Clever and spunky, Sammy Keyes is a sassy detective ready to take on both junior high and all those pesky local criminals. What I liked about this book was that it was not ridiculously simple to predict the outcome; there were actually many twists and turns in the plot. Plus, Sammy is a complex character - she is good at heart, but acts out at school and home. As she feels abandoned by her flaky mother, she also finds it difficult to control her emotions and outbursts. What prevails is a story with a heart, and a bit of good old fashioned whodunit. Sammy Keyes is most def the new Nancy Drew for the middle grade set.