Vanishing Act: Mystery at the U. S. Open Book

Edgar Award-winner, John Feinstein, brings listeners another fast-paced, action-packed sports mystery this one set behind the scenes at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.

Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson are together again when both score press passes to cover the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. The behind-the-scenes action in the world of professional tennis is overwhelming, but it turns downright inconceivable when a young Russian phenom, Natalia Makarova, disappears right before her second-round match. The media coverage is staggering. Everyone is looking for Natalia. Was she kidnapped? Did she run? Is she even still alive? The rumors are growing wilder by the hour. But they don't even come close to the shocking truth.

Publishers Weekly

The teen reporters who uncovered scandal at college basketball's Final Four in Last Shot wangle new assignments to cover the U.S. Open tennis championships. Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson find themselves pulled into investigating the disappearance of Nadia Symanova, a Russian with a powerful forehand and supermodel looks. Despite the onslaught of media that converges on Queens, it takes the two 13-year-olds to untangle the mystery, and uncover the corruption fueling it. Sportswriter and adult novelist Feinstein (A Season on the Brink) delivers a name-dropping, insider account of professional tennis politics-TV announcer Bud Collins is a character-and does not pull his punches. "Agents are responsible for most of the ills of tennis, and the ills of tennis are endless," his Collins says-and those ills apparently include tennis prodigies who forfeit their education to pursue million-dollar shoe contracts, and players who shriek when striking the ball. Sports agents come under the harshest scrutiny. There may be a lot of commentary here, but the tension continually escalates, and ends with a hint of romance between the protagonists that suggests at least one more adventure for Susan Carol and Stevie. Ages 10-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.