Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers' Favorite

The Scent of Something Sneaky is a children’s mystery by Gail Hedrick. Fourteen-year-old Emily Sanders spends the summer working at Baird’s Inn with her friend, Mary. The inn, owned by Mary’s grandmother, Gigi, comes under investigation when a guest is injured and the scent from a septic tank becomes unbearable. When they find a crashed van in the woods, police link it to drug smuggling, which gives Baird’s Inn a bad reputation. Emily suspects foul play since other freak incidents have occurred. She distrusts “The Bird Guy” who roams the property claiming to watch birds that do not dwell in the area. She does some sleuthing with Mary and Alex, a neighbour, to prove it, or the authorities will close Gigi’s beloved Baird’s Inn.

The Scent of Something Sneaky is the sequel to Something Stinks! This sequel is a delightful mystery by Gail Hedrick. Emily, who has a great sense of humour and keen detective skills, narrates it. The story is a good adventure that not only dwells on the intriguing mystery at hand, but also on the characters themselves. Gail Hedrick showed the kind, compassionate side of the characters, making it difficult to guess who the good people were, especially with Emily’s suspicious mind. She nicely described the beauty of the countryside and the impact of tourism in small townships, using Baird’s Inn as the main setting. The Scent of Something Sneaky is the perfect title for this well-written story, and readers will understand why after reading this enjoyable book.