Abrahams, Peter. 2007. Behind the Curtain. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN-13: 9780060737061.
Mysteries abound in Echo Falls and Ingrid is caught in the middle! Her brother Ty is up to something strange - the clues? He's hanging out with unexpected people, lifting much more weight than normal, and back acne? Yuck! But that's the least of her troubles - Dad is upset about work, his new co-worker is a little too sly, and someone is trying to force Grampy off his property. With Sherlock Holmes as her guide in all such mysterious matters, Ingrid tries to make sense of the unending questions, but answers seem to evade her every step of the way. Between being kidnapped, no one believing her story, a visit with a shrink, and the sting-operation she plans, Ingrid's determination to get to the truth finds her in almost over her head. Saved by two allies, Chief Strade and Grampy, the three are finally able to fit together the pieces of the puzzle for a surprising resolution. Ingrid's energy is contagious and delightful. Some of the mystery is easier to catch on to than others, so readers are constantly engaged in the book - solving right alongside Ingrid (and Sherlock Holmes!) Fast-paced and well-written, this book was especially entertaining.
"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. The 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."
School Library Journal; April 2006, Vol. 52 Issue 4.
"After her involvement in the Cracked-Up Katie case (Down the Rabbit Hole, BCCB 4/05), Ingrid knows that things are often more complicated that they seem. The pimples that showed up on her brother Ty's newly muscled back at the end of the last book are getting worse, as is his attitude, and Ingrid suspects that something is amiss. As a detective, though, she is thoughtful rather than aggressive, almost reluctant to draw conclusions that would shake up her world. The same reluctance applies to her probing of her father's and her grandfather's situations--she understands vaguely that her dad's job is being threatened by a newly hired vice president in charge of development and that someone is again trying to force Grampy to sell his farm, but she doesn't push or dig other than to ask a few questions that they aren't willing to answer. As in the previous book, Ingrid has some close shaves with some very violent people; the two mysteries--Ty's steroid use and her father's new rival--touch Ingrid without touching each other, complicating the ability of Chief Strade, Ingrid's police ally, to solve either case. Ingrid's wry wit and precise reasoning once again draw readers into close connection with an active and engaging mind, reinforcing her solid appeal as a character. Abrahams is bravely wise in drawing his adults as well: Ingrid's father is allowed to be as snappish, sullen, and bullheaded as a man with stress at work and teenagers starting to cause trouble is likely to be--no platitudes or heroic patience and understanding here. Chief Strade continues as an able partner for Ingrid, shrewd yet circumspect, trusting her veracity even when evidence points away from it, all the while giving Joey, his son who's crushing on Ingrid, subtle instruction in gentlemanly behavior and courtship. Fans will relish the continued adventure while readers new to Echo Falls will find the substantial appeal here reason enough to go back for the first time in the series."
Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books; September 2006, v. 60 no. 1.
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