“There was a town, and there was a girl, and there was a theft.”

From Lemony Snicket’s All the Wrong Questions: Who Could That Be at This Hour?

12-year-old Lemony Snicket has finished his mysterious and unique education and is now ready to become an apprentice. Hoping to have extra time to work on a mission of his own on the side, Lemony selects the lastly-ranked S. Theodora Markson as his chaperone. Before Lemony has time to think, he and Theodora are called away for a case in the town of Stain’d-by-the-Sea, which was once known around the world for their ink production is now withering out. Nothing in Stain’d-by-the-Sea seems to make sense, especially when it comes to their case where a woman claims that her statue of the local mythical beast (the Bombinating Beast) has been stolen for her neighbors. While Theodora charges into the case full steam trying to work the facts into what they have been told, after Lemony meets the reporter daughter (Moxie) of the accused family and makes a puzzling discovery about the statue, he begins his own investigation built on the real, hidden facts. In this derelict town, Lemony quickly learns that nothing is as it seems and solving this mystery will require him to start asking the right questions.

Similar the Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events but different, this sort-of prequel features the same wit and humor that makes Snicket’s books so entertaining. The story is complex enough to pull readers in, but not so much so that keeps itself from being a simple, enengaging read; a mystery with subtle humor and suspense makes for the perfect blend of easy reading. Readers of all ages will find something to enjoy about the book, which makes Who Could That Be at This Hour? the perfect start the series.