MAX AND MADDY AND THE BURSTING BALLOONS MYSTERY

Max and Maddy return to solve their second mystery: Who's sabotaging the hot-air balloons in an important balloon race? The siblings have inherited their parents' sleuthing ability (the Twists owned a detective agency that was scuttled by the evil Professor Sardine), and rich Mr. Helium asks the kids to use their abilities to aid him. As mysteries go, there's little surprise or tension here, and some details stretch the credulity of an older audience--though many will enjoy the idea of a fur-lined balloon basket or a balloonist dismounting via the neck of a giraffe. And children and adults alike will appreciate the velvety, elegant, good-humored tones of Smith as he reads. His unhurried pacing and evident enjoyment of his characters are most pleasing to the ear. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]