"Bea and her cousin Celine must locate their grandmother's precious painting and the mysterious individual leading them from clue to clue."-- Provided by publisher.

Twelve-year-old Bea from Passaic, New Jersey, is visiting her family in Paris for the summer when her grandmother's most precious heirloom--a drawing by Henri Matisse--goes missing. After a cryptic clue arrives on Bea's doorstep suggesting its whereabouts, Bea is determined to pursue the lead. Without the French skills to navigate her way around the landmarks of Paris, she teams up with her cousin, Céline, whose clear-eyed French directness makes her a perfect partner for curious, problem-solving Bea. The girls embark on a city-wide search, deciphering riddles, solving puzzles, and cracking codes as they try to locate the Matisse, find a thief, and identify their mysterious benefactor.