BERNIE AND THE BESSLEDORF GHOST

A third comic adventure at the hotel last visited in The Bodies in the Bessledorf Hotel (1986). This time, 11-year-old Bernie and his family (Dad's the manager; Mom's writing a romance, Quivering Lips) unravel the mystery of the ghost of an 11-year-old boy who turns up in sister Delores' room, disturbing her sleep and thus her chances of becoming "Worker of the Week" at the local parachute factory. With the help of his friends, Bernie confronts the ghost, researches the hotel's past, and is able to figure out who the ghost was, how he met his demise, and where he is buried. Meanwhile, the hotel has earned a pretty penny showing off the site of the appearances. No real surprises and more chuckles than belly laughs, but Naylor tells her story with a practiced dexterity that should keep readers entertained.