RING OF FIRE Century Quartet, Book 1

When four 12-year-olds—one from Shanghai, one from New York, one from Paris, and one the hotelier's daughter—unexpectedly find themselves sharing a hotel room in Rome, adventure is bound to ensue. On this December 29, as the friends set off in a blacked-out city, an unusual man gives them custody of his briefcase a short time before his death. The contents of the briefcase lead to a whirlwind of intrigue and danger. Carrington MacDuffie modulates the flow of events, speeding up as Elettra and her new friends scramble to keep ahead of those who are also pursuing the Ring of Fire and slowing down to recount key story details. MacDuffie gives individuality to each character, adding a hint of her native country to each of the main characters and giving spice to the myriad of supporting ones. A.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2010]