Weltman, June. Mystery of the Missing Candlestick. Mayhaven Publishing, 2004. 216 p. $23.95. (ISBN 1878044-98-2).

It is a pity that a YA mystery novel with an intriguing locale--St. Augustine, Florida--falls so flat. Three teenage girls visit St. Augustine on the shallow premise that Rebecca's grandfather needs her help. It turns out that he doesn't, but the girls get involved in solving a mystery anyway. A candlestick belonging to the grandfather has been stolen from the synagogue. Matilda (we are repeatedly told) is just the person to solve the case.

The characters are stereotyped with little humor or color. The conflict between them is artificial; the dialogue, wooden. And just when I was starting to figure out who was who, along came another group of people I had to get to know.

This book is like a bad history lesson. The author has obviously done her research. A bibliography attests to that fact. However, the history is so didactic and heavy-handed that one loses any interest in what should have been fascinating. Rather than incorporating the history within the plot, the author gives us mini-lectures that put us to sleep.

The plot is predictable and wends its way in jerky, awkward scenes. Will the girls be able to solve the mystery? I am sorry to say that I just didn't care. For a mystery, this book is surprisingly lacking in suspense or tension.

The Mystery of the Missing Candlestick is an acceptable first draft but desperately needed a good editor to make it a page-turner.

Not recommended.

© Anne Dublin.

Originally published in AJL Newsletter, Sept/Oct. 2004.

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