Sammy Keyes and the Runaway Elf

Junior detective Samantha Keyes is surrounded by a wealth of interesting characters (adolescent friends, a grandmother, the rich and haughty woman hiring her to find a kidnapped dog), and narrator Tara Sands tries hard to give them all their own voices. Her rendition of the savvy young Sammy may grow on you, but her attempts at adults (the policeman, a wistful elderly woman she visits) are less satisfying. While kids who are used to high-pitched cartoon voices (especially Sammy Keyes fans) are unlikely to mind, some adults who tune in for the five hours of twists and turns may find it a bit harder to adjust, despite Van Draanen's engaging mystery. J.C.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine