In the big city in order to see a Henri Matisse exhibit at the art museum, fifth-grade sleuth Cam Jansen, her best friend Eric Shelton and her mother all end up chasing a thief who runs off with Mrs. Jansen's canvas bag and video camera. When they catch up with him, the man has neither bag nor camera, making it seem as if they have been on the wrong trail. Cam is convinced that he is the thief, but when the camera and bag are found abandoned nearby, it seems the case is closed. Then, while touring the exhibit, Cam realizes what really happened...

The seventeenth entry in David A. Adler's beginning chapter-book series devoted to the adventures of Cam and Eric, who foil a crime (usually theft) in every title, Cam Jansen and the Scary Snake Mystery seems to be set in New York City, to judge from a number of details, from the library with the two lions in front of it, to the chase down Fourth Avenue. If true, that would make it the first book in the series with a specific, identifiable location. Leaving that aside, this was a fairly engaging entry in the series, and is one that I would recommend to fans of Cam Jansen, and to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy mysteries. ( )

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i don't like snakes so i don't like this book :( ( )

GR: L
GL:2.3
DRA: 20
Lexile: 460L