that he has been taken by the private investigator Dieter. Dieter's mother has a connection to Cyrus, a fellow war veteran of Grampy’s, and Ingrid knows that she needs to check him out. Unsure what to do next, she decides to check out the cottage where Cyrus is living, where she finds Nigel in the basement, tied up and muzzled, along with the murder weapon: a Springfield sniper gun. Before she can get out, Cyrus returns and is very upset. Ingrid is able to briefly escape, but he catches up and chases her through the woods and down to the river. Just as he is about to run her over, the ice cracks and he falls through. The police are able to review the new evidence indicting Cyrus, and Grampy is cleared. He is able to move back to his farm, and he and Ingrid remain close.

Genre: Mystery

Suggested age range: 9 to 13

Annotation: This book highlights the relationship between a grandfather and granddaughter. It shows how strong this relationship came be and how far a person is willing to go for another.

Subject/themes: World War II, Family, Murder.

Awards:

• Edgar Award (nominated)
• Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Master List (VT)

Reviews:

• Booklist (May 1, 2008)
• School Library Journal (March 1, 2008)
• Voice of Youth Advocates (December 1, 2007)

Character list:

• Ingrid - A 13-year-old girl; her idol is Sherlock Holmes, and she tries to follow his advice in solving the mystery.
• Alymer Hill (Grampy) - Ingrid's grandfather; he is a World War II veteran and won the Medal of Honor.
• Joey - One of Ingrid's good friends; his father is the chief of police.
• Rex Tulkinghorn - Grampy's lawyer.
• Cyrus Ferrand - A World War II veteran who fought with Grampy.
• Dieter - A private investigator; his mother is the maid for Cyrus Ferrand, he kidnaps Nigel.

Series information: Down the Rabbit Hole and Behind the Curtain are the first two books in the Echo Falls series.

High-interest annotation: Data, data data. If only Ingrid could collect and understand all the clues like Sherlock Holmes. It is up to her to save her Grampy from prison, but first she must find out who the real killer is.