Mystery at the Biltmore: The Vanderhoff Heist

by Colleen Nelson, Peggy Collins (Illustrator)

Overview

The Biltmore in New York City is full of mysteries, and Elodie LaRue, a novice detective, plans to piece together the clues and solve the case of the missing jewels.

Left behind by her globe-trotting detective parents once again, Elodie decides to prove she’s worthy of joining them on a case by setting up her own detective agency at her renowned Upper West Side home, The Biltmore.

When a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings mysteriously disappear from Mrs. Vanderhoff’s apartment, Elodie is asked to solve the case. Elodie begins her investigation the way any good detective would, looking for clues and potential suspects. With twists, turns, and suspects galore, will Elodie be able to prove she has what it takes to solve a crime? Or will the LaRue Detective Agency fail on its first case? As Elodie, her dog Carnegie, and new friend Oscar (a self-proclaimed parkour master) delve deeper into the mystery, they encounter a quirky cast of characters, an array of clues, and a little bit of fun.

Colored vignettes by award-winning artist, Peggy Collins, are scattered throughout the story, bringing additional humor to the cast of quirky characters.

From the award-winning author of The Umbrella House, Colleen Nelson brings another New York apartment building to life in Mystery at the Biltmore. Written with charm and wit, Mystery at The Biltmore is Only Murders in the Building meets Harriet the Spy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772783278
Publisher:	Pajama Press Inc.
Publication date:	10/08/2024
Series:	Mystery at the Biltmore , #1
Pages:	136
Sales rank:	667,258
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.75(h) x (d)
Lexile:	720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

An author and elementary school teacher, Colleen Nelson earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in her hometown of Winnipeg. Her previous novels include the critically acclaimed Harvey Comes Home, Sadia, winner of the 2019 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, and Blood Brothers, selected as the 2018 McNally Robinson Book of the Year for Young People. Colleen writes daily in between appearances at hockey rinks and soccer fields in support of her two sports-loving sons.

Peggy Collins is an award-winning children’s book author-illustrator with more than 35 titles to her name, including Hungry for Math: Poems to Munch On, In the Snow, and In the Garden. She has also written and illustrated for animated apps teaching math, indigenous history, and education. Peggy lives in Newburgh, Ontario, with her two children.

Editorial Reviews

08/12/2024

Elodie LaRue has been left behind once again while her globe-trotting art crime investigator parents pursue another case. The 10-year-old resolves to start her own detective agency in the Biltmore, her historic Upper West Side apartment building, and is quickly hired by resident Mrs. Vanderhoff to find her missing earrings. With assistance from her West Highland terrier Carnegie and new friend Oscar Delgado, a parkour aficionado, Elodie methodically works through the inquiry by studying the scene of the crime, extrapolating the possible motivations for the theft, and scrutinizing the usual—and very unusual—suspects who populate her building. This engaging mystery, a series starter for early readers by Nelson (The Umbrella House), charms from page one. Elodie is a delightful lead character who demonstrates logic and compassion as she investigates, all the while fighting through doubts that she’s too young to be a detective. Bright and whimsical full-color illustrations by Collins (The Only Lonely Fairy) set the tone, and an author’s note provides context regarding various story elements. Elodie is “pale-skinned,” and Oscar has olive skin. Ages 7–8. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Mystery at the Biltmore

The Children’s Book Council “Hot Off the Press: October 2024” Feature

“Move over, Eloise at the Plaza: It’s Elodie at the Biltmore....Nelson draws out the mystery, planting clues and red herrings, explaining good reasoning, citing evidence, and providing a satisfying solution....An entertaining blend of quirky characters and locked-room puzzle.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This engaging mystery, a series starter for early readers...charms from page one. Elodie is a delightful lead character who demonstrates logic and compassion as she investigates, all the while fighting through doubts that she’s too young to be a detective.”—Publishers Weekly

“An engaging chapter-book mystery....Nelson’s characters are funny and well-rounded, and she carefully drops clues throughout the story to help young readers solve the mystery on their own before reaching the end. Collins’ full-color, cartoon illustrations capture each character’s quirkiness and reflect the racial diversity of a New York City apartment complex.”—Booklist

“There’s a new young detective in New York City, and her name is Elodie LaRue....Overall, this book can find an audience with readers who want to see an independent and assertive main character. A safe purchase for elementary school libraries in need of compelling female characters and where mysteries circulate well.”—School Library Journal

“Charming. The Biltmore, Elodie, and Oscar (and as always, a cute puppy) make this a total win.”—Kevin Sylvester, award-winning author of Apartment 713

From the Publisher

09/27/2024

Gr 3–5—There's a new young detective in New York City, and her name is Elodie LaRue. The only daughter of an art detective couple, Elodie lives on the Upper West Side with her live-in nanny, at an old, glamorous building called the Biltmore. In this series debut, Elodie's first case concerns jewels stolen from a neighbor. Alongside new friend Oscar, Elodie embarks on a clue-finding mission all over the property. Can Elodie and Oscar crack their first case together before the police arrive? This fast-paced short story includes illustrated vignettes by award-winning artist Collins. Though the resolution is sudden and not all that satisfactory, the build-up is properly paced. The main character and those around her have mannerisms and language that scream "old money." Elodie is certainly self-aware as she navigates the case and checks herself for making assumptions about the people she speaks with while solving the mystery of the missing jewels. Overall, this book can find an audience with readers who want to see an independent and assertive main character. VERDICT A safe purchase for elementary school libraries in need of compelling female characters and where mysteries circulate well.—Carol Youssif

School Library Journal

2024-07-04
Move over, Eloise at the Plaza: It’s Elodie at the Biltmore.

Ten-year-old Elodie LaRue’s art crime investigator parents leave her in the care of Miss Rosa and head off for the summer. Elodie, a resident of the exclusive Upper West Side Biltmore—a fictional building based on New York City’s Apthorp—decides to prove her detecting chops in the hopes that her often-absent parents will let her join them next time. She begins looking into the disappearance of a valuable pair of earrings from the apartment of a Biltmore icon, famous landscape architect Mrs. Vanderhoff. Elodie meets a boy her age, new arrival Oscar Delgado, and enlists his help. They learn that last night, Mrs. Vanderhoff heard a strange voice in her apartment and suspects her housekeeper, Agnes, of letting an accomplice in to steal the jewelry, but Elodie heeds Miss Rosa’s warnings that the hired help often unfairly comes under suspicion. Elodie questions Freddy the doorman; Mr. Ray, the flower deliveryman; Mr. Franklin, an orchid-fancying resident who’s had a falling out with Mrs. Vanderhoff; another doorman; and aerialist Daniela Wallenda, who lives in #9A. Nelson draws out the mystery, planting clues and red herrings, explaining good reasoning, citing evidence, and providing a satisfying solution. The Biltmore staff and inhabitants are a whimsical bunch, and many colorful, mildly caricatured, detailed vignettes attractively highlight the action. Elodie is pale-skinned, while Oscar is olive-skinned; the supporting cast is diverse.

An entertaining blend of quirky characters and locked-room puzzle. (author’s note)(Fiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews