Hannah West series

Hannah West series
By Linda Johns
Sleuth Puffin. Chapter books.

Here is a fun new mystery series for girls. Linda Johns has created a unique lifestyle for her main character Hannah West. Hannah and her mother Maggie are left homeless when Maggie is laid off from her job. Fortunately, her mom sidelines as an art critic for a local publication and she knows many wealthy people. These contacts give them the idea to become professional house-sitters (and pet-sitters) in the Seattle area. This job requires them to change residence every few weeks, but through much effort and sneakiness Hannah manages to convince people that she still lives at her former home so she can continue to attend school with her friends. Hannah is Chinese, she was adopted by Maggie when she was a baby. The first book in the series is Hannah West in the Belltown Towers, the duo live in a downtown condo and stumble on a mysterious art theft. Then comes Hannah West in Deep Water, the Wests are houseboat-sitting and dog-sitting when they fall into another mystery. The third title is Hannah West in the Center of the Universe, the young detective is hot on the trail of a dog-napper. Obviously it is a little coincidental that Hannah seems to find a mystery everywhere she house-sits, but isn't that the way of all children's mystery series? An entertaining series, great for girls 4th-6th grades.

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