The Hidden Relic, A Lake Alamo Mystery 1973 by Rod Van Wyngarden – Book Review

The Van Duren sisters are back with another wonderful Lake Alamo Mystery!

This time the year is 1973. Six years have passed since Rachel, Haylie, and Kayla first started their school yard detective agency. And with each passing year not only have they have grown but so has their ability to find a mystery needing solved. Now everything revolves around The Hidden Relic.

We first met the girls in A Stranger Comes to Town, A Lake Alamo Mystery 1967 written by Rod Van Wyngarden. I loved that story. It was such a delightful tale and I really came to like the girls. This book is no different! The girls are older now and the book is written as such – for an older audience. I would suggest it’s meant for 8th to 11th graders. But as I am 33 years old, I really hate to put a limit on it. It’s enjoyable at any age!

Overview

Kayla opened the drawer and reached in. She felt around for a minute, trying to find the flashlight but it was under something. After a second or two, she finally pulled it out and flipped it on.

‘Got it,’ she said.

Before Haylie and Rachel could thank her for finding it, they heard a loud crash in the kitchen. Someone had broken the window on the backdoor.

Kayla shut off the flashlight immediately. ‘What was that?’ She asked.

‘Shhh.’ Rachel looked around, but couldn’t see in the dark. ‘I think someone is trying to break in.’

They heard the sounds of someone reaching into the crack in the window and punching out the remnants of glass. They heard the unmistakable sound of the deadbolt unlocking. The knob turned and the person pushed open the door, causing it to hit the wall as it opened completely. More glass fell from the window and hit the floor.

Rachel, Haylie, and Kayla Van Duren are sisters, star-basketball players, good students, and employees at an old bed and breakfast owned by their father. When someone starts stealing from the old woman, Mrs. Shipley, who runs the bed and breakfast, the sisters take it upon themselves to find out what’s going on. But as they get deeper and deeper into the mystery, they find out that maybe Mrs. Shipley and her late husband were more than they appeared to be.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781618629883
  • Publisher: Tate Publishing
  • Publication date: 6/19/2012
  • Pages: 116

The Hidden Relic was so easy to read and it had such an interesting plot. Van Wyngarden really makes you want to know what is going to happen next. You also have characters returning from the previous book and it makes you feel as if you really know them. I truly enjoyed this book. My daughter, Gracie, is only 9 years old but still I found her trying to read it alone. For a book lover that made my heart happy. One other thing I am excited about is the fact that with this book you also receive a free audio download. It can be played over the computer or burnt onto a CD. This will be great for Gracie, now she can listen to the story as well.

The Hidden Relic can be purchased on Amazon for only $9.34 and is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping with a qualifying order of $25. It can also be purchased directly from the publisher on their website.

As with his other books when you purchase a copy of The Lake Alamo Mystery series you will also be helping out various charities. A portion of the sales from this book goes towards First Book and World Vision. First Book helps to provide books to children in need and World Vision helps those in poverty conditions. They are both excellent causes!

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55 Comments

  1. Barbara Butler says:

    sounds a a great read

  2. shirley zolenski says:

    It’s a mystery. Mystery and horror are my favs

  3. Cindy Whitehead says:

    Sounds like a great mystery book!

  4. Carolyn Walsh says:

    I love mystery books! Thanks for the contest!

  5. Brandy Farmer says:

    I love mystery books. That’s the best part. The mystery.

  6. It’s a mystery!! 🙂

  7. Kerrie Mayans says:

    I think it looks like a good book for young teens. It seems like it isn’t smutty which sometimes is hard to find in YA books. I would love to read it and then pass it on to my 13 year old to read.

  8. I like that it is a mystery

  9. Jennifer Peaslee says:

    I like that its a mystery for kids…I love mysteries, I think they encourage you to think differently when you face problems.

  10. I love mystery’s, the plot sounds so good!

  11. I like that the plot is a mystery and the characters are sisters.

  12. Veronica Garrett says:

    The story setting in1973 interests me. The 70s were when I was growing up. I wonder what references to the 70s are in the book.

  13. Diana Hatch says:

    Looks like a great mystery!

  14. The genre, I love mysteries, suspense. Thank you for the opportunity to win.

  15. susan smoaks says:

    I love that it’s a page turner!

  16. I like that it is set in my growing up years and that it is a mystery, my favorite genre!

  17. Stephanie Phelps says:

    I love that it is a mystery and that it can be read from teens up!

  18. That part that sounds like a sequel of sorts & the fact that you’re emotionally invested in the characters sounds like a winner to me.

  19. If the book is a mystery I will read it.

  20. I like a good mystery and this sounds like one.

  21. pamela james says:

    A mystery set in 1973-good times!

  22. Corey Olomon says:

    It sounds like it would keep me guessing.

  23. I like the idea of sisters, especially when they are such great kids overall.

  24. The book sounds well written with an interesting plot.

  25. Chelsea M says:

    The setting! I love any book that is set in the past.

  26. brenda Elsner says:

    The mystery is the most intriquing. I love mysteries!!

  27. Angela Shepard says:

    I love the unknown!

  28. cassandra says:

    i am interested in new books

  29. vicki wurgler says:

    Mrs. Shipley and her late husband were more than they appeared to be-what were they? sounds like a great mystery

  30. Ed Nemmers says:

    The 1973 setting most intrigues me!

  31. Brenda S. says:

    I love mystery books.

  32. christal c w says:

    the mystery surrounding the Mrs. Shipley and her late husband

  33. Reminds me when all I wanted to read was mysteries

  34. Carolyn D. says:

    I love that it is set in 1973…I was a child then and would love to see how the mystery plays out against that background.

    Thanks!

  35. Dee Hadley says:

    Mysteries are my favorite books. I liked that it can be burned to a CD and listen to it. So really any age can enjoy the mystery.

  36. heather b says:

    i love that it sounds like not only a book my daughter and I could read together but that my oldest would want to read too. We love a great mystery

  37. like reading about the time period i grew up in, and sounds like nancy drew or hardy boys, always fun!

  38. I like the mysterious stories and this one sounds like it.

  39. The time period interests me. I grew up in the 70’s. I’d love to read this and I will have to find the first one.

  40. the unknown and the mystery of the story

  41. Francine Anchondo says:

    that it is a mystery

  42. It reminds me of my own two daughters

  43. Stephanie Larison says:

    I love a good mystery book!

  44. I love that I could read this with my daughter

  45. Linda Kish says:

    I liked the overview…it made it sound interesting.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

  46. BusyWorkingMama says:

    I love a good mystery. Sounds like an entertaining read.

  47. samantha w says:

    the mystery i love mystery books

  48. Liz Terek says:

    I love books with strong female lead characters. That’s what intrigues me.

  49. Charlotte Padgett says:

    It’s a mystery but not a gruesome murder type.

  50. The mysterious aspect but also the period in which it is set.

  51. The plot sounds great!

    bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

  52. The mystery reminds me of Nancy Drew and who is breaking in
    sounds scary…
    Many thanks, Cindi

  53. I like the fact that it is a mystery – I love mystery books.

  54. That it is a mystery that I can read with my daughter and we both can enjoy!