This is the third from Blue Balliett, which I didn’t know existed until I went to Hyde Park in Chicago and saw the house that was featured in Wright 3. There in the Frank Lloyd Wright house I saw both this book and pentominoes. I was very excited to get both. It was also really cool being in a place featured in a book. So even though I didn’t really like the Wright 3 as much, I was willing to give this author another go.

She didn’t disappoint. This book is much better than Wright 3. This time there isn’t so much whining and stupid fights. Tommy and Petra are flown to England to help rescue their friend Calder, who goes missing the same night that a sculpture by the artist named Calder. This time instead of the kids being on their own, they get grownup support and trust. Finally.

I love how art and mystery are combined in these books. Now I want to learn more about the mobiles and sculptures of Calder, not to mention I have been working with my own set of pentominoes.

Mia McMurray works in an art gallery in Soho. She becomes obsessed with a portrait by the late Jeffrey Finelli (killed the night of his showing by a taxi) titled “Lulu meets God and doubts him.” This is the story of the New York City art scene, and a fight for possession of a now famous painting by an until then unknown artist. Well written, it is witty and sarcastic. Mia (the narrator) makes fun of herself and how she remains in her job, even while it pays poorly and she is far from the starving artist that so many gallery assistants are. If you enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, this might be a novel you’d enjoy.