A mystery set in Victoria, British Columbia, Up for Grabs by Michelle Mulder will grab readers imaginations.

Frida and her brother Zac are back in Victoria to clear out their grandmother’s house and get it ready for sale. As her sole heirs, they need to take a break from their world travels to complete this last task for her. The house is a treasure trove of curiosities, so many antiques, some worth money, others not so much. When a mysterious painting turns up in a hidden compartment of their great, great, great grandfather’s desk, it sets off a chain of events that has Frida running for her life.

This story has so much all contained in 183 pages. Michelle Mulder features so may little Easter Eggs throughout the story. There is a lovely shout out to the Little Free Library system, s a throwback to an actual Canadian art heist, features of actual artists working and living in Victoria during the past. It’s a book of nostalgia and memory.

This story moves at a quick pace. Michelle Mulder send the stage for the mystery right away. The intrigue begins and readers will know from the start that there is something fishy about the neighbour named Liz. We have all met a Liz in our day. It’s a story of family, biological and chosen, the way we hold onto memories and how we can let go of things that don’t bring us joy. This story had me guessing all the way through. Never truly knowing who is the culprit and what are their motivations. I truly appreciated the action packed ending.

I really loved that this story featured a couple of different types of families. Frida and her brother Zac along with a friend named Pierre are a little family unit. Also, Frida’s friend Hazeem is living in Victoria for the summer with just his mom. It’s so refreshing to read stories that feature non-traditional families to share with readers that there are a multitude of ways to make a family. 

Up For Grabs is a fast paced story that reminds me of treasure hunting through the junk store and some of my favourite books from my childhood.