Walt's Riddles

by Robert J Perreault

337 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2025

Reviews

[Kristen Emerick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of Walt Disney being mysteriously kidnapped and Lacie having to solve the case. I’m always here for puzzles, clues, and trying to figure out a mystery before the characters do. Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t quite live up to the concept. I had a hard time believing that the Disney parks would just keep operating while people were literally dying in the parks. This seems like maybe a slight reason to close for the day? I went into this knowing the reviews weren’t exactly glowing, and unfortunately, I have to agree. Great concept, but it just didn’t work for me.


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Brief synopsis (ChatGPT): When Walt Disney is mysteriously kidnapped from Disneyland, FBI Agent Lacie Webb is called in to investigate and discovers a trail of cryptic riddles and clues. As Lacie works to solve the puzzles and find Walt, she uncovers a dangerous conspiracy hidden within Disney's history that puts her own life at risk.

Characters:
Lacie Webb: an FBI agent who investigates Walt Disney’s kidnapping
Walt Disney: needs no introduction
Roy Disney: Walt's brother, also needs to introduction
Annabelle Mann: Walt Disney's assistant for 20 years (culprit)
Brian Walters ("Walt" for short): head of Disneyland security for over 10 years, previous love interest of Lacie's 10 years earlier (culprit)
Thomas Campbell: detective (died)
Lillian Disney: Walt's wife
Ub Iwerks: one of Disney's first narrators, contended that he created Mickey Mouse since he was the original narrator, had a falling out with Disney
Steve McMichael: Lacie's deputy director
Ryan Slavin: handsome FBI agent paired with Lacie in the case (died)
Michael Manning: Disney mechanic (accomplice)
Julio Mendez: Disney security guy fired, criminal record, married but in a relationship with Annabelle Mann (died)
Dennis Hurney: detective, colleague of Tom Campbell, took over after Tom Campbell's murder
Olivia Mendez: wife to Julio Mendez, fired (died)
Steve Poulin: head accountant for The Walt Disney Company

Genre: mystery thriller
Setting: Disneyland, Anaheim, CA around 1964, around the time Disney purchased land for Disney World in Orlando, FL
Perspective: third person
Format: E-book