The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing

Starred review from November 11, 2013
After solving a murder in their small North Carolina town over the summer, the heroes of Turnage’s Newbery Honor–winning Three Times Lucky “went famous for about a week until the gravity of habit pulled our lives back into regular orbit,” says narrator Mo LoBeau in this equally hilarious sequel. Sixth grade is starting, but who has time to worry about interviewing elderly residents for a history project to mark the town’s 250th anniversary when the dilapidated inn that Miss Lana, Mo’s guardian, just acquired at auction is obviously haunted? One mystery per book is not enough for Turnage, so there’s also buried treasure, a missing moonshine still, impending financial ruin, and strange goings-on in the woods. Not every thread is fully tied off, but the residents of Tupelo Landing are so companionable and Mo so indefatigable (and funny) that readers can only hope those loose ends mean another installment is in the works. The budding detective has clearly taken to heart something her foster mother always emphasizes: “All the world’s a stage, sugar, so hop on up there.” Ages 10–up. Agent: Melissa Jeglinski, the Knight Agency.

May 26, 2014
In this sequel to Newbery Honor–winning Three Times Lucky, Mo and Dale of the Desperado Detective Agency find themselves in the midst of another mystery involving their hometown of Tupelo Landing, N.C. But rather than bank robberies and dead bodies, this time around their investigation involves a supernatural twist. The sale of the Tupelo Inn sets off a chain of events that lead young detectives on a quest to find the origin of the ghosts that apparently haunt the inn. They must solve the case for the endearing Miss Lana, Mo’s guardian, now the owner of the inn, as well as for the ghosts themselves. Told through the eyes of Mo, the narration calls for a mixture of wide-eyed innocence, inquisitive gumption, and Southern charm. Fortgang sets the tone perfectly and is an absolutely charming narrator. Listeners will think that they’re listening to Mo tell her story directly. Her delivery is smooth and natural. The Southern twang, coupled with a shifting tempo of narration dependent upon the story’s need, produces a perfect mix for listening enjoyment. Ages 10–up. A Dial hardcover.