Roger Sherman III and the Seal Murder Mystery is a funny, fantastical and fast-paced detective story taking place on the shores of Cape Cod. Henry and Dylan, 13 year-olds investigating a series of unsettling seal killings, join forces with Roger Sherman III, the elderly yet spry keeper of Monomoy Lighthouse. As the old man and the boys embark on their quest for clues, Roger regales his audience with tales so startling they can't possibly be true. For starters, he says that his lighthouse is protected by underground bogs filled with mosquitoes the size of Chihuahuas, insanity-inducing fun-house mirrors, and Rico, his pet coyote.
Henry and Dylan's adventure with Roger leads them to a fascinating realization: Roger's surreal world, of which the boys are now a part, appears to be real. When Roger reveals that he's witnessed the killer shooting seals from the deck of an old fishing trawler, the "Rattus Pestis," the boys begin their hunt for clues in the vibrant village of Provincetown. Once in P-Town, Roger and the boys meet up with Mr. Poppins, an ex-CIA operative, at his observatory. There they learn that the Rattus Pestis, Latin for "rat plague," has an actual rat aboard. Even stranger, the rat appears to be the villain's pet. The young detectives also discover that the "Rattus" was built by the esteemed boat builder, Captain Jack B. Macklemore. And while Captain Jack is over 100 years old, Mr. Poppins swears he's still alive, building his last boat.
After visits to Captain Jack, a fire gilder, a fussy fragrance salesman, and Cape Cod's clam warden, Henry and Dylan are primed to search the killer's boat in the dead of night. But when Roger tells them to wait until the following morning, the boys grow suspicious. They sneak off without him and find damning evidence of the killer's guilt below the deck of the Rattus. Then, with the boys trapped inside and a cold-blooded killer at the helm, the boat begins to move.
Will Roger Sherman III be able to save them?
Roger Sherman III and the Seal Murder Mystery is endearing and funny, thrilling and vivid, and sure to inspire the imagination of all readers. This book is an ideal choice for those that love the beauty of Cape Cod, Chatham's charm, the mystery of Monomoy, and Provincetown's...well, everything.
