Ron Roy's A to Z Animal Mysteries: The Absent Alpacas by Kayla Whaley, illustrated by Chloe Burgett

 Ron Roy's A to Z mysteries, originally published in the late 90s, are still a staple of early elementary series today, with multiple reprints and editions. Kayla Whaley has taken Roy's general premise and reimagined the series for a new generation, along with a new, more diverse cast of characters.

The animal mysteries are solved by three friends, Abbi Wallace, who uses a wheelchair, and twins Lydia and Daniel Herrera, who have brown skin and curly brown hair. Abbi is the adopted daughter of Wallis Wallace, the mystery writer introduced in the first A to Z mystery (her adoption is introduced towards the end of the original series).

The three friends are excited to go to the local state fair and see a silly competition where alpacas dress up in costumes. But first they run into some protesters, who think it's cruel to dress up animals in costumes, or keep them as pets, and then they discover a mystery - all of the alpacas, except one belonging to a local sanctuary owner, Ms. Margery. When she is suspected by one of the fair security staff, the three friends determine to solve the mystery - and find out what's happening at the sanctuary and if Ms. Margery's son, Abbi's uncle, is involved.

The book is a little over 80 pages, but feels more solid than the usual offering with a thick cover and several pages of back matter including suggested reading and alpaca facts. Ms. Whaley uses a wheelchair like the character Abbi and does a good job smoothly integrating the new characters into a familiar world while updating the whole concept for a new generation.

Verdict: Whether or not A to Z mysteries are still popular, these are a must-have for most library collections. They are already very popular at my library and the fourth book, Dolphin Detectives, will be released in July, 2024. Recommended.

ISBN: 9780593488997; Published July 2023 by Random House; Purchased for the library