CORDELIA UNDERWOOD

A Down East Dickens? Van Reid has concocted this tale of quirky characters and Maine lore. The title character inherits a plot of land upstate, which might contain buried treasure, and eventually connects with Tobias Walton and his three foppish friends, who are prone to strange adventures. One senses that Reid had fun writing this, and Addison seems to enjoy reading it. He picks up on the subtle humor and, to his credit, does not attempt a Maine accent. The prose is formal, behavior is always correct and the pace meanders. One hopes the Moosepath League (Walton et al.) live on in further adventures. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 00]