T. A. Sigafus' series for ages 9 and up, The Little Maestro Mysteries, gets off to a good start with The Case of Beethoven's Bandit, a fast-paced and humorous mystery featuring four young musical virtuosos who also solve mysteries.

The adventure begins when the Little Maestros--Alexander, Gert, Wallaby, and Gracie--and their conductor, Madam Macaroni, receive music from their friend, Professor Podges of the Dimsdee Conservatory of Music, to be played at the annual string quartet competition at the conservatory. A message in code found in the music leads the young musicians into the mystery, which unfolds as the foursome search for the missing professor and the pieces of Beethoven's unfinished tenth symphony. Arriving on the Dimsdee campus, the action crescendos as the Little Maestros discover clues leading to the solution of the case.

Sigafus has written an exciting book mixing music and mystery. The kids act like kids and even some of the bigger scrapes they get into are possible (what kid hasn't thought he could drive anything just because he's driven a riding lawn mower or tractor?) and often had me laughing. When presenting information about Beethoven, Sigafus doesn't fall into the trap of lecturing to the reader but gives just what is needed to understand the case.

Four titles are planned for release each year. The next book in the series, The Case of Mozart's Deadly Medley, will be released in time for Christmas.