The Clue in the Clock Tower

``This is just like a Nancy Drew mystery,'' remarks one of the young sleuths in this first in a series of whodunits. Even before these true words are uttered, however, the reader will recognize in this neatly crafted novel a number of the qualities that made the children's mysteries of yesterday so popular--and so addictive. The two boys and two girls of OSG (Our Secret Gang) are wholesome, genial kids who have converted a chicken coop into a clubhouse. Their common bond is that each has a secret known only to the other members of OSG. Here Davey's secret is revealed: he is a math genius, and his parents want to send him to a boarding school for the gifted. Davey will have none of it, but the matter is pushed into the background when the hands from the clock on the town museum are stolen. Lured by the $250 reward and the promise of adventure, OSG decides to investigate the theft and cracks the case, solving Davey's dilemma along the way. A crotchety old man (who turns out to be the villain), a school bully and a sweet but razor-sharp grandmother are some of the tried-and-true characters who keep this mystery moving at an enjoyable pace. Ages 8-12. (Feb.)