Behind the Curtain: An Echo Falls Mystery (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Ingrid Levin-Hill, the eighth-grade Sherlock Holmes lover introduced in Down the Rabbit Hole (HarperCollins, 2005), is back for another adventure. She quotes her hero quite often as she tries to sort out details that she observes around her. In trying to figure out why her brother is so moody, why her dad is in jeopardy of losing his job, and why her grandfather's property is so valuable, the teen stumbles upon some of her town's secrets. Then, when she is kidnapped but is able to escape, she can't get anyone to believe her. This is a fast-paced mystery with well-defined characters and a plausible plotline and ending. Although a few references are made to the earlier book, this enjoyable story stands on its own.-Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Gr. 6-9. The second entry in the Echo Falls Mystery series, as successful as its predecessor, starts with puzzling questions that spring right from Ingrid Levin-Hill's own life: Why is her football-mad older brother suddenly so much stronger, and why has her father been so tense lately? The plot unfolds slowly at first, but Abrahams' exceptional overlay of detail, especially descriptions of the particular stresses and the goofy occurrences that mark Ingrid's experiences as an eighth-grader, makes the story very convincing as the action builds. Ingrid discovers anabolic steroids are behind her brother's improved performance and new aggressiveness (and also behind some of the mysterious behavior of various people in her town), but just as she is about to do something with her knowledge, she is kidnapped. She escapes, but police don't believe her story, and she has to set up her own sting to prove she is telling the truth. A timely issue gives this mystery a "ripped from the headlines" flavor, but the real kick for readers comes from a believable eighth-grade heroine's investigation of a high-school scandal. Connie Fletcher
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060737069
• ISBN-13: 978-0060737061
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #237,464 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Case Book of Ingrid Levin-Hill, August 18, 2006

By	Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Behind the Curtain: An Echo Falls Mystery (Hardcover)

Once again Peter Abrahams returns to the world of Echo Falls, where young Ingrid Levin-Hill is just trying to get by, navigating the slippery slopes of being a kid in the 21st century. While basically she's got a warm and protective family, there's always some friction going on, just like real life. In this book Ty's problem with anabolic steroids becomes more and more the center of Ingrid's worries. She notices things about him her mom and dad are just to preoccupied to see, or too blind, for they're proud of him and his success in organized sport in school.

Meanwhile her dad, who as we all remember works for a corporation owned by the richest man in town, feels threatened by the incursion of a new, chic, blonde dynamo who's become thisclose to the boss. Ferrand's not only wealthy, but evil, and Ingrid wouldn't put it past him to dump her dad in favor of this new executive woman, Julia LeCaine, who as it happens is also the new coach of her soccer team and sort of ruthless. At 99 Maple Lane everyone's got a secret (except Mom, and I bet that will be in the next book in the series) and the gorgeous scenery of Echo Falls is often ironically counterpointed to the nasty behavior of its human residents.

Grampy (Aylmer Hill) is still alive, though he's sinking, and his farm is under siege from developers led by the same Ferrand Group that his son-in-law works for. It would be a great coup for Dad in the company if he was the one who secured the land away from Grampy. Ingrid doesn't want to see that happen.

In the middle of all this, she is falling in love, not a huge passionate love but a solid friendship with Joey Strade, the solid son of the town's Police Chief. Ingrid doesn't really know how she feels about that! Peter Abrahams weaves all these threads into a fantastic thriller for kids of all ages. Ingrid's love of Conan Doyle and the Sherlock Holmes stories guides her through a world of trouble. "As Ho;mes told Watson," she reminds herself, "Never trust to general impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details." I rate this book higher than DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE and, unlike the other reviewers here who claim they knew the answer to the mystery right away, I was honestly baffled and shocked by the multiple endings. What will be next for Ingrid? "An Awfully Big Adventure"? Without a doubt.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Echo Falls's Sherlock Holmes, May 16, 2006

By	Bennet Pomerantz "Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD" (Seabrook, Maryland) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Behind the Curtain CD: An Echo Falls Mystery (Echo Falls Mysteries) (Audio CD)

Echo Falls is small town Peyton Place where everyone has a secret. Behind every door is a mystery. You need a young teen detective to get beneath the town's skin

Behind the Curtain (eight hours, six CDs. unabridged) is a masterful piece of young adult storytelling that also does not talk down to adults.This sequal to "Down the Rabbit Hole" works on so many mystery levels, especially on audio.



Ingrid is a young Nancy Drew/Veronica Mars clone who idolizes The great detective Sherlock Holmes. The book's lit reference to Sherlock, Nancy Drew and the Wizard of OZ will catch the adult ears, where it may skiped over by the young adults who listen to this piece. The myatery seems so good. This piece is character driven and moves like a Le Carre Smiley novel-piecing the puzzle slowly as any good mystery piece would


Peter Abrahams text blended with the narrative vocals of Colleen Delaney works so well. Her vocal shade is amazing. The pacing of this audio production is steady, rather than rushed..as most young adult audios are. as a Listener(as I did), You want this audio to go on and continue this story ...you become spellbound with the characters and the town.


Personal note- Peter, when is your next book? I'm Hooked!

Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars to the reviewer below, July 27, 2006

By	J.C. "librarian wannabe" (Vernon, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind the Curtain: An Echo Falls Mystery (Library Binding)

some 13 year olds read Sherlock Holmes. Not all kids have been affected by the dumbing down of America.