The great detective and his dog, Sludge, are on a train, acting as bodyguards for cousin Olivia's owl. After identifying and questioning three of Olivia's neighbors, Nate cracks the case of who left the owl a threatening note. Humorous short sentences just right for beginning readers enhance the hard-boiled atmosphere. Weston's loose color art follows the detective through every page of text.

K-Gr 3-The Sharmat team keeps its series fresh in this 24th case for the young detective. Here, theatrical cousin Olivia fears for the safety of her pet owl and enlists Nate and his dog to escort Hoot on a train from San Francisco to Los Angeles. With plenty of suspects, comical plot twists, and a satisfying resolution, the authors carry on their tradition of interesting, but peacefully concluded mysteries. In her fourth turn at illustrating the Nate books, Weston ably mimics original illustrator Marc Simont's style, occasionally showing her own flair, as in a full-page portrait of the owl. A strong addition to a popular series.-Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.