Review by Booklist Review
Nico Lombardi's life of indentured servitude at the Precipice Inn is disrupted when a cadre of guests arrive with the sole intention of figuring out which of them will live the longest and thus claim a tontine prize. Tiptoeing toward truth without any on-page murder, this middle-grade novel mixes Clue, Ellen Raskin'sThe Westing Game, and Knives Out with a cast of unique characters of all ages. With fast-paced chapters, character illustrations, and intriguing mysteries to unwind and unlock, the Tontine Caper brings Salerni's unique voice, lilting prose, and curiosity to this historical mystery, which feels like it could be set just off the trail of the modern day Poconos. Nico's a charming, heart-warming protagonist whose desire to find family drives this story with a hint of art crime, a little subterfuge, and a place-based mystery that doesn't quite reach Raskin's level of detail but engages the reader the entire time. For fans of Sheila Turnage and readers not yet ready for The Westing Game.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Salerni (The Carrefour Curse) utilizes an omniscient POV and remote mountain setting to recount 11-year-old Nicodemo "Nico" Lombardi's attempts to flee his unfortunate living situation--efforts derailed by a comedic murder mystery. Ever since his beloved artist grandfather died five years earlier, indebted to Gunther Hogg, pompous owner of the Precipice Inn in the Pocono Mountains, Nico has been locked in indentured servitude. As Nico plots his departure, three parties arrive, hoping to settle their long-standing tontine, a scheme that awards a cash prize to the final living investor. The theatrical Deetlebaums want to end the tontine early and divide the $150,000 pot three ways, though the Von Topp family's two teenagers are keen on instead acquiring half by removing feeble-looking Mr. Ames from the running. The topsy-turvy plot deftly balances guffaw-inducing humor and shocking revelations, and guilt-ridden Nico's thieving from guests to finance his escape makes for an emotionally propulsive read. Stark ink illustrations by Schu (Star and the Maestro) elevate the suspenseful atmosphere. Nico has an "olive complexion"; the rest of the cast cues as white. Ages 8--12. Author's agent: Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary. (Apr.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
Salerni (The Carrefour Curse, rev. 3/23) creates a feisty puzzle mystery with a hearty dollop of humor in this intriguing novel. The Precipice Inn welcomes three elderly guests and their families, who have gathered to dissolve, by mutual agreement, the Carbon County Tontine, the contract awarding a vast fortune to the last survivor. Eleven-year-old orphan Nico Lombardi -- overworked bellhop of the Precipice Inn ever since his grandfather died there, saddling him with the tremendous debt of their stay -- needs money to escape his Dickensian servitude and has regretfully turned to a life of crime, pilfering valuables from hotel guests. Unfortunately, the lawyer holding the tontine hasn't yet arrived, and the other guests begin to reveal (to readers, if not to one another) varying degrees of deceit. Whose misdirected luggage contained a set of lock picks? Who has been sneaking around the inn at night? Why does feeble Mr. Ames seem sprightlier in private? The inept murder-minded antics of Mrs. Von Tropp's grandsons are just one example of the hilarious hijinks sprinkled throughout this farce, which registers surprise after surprise until, in a final sleight of hand, Salerni delivers a heartwarming ending that few will see coming. Humorous cartoonlike spot drawings illuminate the characters and inclinations of the inn residents. A well-constructed adventure sure to amuse and entertain readers. Anita L. BurkamMarch/April 2025 p.83 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Mysteries abound in this tale set at a fully booked inn at the beginning of the 20th century. For the past five years, 11-year-old Nico Lombardi, the child of an Italian immigrant, has lived and worked at the Precipice Inn in Pennsylvania. When he was 6, he and his artist grandfather (his only guardian) visited the inn; his grandfather died unexpectedly, leaving the newly orphaned Nico with only a few of his paintings and a debt to the innkeeper that has continued to grow. But change is in the air as three elderly final subscribers to a tontine (a type of financial arrangement) arrive at the inn with their families. The tontine is worth $150,000, and the trio are meeting to decide if they should split the funds now or continue to hold out until only one survivor remains to take it all, per the tontine's rules. But everyone has secrets, and it's only a matter of time before the truth comes out. This fast-paced, humorous caper features witty, descriptive chapter titles and spot art, including character profiles sprinkled in, making for an accessible, entertaining tale. The distinct, eccentric characters--some lovable, some loathsome, and some in the middle--are all intriguing as readers catch glimpses into what they're each scheming. The historical setting is necessary for some plot points, but mostly this reads like a modern or timeless story focused on the characters and their antics. Characters are cued white. Charming, droll, and widely appealing. (map, quizzes)(Historical mystery. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
