Hurricane Heist (2) (The Sherlock Society)

After escaping an exploding yacht during their quest to find Al Capone's treasure in The Sherlock Society, siblings Alex and Zoe are back. This time, they are being chased by dogs and being threatened by a rhinoceros while trying to solve a 60 year old mystery. The aftermath of Hurricane Clyde has revealed a dead body at the Moroccan Hotel, and the group has a lot of motivation to solve the mystery. Their grandfather, Pete Lassiter, knew the victim and has been investigating his purported involvement in a jewel heist at the hotel on and off since 1964. Back then, young Pete was helping his father deliver supplies to fortify the hotel against another hurricane. Their friend Doc, whose real name was Ignacio, was a pediatrician who lived in Cuba and could only get work as the Bell Captain at the fancy hotel. When a movie, The Cat Strikes at Midnight, was being filmed there, real jewelry and artwork was used. After the hurricane, it went missing, but so did Doc. He was presumed to be the thief, especially since his car was found far away at Dulles International Airport, and a ticket to Europe was bought in his name. The CIA decided he was guilty, even though young Pete tried to prove his innocence, even contacting Edna van Buren at the Miami Herald to help him. Even though he couldn't close the case, it inspired his career as an influential investigative journalist. Now 73 and retired, when Doc's body is found, he provides the Sherlock Society, which includes Yada and Lina, with his 60 year old notes. The group also manages to find some of the original investigators at an area senior facility, and get lots of information from them. Combined with visiting various Florida locations to follow up leads, they are able to figure out who really stole the art. Even after so many years, however, someone wants to stop the society from uncovering the truth.

“The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist” by James Ponti is a wonderful sequel to Ponti’s first book in this series. The same characters are back, including Alex, Zoe, and their grandfather, along with their friends, Yadi and Lina. Even though they’re in middle school, they work together, using Grandpa’s connections to solve an old, though newly re-opened, crime.

When Grandpa was only 12 years old, he went with his father to deliver supplies to a hotel before a hurricane. Little did he know that the hotel’s bell captain, who also was a friend to him, would be accused of theft and running from the law after the hurricane was over. Lots of artwork from a movie that was supposed to be filmed on site disappeared that day, and so did the bell captain. Grandpa always maintained the man’s innocence, even though there were times when he questioned himself, much to his chagrin.

Sixty some years later, another hurricane washes up the body of that bell captain, and though it would seem the case is long dead and buried, almost literally, Grandpa and his mentees work to give Grandpa’s friend the justice he deserves. If he was dead all these years, he couldn’t have escaped with the artwork and driven past checkpoints. Little by little, they discover the truth behind what actually happened, using some friends from the FBI and their trusty five Ws (who, what, when, where, why), along with the addition of some H words, as they learn more about how it all happened, from the hotel to the heist to the Hollywood connections.

The story is great for all ages, and the back and forth between the past and present makes the story that much more engaging and delightful. Both books in this series should be on any mystery lover’s must read list!