The Supernormal Sleuthing Service #1: The Lost Legacy: A Great Fall and Halloween Read for Kids

“Monstrous fun!”—Booklist

Three kids. A hotel full of monsters. And a stolen magical artifact that could disrupt the balance between the humans and the supernatural. Welcome to life at Hotel Monster! Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library meets Hotel Transylvania in the first book of this hilarious and spooky new series that blends mystery with monsters.

Stephen’s dad has moved their two-person family across the country to New York City, where he is taking over as head chef in an exclusive hotel. A hotel that has the most elite of clientele: monsters (though they prefer to be called supernormals). Surprise! And an even bigger surprise? Stephen is part supernormal himself.

When a magical family heirloom is stolen and Stephen is framed, he must work with two new friends to navigate this whole new world and clear his name. After all, consequences can be dire in the world of monsters.

Spooky, funny, and full of monstrous hijinks, The Lost Legacy is an inventive and accessible mystery-adventure full of friendship and humor—perfect for fans of Pseudonymous Bosch and R. L. Stine’s Goosebumps series.

Gr 4–6—First in a new series, this is a fun, character-driven supernatural mystery. When Stephen's beloved grandmother, Chef Nana, dies, his dad suddenly uproots them from Chicago to New York City, where his dad takes over Chef Nana's job as head chef at the New Harmonio, an exclusive hotel for...monsters. Stephen learns in quick succession that Supernaturals are real, his mother is a missing Fae princess, and her family wants to manipulate Stephen to gain power. He teams up with the other hotel children (Sophia the warrior and Ivan the detective as well as a Bigfoot, a dragon, and a talking elevator) in a race against time to save his family from certain doom. Character development is quite satisfying, as the children start out whiny and distrustful but become brave and resourceful. The authors artfully meld the supernatural with the modern. In one scene, the children use their cell phone ringers to scare a ghoul. Black-and-white, cartoon-style line drawings by Thomas establish just the right mood for the quirky setting and characterization. VERDICT The story is fast-paced and full of action, with eccentric characters and a rewarding resolution. A solid purchase for any sized budget.—Terry Ann Lawler, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix