Abrahams, Peter. Behind the curtain, an Echo Falls mystery.

ABRAHAMS, Peter. Behind the curtain, an Echo Falls mystery. HarperCollins, Laura Geringer Books. 348p. c2006. 0-06-073704-2. $15.99. J

This is a sequel to Down the Rabbit Hole, which introduced Ingrid, her family and community; it probably would stand alone as a story, but is best together with the first book. Echo Falls is a small town in Connecticut where Ingrid is in middle school. Her Grampy owns a farm that developers want to force him to sell. Ingrid's brother Ty is trying his best to succeed on the high school football team; she is convinced he is taking steroids and her curiosity uncovers some shady characters who easily could be selling the drugs in the community. So, when Ingrid is kidnapped and must escape from the trunk of a car, there are some likely suspects. Try convincing the powers that be, however. Most everyone thinks Ingrid made up the story and so it is up to her to prove she isn't lying--but that means she has to sneak around to discover her kidnapper. Characters from the first book are here: her friend Joey, who believes her; the police chief, Joey's father, who wants to believe her but doubts the evidence; Grampy, her fierce protector. The mystery is entertaining and well constructed. Something about Ingrid reminds me of another middle-school sleuth, Sammy Keyes, from the successful series by Wendelin Van Draanen. Claire Rosser, KLIATT

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers.