I grew up going to two local amusement parks each summer. These parks were old with a mixture of both ancient and modern rides but with an old-fashioned charm that never disappointed, no matter how many times I rode the same ride or how old I grew. I love the energetic, chaotic atmosphere of an amusement park, the rides, the food, and that tired but happy feeling that you have as you drag yourself to the car at the end of the night.
So, when I heard about David Gorman’s mystery novel, The Long-Lost Locket, the first book in his Waldameer Mystery Files Series, I was intrigued by the setting alone. And I was curious to see what kind of kid-friendly mystery could take place in this setting. Check out my review of The Long-Lost Locket followed by an interview with Gorman.
The Long-Lost Locket plot summary
Siblings Seth and Julia Ambrose take their two friends, Tyren and Anh, to Waldameer amusement park in Erie, PA. While checking out the construction of a new sub shop at the park, they come across an old necklace.
After scoping out the park to see if anyone has lost the necklace that day and coming up empty, they take it to a local jewelry store where the helpful owners reveal that the necklace is a locket an old picture of a little girl inside. The four friends then set off to determine the identity of this girl and return the locket to its rightful owner. However, their search catches the attention of two neighborhood bullies who set out to steal the locket and foil the heroes’ plans.
The characters
Each member of the group has a distinct personality and interests. Seth is obsessed with ancient Egypt, Julia loves camping, Tyren is into computers, and Anh is from Vietnam and loves painting and cooking. They are good kids who like to do the right thing, and they are all excited to try to solve the mystery. They all work together really well and use teamwork throughout the story, whether it’s scouring the amusement park for the owner of the necklace or escaping from the villains at the mall.
The kids are a bit old-fashioned, super polite, and very respectful. They use older methods of detection to solve their mysteries, such as searching through library archives and even using old phone books to track down potential owners of the locket. They are written the way adults would picture the ideal group of friends for their kids.
The setting
The book is set at the actual Waldameer Amusement Park in Erie, which author David Gorman’s bio explains is owned by his family. These old amusement parks tend to have a long and rich history, and Gorman incorporates that history into his fictional tale, particularly the old carousel. As a result, his descriptions of this setting are very clear and detailed, as are the other real world areas in town where this story takes place, such as Presque Isle, the mall, and the water park.
Amusement parks are exciting places to begin with. A lot is happening and a lot can happen, both good and bad. Items are lost and found all the time, and the crowds make it challenging to figure out what items belong to which customers. This makes it the perfect backdrop for a mystery, and it gives the book a good energy.
The mystery element
Speaking of mysteries, this one is very tame and low stakes. Returning the locket is more of a fun summer project than a crucial mission. Of course, the kids do take it seriously. But the only real danger comes from the villains who do add some serious elements to the situation. They add to the action and do actually threaten the solving of this mystery. They also become physical, cause some actual damage, and need to be taught a lesson.
In the end, it’s adults who handle these kids. The friends just lead them into the right hands. And the kids are never afraid to ask adults for help, which sends a good message to readers to ask for help when they find themselves in over their heads, particularly when they are embarking on a non-life or death situation.
My recommendation
The Long-Lost Locket is a nice, short read for mystery lovers and those looking for a fun, adventurous summer story. The plot is full of twists, turns, and action. The mystery itself is tame, and I wish the kids spoke and acted more like kids. But I was rooting for them to solve the mystery, and I had fun as the fly on the wall of their good-natured adventure.
My rating
An interview with David Gorman
How long did it take you to write this first book? Has it become easier with the sequels?
I wrote The Long-Lost Locket in a month or two. I was working part time and had ample free time. My writing process has definitely become easier and smoother as I’ve written more books in the Waldameer Mystery Files series. The nice thing about writing a series is I have an established formula and structure already. Obviously, each book tells a new story, but it doesn’t feel like I’m reinventing the wheel.
What is the most fun part about writing for you? The most challenging?
I love the power of the pen! Well, really the power of the keyboard. It’s thrilling to create a world and have anything happen. There are truly no limits. So many things in life are out of our control, but with writing, you wield all the power.
What’s most challenging for me is being patient with the editing process. I love writing books and have a growing list of stories I want to tell. I’m always eager to arrive at the final draft so I can get my book into readers’ hands. I have to force myself to slow down and read carefully to catch pesky typos and errors.
How did you come up with the different interests for each of the four main characters?
I wanted my characters to be well-rounded in their interests so a variety of readers could identify with them. Seth is bookish and loves learning about ancient Egypt. His sister, Julia, is outdoorsy and loves camping. Tyren is mechanically minded and enjoys technology, while Anh is creative and likes art.
Do you have a favorite character?
My favorite character is Orlando, the absentminded librarian who assists the kids with their investigations. Orlando makes appearances in each book because I have so much fun writing him, and he’s the funniest character. He easily gets lost in daydreams and reminisces about his harebrained, unbelievable experiences. I think of him as the world’s most interesting man.
Do you have any recommendations for first-time visitors of Waldameer?
If you’re visiting Waldameer, my family’s amusement park in Erie, Pennsylvania, I would start the day in Water World. The water park has several slides, a kids area, and a giant wave pool. After Water World, I would head to the dry park. I recommend first riding the Sky Ride (our version of a ski lift) to get a bird’s eye view of the park and map out rides of interest. Definitely don’t miss the Ravine Flyer 2 roller coaster, as it’s been ranked in the Top 10 Wooden Roller Coasters in the world!
Have you ever found something valuable and tried to find its owner?
Throughout my childhood and teenage years working at Waldameer, we found the standard items–like lost hats, keys, wallets, or phones—and we’d try to find the owner. But there was an assortment of unique items too. Once, a man reported that he lost his glass eye in the water park! Don’t ask me how that happened. Luckily, my brother found it in the Endless River.
What’s the best compliment you’ve received about your series?
I’ll always remember a girl named Parinita and her review of The Long-Lost Locket. She said, “My favorite character is Anh because she’s from somewhere far away (Vietnam) and so am I (India).” Including characters of diverse races, ethnicities, and nationalities is important to me, and I was happy to hear how Parinita connected to my story.
How many books do you plan to write for this series?
I plan to write eight books in the series. My fifth book is coming out this spring. After finishing the Waldameer Mystery Files series, I’m excited to write more middle-grade fiction.
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Sounds like such a cute book. Once again, you did an amazing job with the interview.
Thanks for reading!