Rush for the Gold: Mystery at the Olympics

April 1, 2012
Feinstein's latest tale of chicanery in big-time sports sends teen journalist Stevie Thomas to London to cover the Olympics, where his usual partner Susan Carol is swimming for gold. A win at the Worlds has turned Susan Carol into a national celebrity and brought a whirl of lucrative marketing deals her way. It has also put her at odds with her father, who has fallen thoroughly under the influence of pushy agent J.P. Scott. Stevie covers the progress of his beautiful, brilliant, talented girlfriend for a Washington paper as she makes her way through the Olympics Trials and then the early heats in London. He begins to smell a rat when he spots an associate of J.P.'s meeting with a hot-looking Russian swimmer who is competing against her. A slimy marketer's careless comment later, Stevie knows the fix is in. As is his wont, Feinstein salts the cast with real athletes and other figures from Michael Phelps to Bob Costas. He folds plenty of dramatic sports action as well as behind-the-scenes banter and personal and family conflict into a plot that moves smoothly to a suspenseful climax. Though the evidence fingering a bribed Olympics judge is rather conveniently obtained, both the crime and the marketing pressures behind it are thoroughly believable. A fast-paced caper, with plenty to offer fans of both the Games and the less savory "games." (Mystery. 10-14)

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June 1, 2012

Gr 6-9-The sports-journalism duo of Susan Carol Anderson and Stevie Thomas is embroiled in cracking another mystery. This time the story takes place at the 2012 Olympics. Fifteen-year-old Susan Carol is competing in the games as a swimmer on Team USA while Stevie, her boyfriend, is covering the events for the Washington Herald. Susan Carol's good looks and athletic ability catch the eye of Lighting Fast, an agency that mesmerizes her father with promises of millions of dollars in contracts if his daughter can win the gold. When members of Lighting Fast are seen mingling with one of Susan Carol's competitors, she and Stevie's suspicions about the agency intensify. While she focuses on swimming, Stevie is forced to crack the case on his own. He uncovers Lightning Fast's plot to bribe officials to ensure that Susan Carol's less attractive, yet equally talented teammate does not win, jeopardizing the agency's opportunity to market Susan Carol for millions. Disappointingly, the action doesn't really heat up until the last few chapters. Readers may find the large cast of undeveloped secondary characters difficult to keep track of, and the plot gets bogged down with details about the world of competitive swimming. Still, the novel is timed to hit shelves before the 2012 London Olympics and it provide readers with a seemingly realistic and interesting behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Games.-Nicole Knott, Watertown High School, CT

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2012
Grades 6-9 Teenage journalists Susan Carol Anderson and Steve Thomas find themselves involved in mysterious events in a new sports setting: the swimming trials leading to the London Olympics. In a fresh plot twist, Susan Carol is competing for a spot on the U.S. team in two butterfly events. She must deal with the unrelenting demands of agents, advertisers, and the media, but soon other concerns appear. Shady characters, a pompous official, and a glamorous Russian swimmer muddy the Olympic waters as it appears someone may be planning to fix events. As in his earlier sports mysteries, the popular Feinstein takes readers inside a major sports venue, supplies fascinating details, and serves up a satisfying mystery.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
In Feinstein's sixth sports mystery novel, Susan Carol is a world-class swimmer and teen reporter Stevie, her boyfriend. Susan Carol feels pressure to win the gold for lucrative contracts; Stevie wonders how far a corporation would go to ensure its client's victory. The answer is "too far," hence the (quickly and neatly solved) mystery. The Olympic action and intrigue will please fans.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 1, 2012
Timed to coincide with the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Feinstein's sixth sports mystery novel again features teen reporters Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson -- except that this time Susan Carol is a world-class swimmer in the 200-meter butterfly and Stevie is now her boyfriend. Speedo, Nike, Under Armour, and the Disney Channel are all interested in her, and Susan Carol only has to win a gold medal or two to gain lucrative contracts. She didn't train to be a celebrity or a "show pony for corporations," but thanks to her father, who falls prey to the agents' offers, Susan Carol does indeed become a "human billboard" and America's latest athlete/sex symbol. She is only important to the agents as long as she wins, and Stevie wonders just how far a corporation would go to ensure victory for its client. It turns out that the answer is "too far"; hence the mystery for Stevie to solve -- a little too quickly and neatly, perhaps, but Feinstein's legions of fans will revel in the intrigue at the Olympics and the excitement of Susan Carol's races. dean schneider

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)