The Drowned Violin

Darleen R. Golke is a high-school teacher-librarian in Abbotsford, B.C.

The first Alan Nearing mystery finds Alan and his friends Josee and
Ziggy leisurely paddling along near fictional Laingford, Ontario,
cottage country. They spy “something weird floating” in the water: a
smashed violin that sinks before Alan can retrieve it. The violin motif
continues throughout the mystery. Alan’s and his sister’s violins
and lessons, a visiting virtuoso with a Stradivarius, a dance band–era
violinist. With everyone (including Alan’s overprotective single mom
and talented older sister) hyped about the upcoming concert featuring a
Canadian virtuoso who won the use of a Stradivarius for five years, the
three 11-year-olds look forward to plenty of action. The trio of
adventurers becomes a quartet when Monica joins them.

With several adult mysteries to her credit, Malton delivers plenty of
action using fast-paced narrative and crisp dialogue generously laced
with humour. The quartet contends with bullies on jet skis (among them
Monica’s brother), a closet full of the loot from area cottage
break-ins, encounters with the area hermit, and the theft of the
Stradivarius. Determined to become a detective ever since the
disappearance of his photojournalist father, Alan insists on
investigating, and his compatriots eagerly assist. The quartet manages
to solve several mysteries around town in the process, earning the
respect of the community.

Easy-to-read prose, appealing characters, an intriguing plot, several
subplots, well-paced action, and realistic dialogue combine to present a
highly readable and well-crafted novel for preteen readers. Recommended.