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Twin detectives Katie and Mickey suspect that the disappearance of a marching band before a parade is linked to an attempted robbery at the local bank

Mickey Dixon wants to be a detective when she grows up. Her twin, Kate, wants to be a scientist. When the Chatham Strutters marching band disappears less than two hours before the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, both girls bring their special skills to the case. Mickey is the first to get involved, discovering that the bank has been robbed and figuring that this incident is linked to the band's disappearance. But it's Kate who notices clay caked in the tires of the band's school bus and narrows down the number of places the band could be. Working together, the twins, the police and the banker find the band and the ``robber'' who didn't rob the bank, but just staged the incident to get the bank interested in buying his special safes. The parade goes on. This is a small mystery, only slightly far-fetched, and the solutions the twins provide seem realistic. Mickey and Kate's separate needs to assert their individuality without resorting to the good/evil formula is refreshingly novel. (7-10) Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information.

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Gr 3-4 Twin sisters Mickey and Kate Dixon dream of being a detective and a scientist, respectively. Luckily, the two are able to pool their talents to solve the mysterious case of a busload of musicians who disappear on the very day of the Thanksgiving Day parade. Markham's third holiday mystery with the Dixon twins is pleasant but unremarkable. Its denouement is highly improbable, as is the readiness of the prime victim to forgive and forget, resulting in a happy ending for all concerned. Still, young readers will enjoy the corny humor. Additional pluses are the pen-and-ink sketches, scattered profusely throughout the book and the gimmick of having twins as heroes. While not outstanding, this mystery story will make an acceptable purchase for collections in which the demand for mysteries for this age level exceeds supply. Ruth Reutter, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Ohio Copyright 1986 Cahners Business Information.