Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds

By David A. Cam

1980 ISBN 0670200395

We join Cam Jansen, as she and her friend Eric commence their spring vacation with a visit to the mall.  It may be time off from school but there is never time off for this sleuth when Cam and Eric find that they have been sitting right in the vicinity of an actual jewelry store robbery and all they were trying to do is baby-sit Eric’s baby brother, Howie.  Eric’s mother had left Eric in charge of Howie while she shopped with the remainder of Eric’s siblings, twin sisters.  In solving this robbery, the police are greatly puzzled when the person who seemed the culprit is found with no jewels on his person and no opportunity of disposing of the evidence.

As related in previous episodes, Cam has the advantage of possessing in her brain, the equivalent of a traveling surveillance but she actually still has to also use her detective’s reasoning and logical strategies for any mystery solving.  It is when Cam and Eric follow up on the missing facts and the original suspect, that they are able to solve this robbery.  The amount of action in this book is enough to keep the interest of the readers and most likely keep them as fans.  While Cam and Eric place themselves in danger fortunately they receive the proper amount of assistance and live to tell the tale.  Hopefully readers will not follow their risky example and risk their safety in any similar situations.  The illustrator, Susanna Natti continues to provide us with good insight into the characters and the action of the story.  We are given enough details to keep our interest in the story.  We get to know the characters well with the use of the illustrations.  Cam Jansen continues to be fun for all her readers.