"The Westing Game, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler—how exciting to find a book that conjures up these innovative, well-loved titles. That's exactly what Balliett does in her debut novel, which mixes mystery, puzzles, possibilities, and art. The story is set in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood at the University of Chicago's Lab School, where Balliett was a teacher. There, outsiders Petra and Calder become friends as they try to find out what happened to a missing Vermeer painting.... [Brett] Helquist, who has illustrated the Lemony Snickett books, outdoes himself here, providing an interactive mystery in his pictures."—Booklist (starred review)