"How," Amelia wonders, "could four short months have such a wonderful beginning and such a grim and terrible ending?" Why must she now find herself riding to the docks of London en route to a strange new life in America, seated beside the stone-faced, bloodless, tight-lipped woman in the grim black hat? "The plot twists and turns at an alarming rate in the is story of dastardly crimes and firm friendships, and that's exactly what makes it so much fun." says "Booklist" in its starred review. "A Junior Library Guild" book, and "Mystery Writers of America EDGAR nominee,"