The Midnight Tunnel

Suzanna Snow #1

by Angie Frazier

Can budding detective Suzanna Snow solve the case before it's too late?

A girl's gone missing. Can Suzanna solve the crime? It is 1905 and young Suzanna works at her family's inn in Loch Harbor, New Brunswick, where she is trained to be a well-mannered hostess and a charming lady. Suzanna has other ideas for her future--she wants to be a detective. When a young guest goes missing on a stormy summer night, Suzanna's famous uncle, Detective Bruce Snow, comes to solve the case. But Suzanna learns that not everything is as it seems. With a little help from her friends, can she solve the mystery of the missing girl before her uncle closes the case?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Juvenile

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2011

About the author

Angie Frazier is a writer and mom, a good cook, and a horrible housekeeper. Angie’s debut novel, Everlasting, published by Scholastic Press, is a mixture of everything she loves in a good book: history, mystery, adventure, romance, and fantasy. Her middle grade novel, The Midnight Tunnel: A Suzanna Snow Mystery is a Spring 2011 Kids' Indie Next Pick, and Kirkus has called it "a likely and likable Edwardian Nancy Drew." She lives in southern New Hampshire with her husband and their three daughters.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven year old Suzanna Snow, who prefers to be called Zanna, lives in the tiny seaside village of Loch Harbor, New Brunswick, in 1904. Her parents are the managers of an elegant hotel, the Rosemount. Ever summer, wealthy guests come to stay at the hotel. Zanna's parents have insisted that she begin to work in the hotel so that she can learn about it, hoping she will want to manage the hotel someday. But Zanna would much rather be a famous detective like her Uncle Bruce, who lives in Boston.

As the summer season starts, Zanna expects that as usual nothing much will happen, so she practices her detective skills by observing the guests. Then, during a terrible thunderstorm, Maddie, a little girl staying at the hotel with her family disappears. Zanna is sure she saw Maddie being led out of the hotel during the storm, but because she is a child, no one will believe her - not even her idolized Uncle Bruce, whi arrives from Boston to investigate the case. So Zanna decides she must investigate on her own, to try to solve the mystery and save Maddie.

I don't read quite as many middle grade books anymore, though I do read some, but I had to read this one because I loved Angie Frazier's debut young adult novel, Everlasting. And I am so glad I decided to! Zanna is such a fun and determined heroine and the unusual historical setting was described so well. If you know a young girl who loves historical fiction or mysteries this would be a great book to recommend, and even if you are older, you might enjoy it too, just like I did!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) Suzanna Snow’s parents own a luxury hotel, the Rosemount, and are training Zanna in the family business. But Zanna wants to emulate her uncle, a celebrated detective, instead. When a little girl goes missing from the Rosemount, with Zanna the only witness to the kidnapping, her interest in sleuthing becomes more than theoretical. Trouble is, no one believes an eleven-year-old, not even her famous uncle…

The Midnight Tunnel is an engaging whodunit for middle-grade readers, starring a brave and resourceful heroine. As befits a book for — and about — a preteen, it’s pretty gentle in terms of the degree of bodily harm Angie Frazier inflicts upon the characters. The situations in the book are spooky, not gory. The mystery has just the right degree of complexity for the target audience. (Adult readers will probably overcomplicate it. I sure did. I imagined a big tangled solution involving secret parentage, and had to keep reminding myself it was a kids’ book and wouldn’t include the kinds of scandals I’m used to in adult and YA mysteries.)

What stands out most to an older reader is the issue of socioeconomic class. Like Frazier’s previous novel, the young adult Everlasting, The Midnight Tunnel features close relationships between young people of disparate class backgrounds. We’re dealing with friendships and possible crushes here, rather than Everlasting’s grand romance, but the theme is still present. Because of her youth and the fact that her parents assign her menial tasks as part of her training, Zanna identifies with the other young people who work as servants at the Rosemount. She faces cognitive dissonance when she sees that society treats these kids very differently than it treats her. None of this is delivered via sledgehammer, though, but flows organically with the story.

While Frazier seems to be setting Suzanna Snow up as a magic-free series, I believe it will be enjoyed by fans of R.L. LaFevers’ Theodosia Throckmorton series and vice versa. I wish there had been more books like this when I was a kid. I always enjoy following a bright heroine through a rich historical setting — especially if there’s a mystery involved too. Review written for Fantasy Literature.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads First Reads and Scholastic for the opportunity to read this book!

Suzanna Snow is a delightful new heroine for middle graders. I have been a fan of Angie Frazier and her ability to weave a stunning historical setting since her young adult book Everlasting, and she's done it again with The Midnight Tunnel. Angie's masterful skill at creating both a lush setting and compelling characters is on full display in The Midnight Tunnel, and I can't wait to share this engaging mystery with my little Nancy Drew fan.

Set at the turn of the century in New Brunswick, The Midnight Tunnel is the first in a series of books about Suzanna Snow, a bright, spirited heroine with big dreams. I loved the Anne of Green Gables feel to the story with the Canadian setting and Suzanna's charming personality. She's being trained by her mother to be a proper lady at the Rosemount, the exclusive hotel her parents manage, but Suzanna has far grander dreams than waiting on rich people for the rest of her life--Suzanna wants to be a detective. Her aspirations and daydreams get her in a few scrapes, but Suzanna comes out shining and proves she's got the instinct and skills to be a stellar detective.

Angie Frazier's writing is descriptive and engaging with an intriguing mystery to keep you guessing. Younger readers may not understand all of the descriptions, but preteens and smart girls will embrace and love this new Nancy Drew for their generation. The Midnight Tunnel offers a fresh new voice for middle graders and will have young readers clamoring for the next installment.

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I picked my stars based on my guess of how the target audience would feel about the book I'd give this one 4 or 5 stars. It's great for the 8-11 year-old girl who likes mysteries and historical fiction. It doesn't have a lot of cross-over appeal for adults, but so what - it's not for adults.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable and full of suspense and intrigue, the first addition in the Suzanne Snow series is sure to be a hit among pre-teens as well as teens.

The Midnight Tunnel begins the story of the young Suzanne Snow. If Suzanne were given one wish, she would most definitely wish to be a detective, because not only is her uncle the infamous Bruce Snow, Boston's most prized detective, but she also has an uncanny talent for sleuthing. Unfortunately, given her surroundings and the time, she's unable to gain much experience in her desired field...that is until a girl goes missing from her parent's hotel. Recruiting her two trustworthy friends, Isaac and Lucy, Suzanne's ready to find the missing girl as well as the solution to this mystifying puzzle. However, what happens when her famous uncle makes a grand entrance with a surprising guest? Better yet, when given the biggest clue to her the case, will she be able to solve it finally- even if it means telling on a fellow friend? Only time and more pages will tell in this fast-paced mystery that sure to leave any reader questioning the case right along with Suzanne.

One of my favorite parts of this novel would have to be the characters. For example, Suzanne Snow is very much the next Nancy Drew. Smart and talented, she’s one girl who will go to any length to bring justice to the world, even if it means taking some slippery and dangerous turns along the way. I also adored the addition of Isaac and Lucy, her two friends. Isaac is not only a pre-teen angler but also one to bring some hilarious lines as well as heart into the story, while Lucy is a sweet yet cunning girl full of her own mysterious secrets.

Angie Frazier also did a great job of making this mystery a lot of fun as well as enjoyable for nearly any age group. I loved the way she had the storyline keep me on the tip of my toes and making my own assumptions right along with Suzanne for the majority of the story. More importantly, I enjoyed the way Angie brought the setting of this alive as well. From the hotel guests to detailed setting descriptions, it was easy to imagine everything as it was taking place.

Full of page-flipping fun, Suzanne Snow is on the track to becoming the Nancy Drew of this generation, and I simply cannot wait to see where Angie takes her story next.

Grade: A-

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanna, or Zanna as she prefers, was one of the most fun, intelligent and witty young protagonists that I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. Angie Frazier aims The Midnight Tunnel at the middle grade reader, but what I loved is that she didn't sacrifice anything to do that. This book has tons of crossover appeal, and anyone who loves a good mystery coupled with historical fiction will fall in love. Beware the rambling my friends, so it begins.

First let me tell you why I loved Suzanna so much. Her mother and father want her to be a well behaved young woman. They hope that she will follow in their footsteps and want to run the inn. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for us, Suzanna has a much different path in mind! She wants to be a world renown detective like her Uncle Bruce. For that, I love her. She's a little bit rebel, and a whole lot of trouble without meaning to be. I instantly fell in love with her wit, her inability to stay away from trouble, and her downright brilliant deductions! Young or old, readers will definitely find something to connect to in her character.

In terms of story, as I mentioned above there is an entire mystery wrapped up in these pages! When a young guest goes missing, Suzanna takes it upon herself to unravel the mystery. Those of you who are older readers might be worried that this book will be too "young" for you. Let me tell you this. I read mystery novels and I generally solve mystery novels about half way through. This one? I was guessing until almost the very end. As I said, Angie Frazier doesn't sacrifice one bit for her audience. I like that she doesn't find it necessary to "dumb things down" for a middle grade reader. Utterly fantastic. I wish I could say more, but I've already had to delete so much to keep this spoiler free.

I ended up having to put The Midnight Tunnel down for a few days last week to take care of other commitments, and I tell you that it killed me to do it! I kept wondering how everything was going to end. What Angie Frazier has written here is a stunning mystery that is wrapped up in a very middle grade friendly package. I enjoyed each and every minute of this book and I can't wait to read the next one! I know Suzanna will keep on doing her detective work, and I'll be there to follow along.

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ATOS Book Level: 5.4
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
AR Points: 9.0
Lexile: 800L
Word Count: 59290

A fun mystery series especially for middle school girls, it's set in the early 1900's. It's protagonist is 11 year old Zanna, who's parents run a small Inn, the Rosemount, on Loch Harbor in New Brunswick Canada. Her parents have her in their own training program to learn the Inn business, working one job a summer. This summer she's assingned to the Kitchen, working with Nellie, the Inn's cook. Zanna, of course, has no interest in running an Inn. She wants to be just like her Uncle Bruce who "was one of the most famous detectives in Boston - probably even the whole United States". Zanna was a natural observer, she had "spent most of (her) eleven years watching their actions, listening to their conversations, and noting their oddities while they summered at the Rosemount". As she lived and worked at the Rosemount she kept her observations in notebooks that she carried around. She "filled these notebooks with observations, theories, overheard conversations, detective rules, and any number of quotations about detective work (she) chanced upon".
All these skills come to good use when a young girl disappears during a storm and power outage. Search parties are sent out but no sign is found. After day's of searching Uncle Bruce is called in to help. Zanna is looking forward to seeing Uncle Bruce again and telling him her theories about the disappearance. Unfortunely when Uncle Buck shows up he treats her like a little kid and refuses to listen to her. So, it's up to Zanna to investigate on her own...

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from one of the great giveaways here on GoodReads.

This is a Young Adult Mystery. The first in the Suzanna Snow Series.

The time is 1905 where a young girl helps out at the hotel operated by her parents. "Zanna" is always being corrected by her mother to be polite and proper. Zanna doesn't really like working in the hotel, she would much rather be a Detective like her Uncle Bruce. She is always carrying a notebook and pencil to take notes of people, her surroundings, and anything that she feels could be relevant. One night during a terrible storm the power goes out in the hotel. Next thing everyone knows is one of the guests little girl goes missing. Zanna tries to tell her parents that she saw something but no one will listen to her. Since no one will listen to her, she tries to take up with an investigation herself. During all this the police and other guests and employees have not come up with any leads. The great Detective Bruce Snow is called in to solve the case.

I thought that this was a pretty good book. It was slow in the beginning to me but it definitely picked up its pace. It has a few twists and turns that might surprise you, unless your are a great detective yourself. I would recommend it to anyone who likes Young Adult books/novels or anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades 3-6

Eleven-year-old Suzanna Snow's parents manage an exclusive resort in New Brunswick, and they are trying their best to groom her to continue the family tradition. Nothing ignites her passion, though, like a challenging investigation-- she believes she takes after her Uncle Bruce, a famous Bostonian detective. The summer of 1904 is shaping up to be all too predictable, when the young child of a wealthy couple staying at the hotel disappears. Search parties fail to locate Maddie, and Uncle Bruce is called in. Looking forward to sharing her observations and theories with her uncle, whom she has not seen in years, Suzanna is crushed to find that he has no use for the opinions of a "child," and that his investigative approach is more show than substance. With the help of Uncle Bruce's apprentice, Will, Suzanna is determined to track down young Maddie. Clues slowly emerge, but there are enough twists and turns along the way that readers will stay engaged. Zanna is a likeable protagonist, and her tenacious spirit rings true. This is a solid start to a new mystery series that Nancy Drew fans will enjoy.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was Suzanna Snow when I was a little girl gobbling up Nancy Drew mysteries? Zanna is a strong protagonist with a bright-eyed curiosity about life. Not much happens at the hotel her parents run, but she keeps close tabs on everyone regardless. When one of the guests goes missing, Zanna is able to put her detective skills to work!

This book was just a delight. The mystery was good, and while I did figure out who the culprit was, it wasn't too soon in the book for it to be disappointing. The attention to historical detail and the elements of a working hotel in the early 20th century are also fascinating. I sincerely hope this is not the last we'll see of Zanna!

The Midnight Tunnel is a must-read, especially for middle grade readers who love a good mystery, but Zanna is charming enough to entertain older children and adults as well.

[Rose]

If you have a middle grade girl looking for a good, atmospheric mystery, this is it! Zanna's family runs a nice hotel up in Canada at the turn of the century, but Zanna doesn't want to go into the hotel business. She wants to be a detective like her famous Uncle Bruce. Well, she gets her chance to try when a guest goes missing at the hotel. Uncle Bruce is called in, and well, let's just say he's a bit different in real life than his glorious reputation in the newspapers would have you believe. Zanna and her friends have a lot of work to do to make sure the truth comes out. First of a series, so look forward to more of these!

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre and predictable, this book will appeal to adolescent girls who like mysteries (if they can get through the tedious first half of the book) but few others. The mystery takes too long to get started and the action far longer. I was so bored it took me two months to read even though I made myself read at least a few pages before picking up another book. Anachronisms are many and thus the actual era is difficult to ascertain. I took ample notes to give an in-depth interview but frankly, I'm too bored to even do that.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish this book had been available when I was a kid devouring Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie novels - I would have absolutely loved it. And as an adult, I still adored the 11-year-old heroine, Suzanna Snow, who is brave and smart and curious and prone to getting lost in her own thoughts (and accidentally burning the food she's supposed to be cooking in her family's hotel kitchen). The 1904 New England setting is also beautifully done.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out kind of slow and boring. The mystery really picks up halfway through and gets very intriguing and a little spooky. I would have loved a book like this when I was a kid, if I could have gotten past the boring beginning. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that I could have. At first, you don't learn much about the main character, just a lot about all the different people who are mean to her. It makes it difficult to stay motivated to finish the book.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because a lot of the kids (especially girls) ask for recommendations for mysteries. I think a lot of kids will not make it through this book. It takes a long time for anything to be resolved. Also, the main character is very likeable, but many of the other characters are not. Some of the ones I think would have been fun to expound on, like the cook at the hotel, were more like side notes.

[Erin Sterling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upper elementary/middle grade mystery novel set in 1905 about Suzanna, affectionately known as Zanna, whose parents own a hotel on the East Coast and who has a dream of becoming a famous detective like her uncle. When a little girl goes missing, she realizes she can put her dream to practice! Fun, light-hearted.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun to read this historical mystery set near where I grew up! Not many books (for kids or adults) choose New Brunswick, particularly in 1904, as a setting. Love the main character and accompanying cast, thought the mystery was well paced, but really my reaction could all be coloured by my pleasure reliving the Rosemount & Algonquin hotels, Van Horne Island, lobster fishermen et al.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

1904 - Suzanna, Zanna, helps out at her parents their exclusive summer resort where they are trying to teach her to be a proper young lady and a gracious hostess. Zanna, however, wants to be a detective like her favorite uncle in Boston and when a little girl disappears, Zanna starts investigating.

[Angie]

Yay! Suzanna Snow is on Goodreads! This makes it a bit more real :-) Can't wait for Zanna's story to make its way out into the world.

[Kimberley Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, well-written, suspenseful and just plain FUN! A perfect choice for Middle-Grade readers.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book I reviewed for LMC - enjoyed it & mystery fans will love it!

[Megowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good YA mystery. Well written. It takes place in early 20th century Canada. A book any child could read...no sex, drugs, etc. Nancy Drew with a Canadian accent, eh?

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: A delightful little mystery in very much the Nancy Drew vein (as the cover suggests) though ultimately rather forgettable in content and character.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my reading guilty pleasures is juvenile mysteries, and I was very excited to read the first in the Suzanna Snow series. I came to like Suzanna very much, and was much intrigued by her "cousin", Will James, and her friend, Isaac Quimby. Beyond them, however, my reaction to the other characters ranged from mild irritation to vehement dislike. Suzanna is a delightful young girl, and has the makings of a fine detective, but just about everything around her was irritating in some manner or another. Perhaps it's just the time period the story takes place that irritates me, as I grew more and more impatient every time Suzanna was sidetracked or delayed because she had to go serve tea to one of the grumpy or snobby guests in her parents' hotel. What's more, the story started out very slowly, and it took all of my patience and determination to stick with it to the end.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This cozy mystery is set in New Brunswick, Canada. If you are old enough to remember the Nancy Drew mysteries or have a daughter in the pre-teen range, this is a perfect series of cozies for that age group. Quick, easy read with a young girl who is trying to locate a 7 year old girl who has disappeared from her family's hotel.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun story! Can’t wait to read the sequel!

[A. A. Breitling · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story placed in 1904, Lock Harbor, New Brunswick. The story is about 11 year old Suzanna Snow who has high hopes of becoming a detective like her uncle. A sweet, cozy mystery.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nico gave this to me and he's a genius!

[Janet Redhead Tree Frog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been right up my alley when I was a kid.. gave me all the Trixie Belden vibes!

[Kristen D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very slow read and was difficult to get into. I wasn't able to finish the book.