Remember how The Hardy Boys would always include a reference to their previous adventure and hint at the next one? Mystery of the Tempest has a sequel coming out soon, The Secret of Othello, but despite characters’ remarks about past mysteries, Tempest is the series launch.
Twins Steven and Denny Anderson resemble Frank and Joe Hardy in other ways as they help their father solve crimes in the small community of Fisher Key, Florida. The big difference is that, despite being identical in appearance, Steven is straight and Denny is gay.
The day that Denny and Steven graduate from high school, each is brooding over a secret. Denny has not come out to anyone but his brother. Steven hasn’t even told his brother that he was not accepted into the Navy SEALS.
On the other hand, Brian Vandermark, another boy in the graduation line, is more openly gay. That evening, Steven goes off to celebrate with his girlfriend who has set that night as the date to lose her virginity. Denny offers Brian a boat ride over to a party, but as they cross the harbor past the Tempest, a beautiful antique sailing ship, it explodes. Naturally the boys get caught up in figuring out who did it and why. Clues are readily apparent to readers familiar with Shakespeare but there are some gripping moments of suspense.
The brothers have more distinct characters, and their relationship has more depth than the usual series formula that Cameron follows. Steven has difficulty sticking to one girl while Denny wonders if he will ever find anyone to love. Denny is much more romantic in his fantasies than Steven. And there are the customary comedy-of-errors moments as one twin is mistaken for the other.
The only jarring element is Denny’s concern about hiding his orientation in order to join the Coast Guard since DADT was repealed two months before the publication of Mystery of the Tempest (the review copy was pre-publication).
Where other teen mystery series are popular, this should be too.
Reviewer: Carolyn Caywood, Retired
Virginia Beach Public Library
