Florian Bates is new in Washington, D.C. - new to the United States, for that matter. His father designs security systems for museums. His mother works in the National Gallery as an art conservator. When he meets a girl from his neighborhood, Margaret, he finds someone that he can share his system for sorting out people's small mysteries. Florian calls it the Theory Of All Small Things, or T.O.A.S.T.
There you have the set-up for what I hope will be a whole series of mystery/spy novels. This first book, Framed!: a T.O.A.S.T Mystery by James Ponti, starts with Florian's abduction by a Romanian thug. Since that's in the very first chapter, I'm not giving much away.
Then, Florian goes back and explains just WHY he has been abducted, and how he became a "covert asset" for the FBI, and how he promised to help Margaret solve a family mystery. Add in some art theft and lots of T.O.A.S.T. training and stir in some Quantico physicality and you get a darn good book for middle grade readers - or anyone who loves action, puzzles, and solutions.
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