Fifth-grade sleuth Cam Jansen and her best friend Eric Shelton return in this twenty-fifth entry in David A. Adler's chapter-book series devoted to their adventures, this time confronting a thief at the hospital, as they await the birth of Cam's baby sister. As Cam uses her photographic memory to track down the person who stole Mrs. Shelton's purse and car, she also confronts a happy surprise, in the birth of twins Alice and Seth, rather than just a baby sister ...

Originally published in 2005, on the 25th Anniversary of the original entry in the series - 1980's Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds - this twenty-fifth entry in the Cam Jansen series includes an activity section at the rear, complete with memory games and a trivia quiz. The story itself is sweet, although I could do without Cam and Eric's obnoxious school friend, Danny, who was introduced a few titles before, and now seems a permanent fixture of the series. I continue to struggle a bit with my suspension of disbelief, when it comes to the permissiveness of the adults in Cam and Eric's life - does this pair ever actually spend any of their school day in class? - but leaving that aside, this was an enjoyable addition to the series, and is one I would recommend to fans of Cam Jansen, as well as to beginning chapter-book readers who enjoy mystery. ( )

To the average child, this book may be a common story with a common plot and common endings. But to the young mystery fan, this book is a key to the opening of a whole new world of crime and mystery. I looked at the cover of the book expecting a corny story about missing valentines or a stolen box of chocolates, but I was mistaken. This book took my mind to a place of guessing and clue searching. I've always been a fan of reading mystery books and finding plot twists and usually can spot a badly written mystery plot a mile away. This book was not one of them. While keeping me engaged with page turning mystery plots, it also allowed me to see that a children's novel has the ability to inform on such things as theft and robbery is such a way that it doesn't offend, but informs and engages. ( )

It's Valentine's Day, and Cam's mother is about to give birth. While in the hospital waiting room, something of great value disappears. Cam starts to investigate the mystery and will need to solve it before her Valentine sibling is born.