  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 10/01/2011 Gr 3–6—This first book in the series is uneven and ultimately unsatisfying. Told through the perspective of a Snicket-esque third-person narrator, it begins the story of Wilma Tenderfoot, orphan and aspiring detective. When she's hired as a servant for bitter Mrs. Waldock, she gets the chance to fulfill her dreams: legendary detective Theodore P. Goodman lives next door. While he attempts to solve a mystery involving a stolen jewel and victims found with frozen hearts, Wilma willfully inserts herself into the case, sometimes finding clues and sometimes just getting into trouble. For much of the book, even young readers may sympathize with Goodman over Wilma. She is a bit plucky, too precocious, and her appearances can be a grating. The mystery itself is interesting and develops well as Goodman, and, in a parallel plot line, villainous Barbu D'Anvers, follow well-placed clues to discover the culprit. However, the resolution is weak, and the frozen hearts have little to do with the culprit or plot.—Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 11/01/2011 The headmistress of the Cooper Island Lowside Institute for Woeful Children has had just about enough of Wilma Tenderfoot’s mischief, so Wilma is shipped off to be the unlucky servant of a dreadful old woman on the other side of the island. Luckily for Wilma, however, her new gig turns out to be not so bad: sure, she has to clean up the old toenail clippings of her new boss, but she’s managed to make friends with the resident dog. Better still, her new next-door neighbor is none other than Theodore P. Goodman, renowned detective and Wilma’s hero. Despite Goodman’s insistence that he does not need an apprentice, Wilma is quite sure she would make an excellent one, and to prove it to him, she decides to try to solve his latest case involving a missing gemstone and two unsolved murders. While most of her efforts prove to be futile and, at times, cause the detective even more trouble, Wilma’s plucky resolve and winsome spirit endear her to both the adults in the story and the reader as well. The third-person narration carries a bit of gloomy snark, reminiscent of Lemony Snicket, but the darker elements here are counterbalanced by Wilma’s irresistible charm. The mystery itself is cleverly set up, with plenty of clues and red herrings for the reader to follow, and the ultimate revelation of the villain will bring a big smile to those familiar with Scooby-Doo. Between this and Angie Frazier’s Suzanna Snow and the Mystery of the Midnight Tunnel (BCCB 3/11), young Nancy Drew wannabes will find their sleuthing skills put to the test. KQG - Copyright 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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