When Andy, who feels unappreciated by his mother and new stepfather, is skulking about in the lobby of a swank hotel, he finds the key to a luxurious suite and discovers the perfect place to hide until he can flee to his real father. The novelty of hiding out in a hotel and the scary, fast-paced story will entertain readers.

In a plot device that is becoming familiar, a new stepparent is the reason that a childhere it's 12-year-old Andy, in San Franciscoventures into the streets, where he discovers that the world is more wicked than anything he has faced at home. Having run away, Andy makes camp in the luxury suite of a nearby hotel, to which he has found a key. He periodically phones his real father, in London, hoping he'll send airfare. Fred (of the hotel staff) cuts short Andy's plans, engineering a kidnapping. Shortwave radio is the means for Andy's rescue; Paul, the ``wicked'' stepfather, is forgiven. The scenario here is largely contrived; and, though Andy's uneasiness with his mother and Paul's sexuality is clearly compelling, realistic exploration of his perfectly believable feelings is pushed aside to make room for the hollow, feel-good ending. (Fiction. 8-12)"

Gr 5-7-- Resentful of his stepfather, Paul, 12-year-old Andy runs away from home, finds a hotel key by chance, and moves into a plush suite. Since it is seldom occupied, it seems an ideal hideout--until the unpredictable hotel staff threaten his security. After several close calls, Andy is discovered, then kidnapped, and ultimately rescued by Paul and the police. Chastened by the harrowing experience, Andy regrets not only his actions but also his attitude toward a man who obviously cares for him. The novel has elements of Bunting's Is Anybody There? (Lippincott, 1988), including the illicit use of a key, a hideaway, and a boy too scared to sleep at night, but the overall plot is less plausible. However, the involving first-person narrative and the mounting tension offset the unlikely events. Andy's character--his jealousy of Paul and fear of discovery--is vividly portrayed. Those who like light mysteries should find this easy-to-read, moderately suspenseful story satisfying. --Pat Katka, San Diego Public Library