The Pathfinders Society, Vol. 1 - The Mystery of the Moon Tower

I keep telling myself I won't be picking up any new series.  I repeat to myself over and over that I collect enough series right now, so many that I can't read all the new books that come out fast enough. I think to myself that I will have enough willpower to say "NO" to any new series that comes along and strikes my interest.  Then, of course, I see something, and all those thoughts just disappear! Such is the case with this first volume of The Pathfinders Society series of graphic novel mysteries for young readers. 

"The Mystery of the Moon Tower" is an introduction to the characters and world of The Pathfinders Society. Written by Francesco Sedita and Prescott Seraydarian and illustrated by Steve Hamaker, the story centers around a group of young pre-teens at Camp Pathfinder who set out on a scavenger hunt that quickly leads to a search for a long-lost treasure by the man to established by the camp's founder, Henry Merriweather.  Five unlikely kids get thrown together as a group and quickly find that they each possess skills that compliment the others, which, of course, will ultimately help them on their quest to find the lost treasure.

Kyle is the new kid who has an aptitude for drawing. Beth is the history expert who also happens to be extremely organized. Harry is the kid-clown of the group, always teasing, but who has the inane ability to see what others may miss. Victoria is a popular cheerleader who has a hidden talent with math and puzzles. And Nate is the kid genius who loves to invent things from whatever he has at hand.  Each one on their own is not particularly special - but throw them together, even unwillingly, and suddenly you have a team of treasure-hunters who can pretty much conquer any obstacle and solve any riddle thrown before them!

The story centers around the mysterious treasure that Henry Merriweather is claimed to have been searching for in the town of Windrose - but he never found it (at least, not that anyone is aware of). When the five pre-teens are thrown together at camp and given a scavenger hunt to locate local landmarks, the adventure turns into something far more than any of them anticipated when they begin to uncover clues that Merriweather placed so that others that came after him could follow in his footsteps.  Their search leads them to Merriweather's castle home, where his great-niece gives the group free reign to explore the castle (since it is set to be foreclosed, along with the camp, due to a lack of money).  They unexpectedly discover hidden rooms and as they search through old Merriweather's belongings, they are literally transported into the past where they see what happened to Henry Merriweather when he first introduced the townspeople of his time to the mysterious Moon Tower that he had built.

Part mystery, part supernatural, part adventure - "The Mystery of the Moon Tower" is a well-written, perfectly-paced tale of fun and suspense that introduces readers to the Pathfinders Society and its amazing world.  The art is somewhat cartoony in nature, but it still retains the spooky elements to create a Scooby Doo-ish feel that will leave you smiling by the time you read the last page.  The book ends with a "To Be Continued..." so here's hoping the creators are able to produce at the very least a second volume in the series, if not more!

RATING:  8 black-tie and black-out affairs out of 10 for opening up a whole new world for mystery and comic fans to enjoy!