The co-op bookstore for avid readers
Book Cover for: Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception, Wendelin Van Draanen

Sammy Keyes and the Art of Deception

Wendelin Van Draanen

"The hottest sleuth to appear in children's books since Nancy Drew" (The Boston Globe) is back! Don't miss the eighth book in the series that's been described as "a combination of Carl Hiaasen's Flush and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books" (School Library Journal) and hailed as "nonstop whodunits" (Kirkus Reviews)!

The artsy crowd thinks Sammy Keyes has a lot of nerve showing up at a fancy reception in high-tops. But when she tackles a robber who's brandishing a gun with one hand and pulling paintings from the wall with the other, they're glad she has nerve. Or are they?

Sammy may have stopped one criminal, but the real crime at this show has yet to be discovered. The real crime is more subtle, more artful, than anything Sammy's ever seen. Who knew art could be so dangerous?

Praise for the Sammy Keyes series:

"If Kinsey Millhone ever hires a junior partner, Sammy Keyes will be the first candidate on the list. She's feisty, fearless, and funny. A top-notch investigator!" --New York Times bestselling author Sue Grafton


"The sleuth delights from start to finish. Keep your binoculars trained on Sammy Keyes." --Publishers Weekly

"The most winning junior detective ever in teen lit. (Take that, Nancy Drew!)" --Midwest Children's Book Review

Book Details

  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publish Date: May 10th, 2005
  • Pages: 304
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - undefined
  • Dimensions: 7.40in - 5.10in - 0.80in - 0.45lb
  • EAN: 9780440419921
  • Categories: Mysteries & Detective StoriesHumorous StoriesArt

About the Author

WENDELIN VAN DRAANEN was a classroom teacher for many years before becoming a full-time writer. The books in the Sammy Keyes mystery series have been embraced by critics and readers alike, with Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief receiving the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best children's mystery. Wendelin is also the author of many award-winning novels, including Flipped, The Running Dream, Runaway, Confessions of a Serial Kisser, Swear to Howdy, The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones, and Wild Bird. You can find her online at WendelinVanDraanen.com and @WendelinVanD, and you can follow Sammy Keyes on Facebook.

Praise for this book

Praise for the Sammy Keyes series:

"Van Draanen offers such an explosive combination of high-stakes sleuthing, hilarity, and breathlessly paced action that it's impossible to turn the pages fast enough." --Kirkus Reviews

"There's no stopping Sammy."--Publishers Weekly

"An intelligent, gutsy, flawed, and utterly likable heroine."--Booklist

"Move over, Nancy Drew--a new sleuth is on the scene."--Girls' Life

"Think a combination of Carl Hiaasen's Flush and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books and you'll be right on target." --School Library Journal

"A high-quality, high-amp mystery series." --The Horn Book

"This funny, clever series is NOT for kids only. I challenge the most seasoned mystery reader to guess 'who done it.'" --Cozies, Capers, and Crimes

"Sammy Keyes comes armed with attitude." --Orlando Sentinel

"Sammy doesn't find mysteries to solve--they find her." --Arizona Republic

"Humor, romance and adventure; this story is an absolute blast." --Chicago Tribune

"If you haven't met Sammy Keyes yet, now is the time." --Children's Literature