Feifer, Kate. Signed by: Zelda.

Feifer, Kate.  Signed by: Zelda.    Simon & Schuster 240p   $16.99      978-1-4424-3331-1 elm/ms            VG-BN Realistic Fiction      

Since his mother left for India two years ago, Nicky spends most of his time in “time out”.  He always seems to be in trouble with his father.  Grandma Zelda, who lives one floor up in his New York apartment building, is Nicky’s respite, filling him with love and slices of Zeldaberry pie.  One day Grandma goes missing.  Nicky enlists the help of Lucy, a recent arrival from Savannah and an amateur handwriting expert.  Simulated writing samples and actual signatures of such notable individuals from history as Eleanor Roosevelt, Al Capone and, of course, John Hancock, fuel Lucy's forensic forays.  When Nicky’s father becomes the prime suspect, Nicky is not sure what to do.  With the help of Lucy and a talking pigeon who visits the windowsills of the various apartments, the mystery is successfully solved.

This is a very satisfying mystery with action, intrigue and enough content to keep the reader interested.  It is appropriate for grades 4-7.        

Mystery                                                     --Joan Theal