The Tontine Caper

By: Dianne K. Salerni

Published by Holiday House, 2025-04-22

Clue meets Knives Out in this twisty-turny middle grade mystery-comedy with delightfully dry humor and impeccable plotting. Eleven-year-old orphan Nico Lombardi has been unfairly indentured at a remote mountain inn for five years now. Just as he gathers the courage to escape, the inn gets booked by the remaining members of a “tontine,” an investment scheme where a cash prize is awarded to whomever lives the longest. In other words, every guest wants access to the fortune. Preferably as soon as possible. During their stay, a chaotic race to control the fate of the tontine takes over the normally sleepy inn. Nico watches in horror as a series of comically disastrous events unfolds—some of which might aid his escape, and some of which might get him in big trouble. Before he can even put the right clues together, three unexpected revelations change the course of everyone’s future! Arch humor and an incredible cast of strange and calculating characters keep the pages turning in this Wes Anderson-esque mystery filled with funny mishaps and misunderstandings. Perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The 39 Clues series.