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Author Tara Ellis lives in a small, rural town in Washington State, set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys the quiet lifestyle with her husband, two teenage kids and several dogs. Tara was a firefighter/EMT, and worked in the medical field for many years, before committing herself to writing young adult and middle grade novels full-time. (she still dabbles in teaching CPR)
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite
The Mystery of Hollow Inn (Samantha Woods Mysteries, #1) is a children’s adventure by Tara Ellis. Samantha Woods and her friend Ally visit her relatives at Hollow Inn, Montana. They learn that Joseph Hollow, who searches for treasure, haunts the inn, and no one wants to stay there because strange incidents have occurred. Sam disbelieves the stories until a shadowy figure appears at her bedside one night. She wants to help her aunt keep the inn by solving the mystery from clues found in an old journal. However, Sam and Ally realize that they are not the only ones looking for treasure when their boat capsizes, and Ted, an employee at Hollow Inn, acts suspiciously. The clues are not easy to decipher, but someone lurks nearby, waiting to be lead to the treasure.
The Mystery of Hollow Inn, the first in the Samantha Woods Mysteries is a pleasant story for preteens. Tara Ellis has written a light-hearted mystery that held my attention with its catchy beginning of humour and intrigue. Sam is the daring, curious type while cautious Ally believes life cannot exist without cell phone service. The author is inventive in her writing, and the sleuthing these good-natured girls do reminded me of Nancy Drew, but with minor danger. The story has a realistic side as the lure of treasure would have anyone attempting to discover its whereabouts, and the author’s description of Hollow Inn made me want to go there. Preteens will enjoy the Samantha Woods Mysteries by Tara Ellis.
