The Mask on the Cruise Ship: A Dinah Galloway Mystery

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

Twelve-year-old singing sensation Dinah, who has been featured in two
earlier mysteries—The Spy in the Alley (2002) and The Man in the
Moonstone (2003)—is providing entertainment on a cruise to Alaska. Her
sleuthing capabilities come into play when a priceless First Nations
mask is stolen and Dinah herself is physically attacked.

How Dinah discovers the identity of the thief, helps to apprehend him,
and is instrumental in retrieving the mask is skilfully interwoven with
the day-to-day concerns common to adolescence—family problems,
burgeoning self-awareness, and awareness of the opposite sex. The author
has an excellent understanding of adolescent foibles, dreams, and
desires. It’s remarkable that so many themes are blended together so
seamlessly in such a slim volume.

Supporting the intricate plot are a believable surprise ending,
well-defined satellite characters, rich imagery and metaphor, and
evocative descriptions of place, particularly the Arctic scenery.
Capping the mix are many side-splittingly comical incidents, along with
some running gags that tie everything together.

I have just two minor quibbles: the occasionally too-adult sounding
dialogue coming out of the mouths of the teenage characters other than
the precocious Dinah (for whom it is appropriate); and the phlegmatic,
almost unconcerned, reaction by Dinah’s family to the attempted
robbery of their home (which does not ring true). Otherwise, the novel
is excellent and highly recommended.