ELVIRA VANCE AND THE MONSTER MYSTERY

In the West Texas town of Marfa, trouble brews between humans and monsters when the monsters’ prized crown is stolen and chupacabra Calvin Shadevale disappears.

Detective Price seems sure that Cal took off with the sacred crown that the monsters use at the annual Marfa Monster Festival to honor the Monarch of Fright. There are many humans, including the mayor, who are ready to use the crime as an excuse to shut down Vince Vance’s Vintage Trailer Park Inn for Monsters. But 13-year-old Elvira, Vince’s daughter, doesn’t believe Cal is the culprit; she insists he’s a victim. The situation becomes even more suspicious when more monsters go missing. Elvira, who has a racially ambiguous human dad and a siren mom, wishes everyone could get along. Eager to solve the mystery and calm tensions, she joins forces with her human friend (and secret crush) Emilio Salinas, and chupacabra best friend, Maribel Akecheta—together they’re “the best sleuths in Marfa.” Their investigations take them to a mausoleum, the mayor’s office, and a ghost town as they encounter colorful witnesses and suspects, including a banshee, a vampire, a jackalope, and decidedly unfriendly ghosts. As they hurtle toward the finale, the trio discover a duplicitous villain and an unlikely ally. This compelling story offers food for thought about discrimination. Elvira’s humorous and engaging first-person voice flows easily.

An original, fast-paced mystery featuring a strong message about inclusion.