Goldie Vance: The Hotel Whodunit by Lilliam Rivera (review)

Sixteen-year-old Floridian Goldie Vance loves working and living at the Crossed Palms Resort, parking fancy cars and reveling in the who’s-who of famous hotel guests in early 1960s Florida, but she dreams of eventually taking over the position of in-house detective. Goldie is thrilled to find out that the entire cast and crew of a movie blockbuster, including world-famous star Delphine Lucerne, will be staying at the Crossed Palms, and the hotel’s safe will be housing the crown jewel of the picture: a diamond-encrusted swimming cap to be worn by Ms. Lucerne. Unfortunately, the swimming cap disappears right under the watchful eyes of Goldie and her mentor, current in-house detective Walter Tooey; will Goldie be able to find the cap and save the reputations (and jobs) of her friends and family? Based on the graphic novel series by Hope Larson, this middle-grade novel is kind to new series readers, offering a standalone adventure for Goldie and the gang. Goldie is appealing as a headstrong, confident, absurdly good-natured narrator who worms her way into the heart of the surprisingly normal star Lucerne. Any reader familiar with detective novels will predict the swimming cap’s disappearance (and perhaps the identity of the burglar) far before the case truly begins, but Rivera unravels the mystery in an enjoyable romp with a large cast of quirky, lovable characters. Final copy will include full-color illustrations.