THE TONTINE CAPER

Mysteries abound in this tale set at a fully booked inn at the beginning of the 20th century.

For the past five years, 11-year-old Nico Lombardi, the child of an Italian immigrant, has lived and worked at the Precipice Inn in Pennsylvania. When he was 6, he and his artist grandfather (his only guardian) visited the inn; his grandfather died unexpectedly, leaving the newly orphaned Nico with only a few of his paintings and a debt to the innkeeper that has continued to grow. But change is in the air as three elderly final subscribers to a tontine (a type of financial arrangement) arrive at the inn with their families. The tontine is worth $150,000, and the trio are meeting to decide if they should split the funds now or continue to hold out until only one survivor remains to take it all, per the tontine’s rules. But everyone has secrets, and it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. This fast-paced, humorous caper features witty, descriptive chapter titles and spot art, including character profiles sprinkled in, making for an accessible, entertaining tale. The distinct, eccentric characters—some lovable, some loathsome, and some in the middle—are all intriguing as readers catch glimpses into what they’re each scheming. The historical setting is necessary for some plot points, but mostly this reads like a modern or timeless story focused on the characters and their antics. Characters are cued white.

Charming, droll, and widely appealing.