Closed for the Season

Hahn, Mary Downing. Closed for the Season. 2009. 182p. ISBN 978-0-547-08451-0. FIC HAH on the library shelves.

Logan Forbes and his family have just moved from Virginia to Bealesville. This being the summer before starting 7th grade, Logan is hopeful that he will integrate in this new community and connect with the cool kids. His chance for a fresh start is ruined, however, when he meets his neighbor, Arthur. Where Logan is a lover of books, clean, and well-behaved, Arthur is slovenly, hates books, and is not very polite.

Arthur tells Logan that he and his family are now living in the infamous murder house. Myrtle Donaldson, the previous owner, was killed three years earlier. A ticket seller at Magic Forest Amusement park, a now closed amusement park, it was rumored that Mrs. Donaldson had stolen money from the park and hidden it somewhere. Her murderer must have been looking for the money.

As Logan and Arthur begin their investigation, they realize that not everything is at it seems in their small town. Who would have wanted to hurt an old lady? Did money even disappear? But getting closer to solve this murder mystery puts the boys in danger. Can they find justice for Mrs. Donaldson before they become the next victims?

Closed for the season won the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery in 2010. If you enjoyed this book, you will like Dark and Deep and Dangerous, also by Hahn. For a similar location of a run-down and closed amusement park, consider Scream Site, and for another thrilling ghost story, pick up It Happened to Anna.