Fans of Lemony Snicket have often speculated about what could have left the dark and desolate chronicler of the Baudelaire siblings so--well--dark and desolate.
This first book in the new series All the Wrong Questions takes readers down that road. From the first, Snicket, almost 13, plunges readers into an investigation to find a statue in the no-longer-seaside Stain'd-by-the-Sea. With help and hindrance from locals, and asking mostly the wrong questions, he and his useless chaperone find multiple mysteries lurking in the strange town. Fans of Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events will thrill to be immersed in this noir-inflected story, which is just familiar enough, but enjoyable even for readers new to the narrator. Seth's classic illustrations provide an inspired counterpoint--and a few clues of their own. The story ends satisfyingly but will leave readers anticipating the next installment, as well as raring to go back and look for any extra hints. --Stephanie Anderson, head of readers' advisory at Darien Library and blogger