I'm not really sure what the audience for this book would be. The mystery is simple and wholesome, much like The Bobbsey Twins or the Peggy Parish mysteries of my childhood. In that sense, it seems appropriate for young or reluctant readers, but the sheer number of characters may be frustrating for that set, while more advanced readers may be bored by the lack of suspense and "gee, whiz" dialogue. The recipes and puzzles add a nice touch that may be enough to sustain the interest of reluctant readers. All in all, a sweet, wholesome mystery with added features. ( )

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Some people might think it strange that their grandfather loved codes, created scavenger hunts for kids and adults, and hid important papers and items in the strangest of places. For the five Honeyman cousins it was just the way he was and they loved him. Unfortunately their grandfather has passed away and their grandmother is having a very difficult time dealing with the loss. To make matters even worse Tantalus Mining Company is trying to force her to sell her property. If she can't produce the deed for the house, the government will take back the land and give it to Tantalus. Unfortunately she can't remember where Grandpa hid the deed and she sinks into depression. Genevieve, Sebastian, Claire, Alex, and Olivia try to cheer up their grandmother when they stumble upon some of Grandpa's clues mixed in with recipes. While they don't always agree that these clues lead to the deed, they're all willing to play along with his last game.

Set in Canada, Schwartz includes some wonderful descriptions of life on Otter Island. The small population of close knit residents is torn by the prospects of economic prosperity and environmental catastrophe with the coming of Tantalus Mining Corporation. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of each cousin. The kids are distinct characters and their personal lives (from teenage crushes to dealing with divorce) do affect the way they deal with the situations around them. In fact, all of the different perspectives and small side plots come together quite nicely, adding more action to a small island mystery. Schwartz also mixes in codes and recipes quite nicely and I think this will appeal to readers. (I'm sure everyone is going to want to try making the Emergency Fudge recipe, I know I do and I don't even like fudge!) She also gets a bit hokey in places, certain aspects of the story were very predictable, and the bad guys get ridiculously bad towards the end - this will either be ignored by some readers or turn them off completely. While not the best children's mystery I've ever read I think it will appeal to certain audiences.

The Case of the Missing Deed is a wholesome mystery with some nice characters, cool codes, and a few kid friendly recipes, but I've read better. A mix of sweet and hokey, The Case of the Missing Deed will attract a select audience. It's best to try this one out from the library if you're interested. I'm giving it three out of six stars as there are some redeeming qualities that save it from a two star rating.

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Although this book did not engage me much as a mystery, I did enjoy the recipes sprinkled throughout the book. I'd be careful recommending this book to a reluctant reader however, because keeping the characters straight in the beginning of the story is quite a challenge and might confuse those who don't read much. I will pick up book two in the series to see if it's more thrilling as a mystery. ( )

This is a cute little mystery for younger readers. I, like other readers, had a little trouble keeping track of all the characters, but as the story coalesced, it became more obvious which ones were actually "main." Even the cousins relegated to a secondary role had distinct characteristics by the end, and I loved getting to know them by their favorite foods! And speaking of food, I loved the recipes scattered throughout. I have yet to try any of them, but they look delicious (and doable by readers with a little help from a grown-up).

The mystery itself is very tame/not scary, even though the stakes are very high for the cousins and their grandmother. The way it plays out, with mysteries in recipes and ciphers in letters, makes this book a good fit for puzzle-solvers and well as budding mystery lovers. ( )

The Case of the Missing Deed is the first book in a new mystery series for children. My 12-year-old daughter and I read this together and we enjoyed it. To me, this story about five cousins attempting to find the deed to their grandmother’s house before it is taken away from her, was reminiscent of The Bobbsey Twins series, which I’d enjoyed in my youth. I had trouble keeping track of all the children at first. Most of the novel focuses on the two oldest children, and we learn much about their characters as the story develops, but the remaining children do not play much of a role. Perhaps this will change in the book’s sequels.

As a mystery, this one was very tame. There was not much suspense or danger, which made it a slow read for my 12-year-old, but it would be appropriate and not too scary for younger children. The plot did not seem wholly realistic. We both enjoyed the recipes, which sound very yummy and are simple enough for budding cooks to manage with some parental assistance. We also enjoyed Sebastien’s attempts at decoding and learned something about secret codes in the process.

Overall, this book was weak as a mystery but it was a charming novel with engaging characters none the less. I believe the series has potential, and it would be a fun read for children 8 to 11. ( )