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Young mystery fans who aren't sufficiently challenged by children's whodunits will be happy to discover Muskopf. In her first book for young readers, she demonstrates easy command of a large and interesting cast of characters, her style is light and sure, and she is deft at plucking clues from subjects as varied as gardens, finance, Hamlet and food. Her amateur sleuths, Darcy and Leila, about 13, live in a decaying Victorian boarding house, complete with a troubled ghostthe polite, well-meaning Jeremiah Plum. Investigating his murder leads them to look beneath the surface of appearances, for as Darcy's Aunt Pru tells them, ``There's a lot more to people than personality.'' Though overlong and spread a bit too thinly, this is a diverting mystery, laced with insight. Ages 10-14. (April) Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.

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Gr 6-9The premise of Muskopf's mystery-cum-ghost story is promising as it involves a fussy, fastidious ghost named Jeremiah Plum, a search for bur ied treasure, and a nicely atmospheric setting in a northern California board ing house occupied by a pride of myste rious eccentrics. Unfortunately, while there are a few nice touches, like couching clues in the language of flow ers, on the whole the author fails to keep her promise. Problems of pacing, plot development, and scene construc tion; one-dimensional characterization; and a pat ending are among the causes. Or perhaps it would be simpler to say that unlike Jeremiah, who sparkles when he materializes, this novel doesn't.Michael Cart, Beverly Hills Public Library Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.

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Gr 6-9 The premise of Muskopf's mystery-cum-ghost story is promising as it involves a fussy, fastidious ghost named Jeremiah Plum, a search for buried treasure, and a nicely atmospheric setting in a northern California boarding house occupied by a pride of mysterious eccentrics. Unfortunately, while there are a few nice touches, like couching clues in the language of flowers, on the whole the author fails to keep her promise. Problems of pacing, plot development, and scene construction; one-dimensional characterization; and a pat ending are among the causes. Or perhaps it would be simpler to say that unlike Jeremiah, who sparkles when he materializes, this novel doesn't. Michael Cart, Beverly Hills Public Library Copyright 1987 Cahners Business Information.