THE CROWN HEIST (THE LOST ART MYSTERIES), by Deron R. Hicks, Clarion Books, Nov. 16, 2021, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 10-12)
The Crown Heist is the third installment of the Lost Art Mysteries middle-grade series written by Deron R. Hicks.
No matter how dangerous his adventures have been, Art has always been able to count on his best friend, Camille. Now that Camille is meeting her estranged father, Art wants to be there for her—which means going to London.
But Camille’s history professor father, renowned for expertise in British legend, is missing. When they visit his apartment, Art and Camille find a long-missing object that suggests the professor could be in trouble and solving a mystery related to London’s history.
Follow Art and Camille as they visit the Tower of London, National Portrait Gallery, and ride the “tube” in hopes of uncovering the truth before it’s too late. —Synopsis provided by Clarion Books
Though The Crown Heist is the third book in Hicks’ series, it’s the first one I’ve read. Having started mid-series, I thought I might get lost, but Hicks offers enough background — without getting bogged down in it — that you end up with a sense of déjà vu. Everything feels a bit familiar, but you can’t quite place things.
It’s that sense of familiarity that helps you slide right into the story. Camille and Art are engaging characters that feel comfortable within their surroundings.
And boy are their surroundings cool.
The absolute stars of The Crown Heist are the art and architecture set against their historical backdrop. The settings are magnificent, and Hicks absolutely transports readers to a different place, and sometimes a different time.
Add in a mystery and a heist happening simultaneously and you’ve got the formula for an entertaining read. The Crown Heist is a fast-moving adventure that made me want to go back and read the first two books in the series. It should appeal to a wide array of readers.
