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Reviewed by Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite
Dirk Driftwood and the Orphan Cake Deception by Billy Baldwin is an exciting adventure set in Deventor, Holland, where a thread of danger can be found and ominous secrets will soon be uncovered. And it all seems to be connected to the docks. Dirk always answers the call of adventure and tends to drag his friend Joop along for the ride. Thanks to his newest invention, he discovers a body and uncovers a strange map which pulls him into the middle of a nefarious plot that could threaten everyone and everything he knows. A villain comes to light when Lord Rolf reveals dangerous plans, and Dirk soon learns that he may be the next one targeted. Unsure how to protect his home, he first tries to get in touch with the queen herself, but when that plan ultimately fails, he decides to enter the Royal Baking Contest with the best-tasting dessert. He just needs a little help from his two closest friends to perfect his newest invention.
Deventor has a small-town vibe in that everyone knows each other, rumors are plentiful, and secrets are abundant. Billy Baldwin carefully weaves threads in the background with darkness running through the town. Threats become more deadly as events unfold and Dirk becomes entangled in the nefarious ploy that Lord Rolf has planned. The tone has a lovely quirkiness that balances the darker elements with their plan to stop the bad guys. This keeps the stakes real and the danger authentic. The action moments happen quickly and waste no time in pulling you into Dirk’s world. Dirk is an engaging character who is creative, imaginative, and clever, and uses these qualities to create inventions and nose his way into trouble. Dirk Driftwood and the Orphan Cake Deception is a lovely and humorous story ideal for older children. However, the lighthearted charm, engaging mystery, and addictive quirkiness are great for any age.
