First Clues Review: Snatched by Pete Hautman and Mary Logue

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is delighted to introduce a new feature for our website, book reviews written by students. These students offer their unique perspective on the book in their review and provide a valuable resource to parents looking for new mystery adventures for their kids to read.

Snatched by Pete Hautman and Mary Logue
The Bloodwater Mysteries Series

Putnam Young Adult (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 0-399-24377-1 (0399243771)
ISBN-13: 978-0-399-24377-6 (9780399243776)
Publication Date: May 2006
List Price: $15.99

Review written by Gresa, Age 11, Grade 6. Date of review: October 2008.

Review: Roni Delicata a nosy newspaper reporter for the school paper The Bloodwater Pump and an all time science lover Brian Bain have something in common, cracking a big case even the police can’t accomplish, and spending more time in the principal’s office then the principal herself! This suspenseful mystery is fiction and preferably not for the younger readers because some of the thrilling violence but a great book for middle scholars. However Pete Hautman and Mary Logue, National Book Award winners kept me on the edge of my seat as I read Snatched! This thrilling novel is one of the best I have ever read.

Snatched is the first of the three in this short series that also have Skullduggery and Doppelganger. In Snatched Roni and Brian team up to crack the case of who beat up and then kidnapped Alicia Camden, the victim in the story. Roni’s tough and pushy attitude get her clues to where Alicia might be and lead to the one place that they least suspected. They then soon found out not to underestimate the little island people call home! These two great investigators hit a few stumps on the road, and the authors keep the readers on their toes as Roni and Brian get closer to solving the mystery.

Overall this book was suspenseful, funny, and one of the best books I have ever read. Snatched is a great novel and highly recommended to those who do not mind a heart stopper and very interesting/investigative thriller of a novel! In my opinion this book is very good and I give two thumbs up to the authors Pete Hautman and Mary Logue and the book Snatched that they both wrote so well. In Snatched there are some chapters that give off clues that are sometimes hard to find and have to read closely and others are there bringing Roni, you, and Brian closer to cracking the case (easy to find). Don’t let Roni’s mean attitude fool you though she just wants to get the scoop on the Camden case that seems to have the police stumped. In Snatched you will find things that are funny, scary, and downright weird but makes you want to keep reading more! The other two books in the series are just the same so you should read more in this short series!

If you are interested in purchasing Snatched from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

First Clue Mysteries is pleased to provide information on nearly 100 mystery series for children and young adults. Each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older). If you have a favorite mystery series you'd like to see added to our site, please contact us.

All student book reviews are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any manner, print or electronic, without the express written consent of the copyright owner. Reviews are published here with permission of the copyright owner.

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Mystery Book Review: Buffalo Bill's Defunct by Sheila Simonson

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Buffalo Bill's Defunct by Sheila Simonson. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Buffalo Bill's Defunct by Sheila Simonson
A Latouche County Mystery

Perseverence Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 1-880284-96-0 (1880284960)
ISBN-13: 978-1-880284-96-4 (9781880284964)
Publication Date: September 2008
List Price: $14.95

Review: Sheila Simonson embarks on a new series featuring residents of the small town of Klalo along the Columbia River Gorge in south-central Washington State, introducing county librarian Meg McLean and sheriff's investigating officer Rob Neill in Buffalo Bill's Defunct.

Meg had left the hustle and bustle of southern California for a quieter life in the Pacific Northwest. Her new home is a 19th century farmhouse with a 1920's era garage addition. Rob happens to live in a neighboring house. While airing out the garage prior to moving in her possessions, another neighbor's dog runs in and begins digging, exposing a buried body in what appears to be a storage bin for illegal "hooch". Next to the body is a piece of an Indian petroglyph that may be part of a collection of artifacts that was stolen 10 years earlier. The original owner of the house, a prolific bootlegger a hundred years earlier, must have used the storage bin until his hooch was ready to be delivered to his clients. But how a body came to be buried there is a mystery. His grandchildren owned the house most recently, selling it to Meg. Rob, realizing Meg's skills in computer research, deputizes her and together they begin to reconstruct the events leading up to what was found in Meg's garage. The body turns out to be the nephew of the current chief of the local Klalo tribe, Madeline Thomas, from which the artifacts were originally stolen. The search for more clues leads to exposing a case of corruption, greed, and two more murders.

The appealing characters and picturesque setting in Buffalo Bill's Defunct overcome some of the more pedestrian aspects of the story. There is camaraderie, conflict, and even a touch of romance between the main characters with the addition of the colorful Klalo chief to mix things up a bit. It's entertaining and fun and, though a little light on the mystery plot, a good start to a new series. The title is taken from a poem written by E. E. Cummings, published in 1920.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Buffalo Bill's Defunct and to Perseverence Press for providing a copy of the book for this review.

Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing Buffalo Bill's Defunct from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Sheriff’s investigator Rob Neill made a mess of his first case, the theft of sacred artifacts belonging to the Klalo, a Native American tribe from the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. Ten years later, a stolen petroglyph emerges—along with a body buried in a garage. Neill sees a chance to redeem himself, with the help of his new neighbor, librarian Meg McLean. Her information-retrieval skills work together with the police investigation—but the partnership threatens to turn unprofessionally romantic. Meanwhile, two more people are murdered, and the Klalos’ feisty chief, Madeline Thomas, has her own agenda that seems to hinder as much as help. Can a kind of justice finally come to Latouche County?

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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First Clues Review: The Garden of Fear by Paul Shipton

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is delighted to introduce a new feature for our website, book reviews written by students. These students offer their unique perspective on the book in their review and provide a valuable resource to parents looking for new mystery adventures for their kids to read.

The Garden of Fear by Paul Shipton
The Bug Muldoon Series

Penguin Young Adult (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-14-230242-2 (0142302422)
ISBN-13: 978-0-14-230242-2 (9780142302422)
Publication Date: January 2003
List Price: $5.99

Review written by Kevin, Age 11, Grade 6. Date of review: October 2008.

Review: If you are looking for a good book to brighten up your day, or perhaps just need some entertainment, then Bug Muldoon and the Garden of Fear is the book for you. Written by Paul Shipton, expert sleuth of the garden Bug Muldoon goes on various adventures throughout the 1st Bug Muldoon book of an excellent series.

Bug Muldoon first encounters a few earwigs looking for Bug to solve a tricky mystery. As Bug is looking around for clues, he meets up with an old buddy Jake the housefly. Jake is an excellent source of helpful information, but has a sugar addiction. Bug hears that the missing earwig was found by the compost heap where the spider lives. The spider will eat anything in its path. Bug soon solves the mystery, and the news is dreadful. Little does Bug know this is only a minor mystery. Soon after the encounter with the 3 earwigs, Bug overhears a couple of roaches talking about the ant colony, so Bug goes to check it out. Bug hears a lot of fishy information from the ant queen and workers. Later in the story Bug finds out that the case the head worker ant wanted Bug to solve was a decoy so Bug wouldn’t see the head ant’s evil plan coming. Eventually Bug gets a couple of good friends together to gather up and fight the evil ant’s army. Fortunately Bug makes it out alive, but there were many casualties. At the end of the story Bug makes a very brave decision and turns down a greatly generous offer.

I really liked the way the author took the things people use and do, and put them in a way an insect would use and do certain things. This is a good action book but also has a very good, solid story behind it. The way the author worded everything and the different mysteries and cases that need to be solved, but behind those mysteries was another mystery. This book kept me thinking all the time, trying to solve all the mysteries and figuring everything out just kept me entertained. This book would be a good read to age group 9 years old to adult .For the younger kids, all the insects and different characters are just a splash of emotion. This book would also help the littler kids understand how to solve a mystery better because of all the bugs and beetles. For adults this is a good read because there are solid stories behind all of these characters and cases. There are also some “mature-ish” jokes that kids wouldn’t get, but would skip right over. There is also some violence toward the end, but not too much. Overall I would recommend it to the age group listed above, and perhaps even others.

Some awards Bug Muldoon has won:
 • Edgar Allan Poe Award
 • CWA Dagger Award
 • Editors Choice Award.

If you are interested in purchasing The Garden of Fear from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

First Clue Mysteries is pleased to provide information on nearly 100 mystery series for children and young adults. Each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older). If you have a favorite mystery series you'd like to see added to our site, please contact us.

All student book reviews are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any manner, print or electronic, without the express written consent of the copyright owner. Reviews are published here with permission of the copyright owner.

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Games of Mystery: New Nancy Drew and Veronica Rivers Games Available from Big Fish Games

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed games, parties, and vacations, is pleased to announce the availability of two new mystery games from Big Fish Games that were released this past week. You can find out more about these games from our Mystery Games: Big Fish Download Games page or by clicking on the links provided below.

Two days ago we reported that Her Interactive had released a downloadable demo version of the latest Nancy Drew game. Yesterday, Big Fish Games made available Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy for download and purchase on their site.

Mystery is afoot at Castle Malloy! A groom has disappeared and the townsfolk are whispering of a malevolent banshee! Are ghosts to blame, or is it merely a case of cold feet? Immerse yourself in the haunted legendry of the Emerald Isle, gathering clues and information from the terror-stricken wedding guests. It's up to you and Nancy Drew to unravel the mystery in this chilling adventure game.

Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version is not available from Big Fish Games. A short video trailer for the game is, however, available as is the Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy Strategy Guide.

Explore the Portals to the Unknown with rescue pilot Veronica Rivers in the mysterious hidden object game Veronica Rivers: Portals to the Unknown. Uncover equipment and clues as you search the world for a missing team of geologists. Exciting mini-games challenge you to unlock the secret power of the portals. Exotic and dangerous locations will test your eye and your courage as you draw closer to solving the puzzle of the Portals!

Veronica Rivers: Portals to the Unknown, a Big Fish Games exclusive, may be downloaded and purchased for as little as $6.99 with the Big Fish Game Club Jumbo Pack. A demonstration version (46.60 MB) may be downloaded and played for one hour for free. A short video trailer for the game is also available.

Other popular games on our download Big Fish Mystery Games page include several Agatha Christie games, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet, The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes, Righteous Kill (inspired by the movie of the same name), and Forgotten Riddles: The Moonlight Sonatas.

Visit Games of Mystery for all types of mysterious fun!

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Mystery Godoku Puzzle for October 20, 2008

A new Mystery Godoku Puzzle has been created by the editors of the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books and is now available on our website.

Godoku is similar to Sudoku, but uses letters instead of numbers. To give you a headstart, we provide you a mystery clue to fill in a complete row or column (if you choose to use it!).

This week's letters and mystery clue:

A B H I L N R T Y

The spy was in this complex in a 1978 Ellery Queen Magazine short story by Edward D. Hoch (9 letters).

New! We now have our puzzles in PDF format for easier printing. Print this week's puzzle here.

Previous puzzles are stored in the Mystery Godoku Archives.

Enjoy the weekly Mystery Godoku Puzzle from the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, and Thanks for visiting our website!

   

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First Clues Review: Chasing the Falconers by Gordon Korman

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is delighted to introduce a new feature for our website, book reviews written by students. These students offer their unique perspective on the book in their review and provide a valuable resource to parents looking for new mystery adventures for their kids to read.

Chasing the Falconers by Gordon Korman
The On the Run Series

Scholastic (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-439-65136-0 (0439651360)
ISBN-13: 978-0-439-65136-3 (9780439651363)
Publication Date: April 2005
List Price: $4.99

Review written by Jacob, Age 11, Grade 6. Date of review: October 2008.

Review: In the book On the Run Chasing the Falconers Book 1 by Gordon Korman imagine this, your parents are locked up in prison because they have been framed. You and your sister are forced to stay at a juvenile detention center because nobody else will take you in. This is the life of Aidan and Meg Falconer. These brave teens escape from juvi when Aidan burnt it to the ground, now the fugitives are on a quest to save their parents, clear their name and become a family once again.

The kids are at Sunnydale Juvenile Detention center. Aidan is at the barn cleaning up after the animals. He was with a friend who couldn’t open a hay bag. When Aidan went to help him open it he kicked his oil lamp and set the place on fire. Aidan went back in the building and helped Meg get out. When they finally got out the kids took advantage of the opportunity and fled the house like prison. Now, the Falconers travel halfway across the country with the Sunnydale bully Miguel Reyes, searching through the Midwest all the way from Sunnydale, Nebraska to Colchester, Vermont in search of the man who framed their parents.

This book is a good example of realistic fiction. It was uplifting and showed bravery in two young kids. The Falconers were just as surprised as the reader when a series of unfortunate events occurred. You will never know what is going to happen next. This is a good novel for kids looking for adventure in a story. It is very inspiring in how these two children travel in a Tahoe across the U.S just to save their parents. It may be unsuitable for younger children because of the enormous amount of violence that is in this novel. Overall this novel was an exciting tale with some humor included. Any reader seeking adventure and has a keen eye will love this one of a kind story.

If you are interested in purchasing Chasing the Falconers from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

First Clue Mysteries is pleased to provide information on nearly 100 mystery series for children and young adults. Each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older). If you have a favorite mystery series you'd like to see added to our site, please contact us.

All student book reviews are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any manner, print or electronic, without the express written consent of the copyright owner. Reviews are published here with permission of the copyright owner.

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Mystery Book Review: Mix, Match and Murder by Raymond John

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Mix, Match and Murder by Raymond John. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Mix, Match and Murder by Raymond John
Non-series

North Star Press (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-87839-289-0 (0878392890)
ISBN-13: 978-0-87839-289-6 (9780878392896)
Publication Date: September 2008
List Price: $14.95

Review: When twenty-two-year-old Jason Dumont was seven years old in November 1993, he suffered a mind-numbing tragedy. His mother, Melanie, sometimes known as “Lottie,” was stabbed to death in the Minneapolis hotel room they shared and where she was having sex with a stranger. Since the killer’s knife belonged to Jason’s modelling kit and he was found incoherent but naked and covered in blood, he was the primary suspect, although never convicted much to the chagrin of Detective Lieutenant Dan Arnold. Now, fifteen years later Jason has returned to Minneapolis and the scene of the crime so he and Jennifer Cahill, a specialist in child psychology, can unlock the repressed memories of Jason’s selective traumatic amnesia and determine his guilt or innocence. Raymond John’s thriller, Mix, Match and Murder, follows the psychological analysis of Jason’s case, with side trips into a couple of Cahill’s files for her delinquent clients and encounters with a couple of adults with mental health issues of their own.

With psychological jargon kept to a minimum, John still manages to create an atmosphere of a troubled young man, obsessed with amnesia and troubled with guilt both for what he may have done and for not being able to protect his mother from murder. Extended family relationships are well-developed both for Melanie’s relatives and for her husband, Lawrence’s. And several kin on either side emerge as potential suspects as Jason unravels his skein of disruptive memories with help from Jennifer, prodding from Detective Arnold, and three boxes of his mother’s belongings, her diary, and a long-forgotten plush toy rabbit of his own. Clues are strategically placed and uncovered at just the right time, such as the bloodied knife at the bottom of the stairwell in the hotel Jason is revisiting. There are sufficient historical facts and references to Minneapolis landmarks to flavour the story as well. There’s even an overseas search in French Guiana for some missing evidence. And as the story comes closer to exposing Melanie’s killer, new homicides and near-homicides occur to heighten the tension, including an accident with Jason’s private aircraft.

Although the action-reaction between the characters works for the most part, Jennifer’s willingness to have a sexual relationship with her client, Jason, and immediately declare her love for him is a bit of a stretch, given the potential loss of her license to which she admits is a cause for concern. As a professional therapist, she seems somewhat flighty as well in her daydreaming about, and flirting with, other male characters in the story although to her credit her reference to one of them as having “the personality of a wet tennis shoe” is one of the best lines in the book. Her repartee with her problem-child clients is solid as well and insightful of situations real life psychiatrists might face. Jason’s ambivalence over his guilt is nicely illustrated, too, and his explosions of anger and frustration are believable outcomes even if shattering to Jennifer. Equally credible is the ending, although both the villain of the piece and the hero of the moment come as well-kept surprises.

Mix, Match and Murder follows Raymond John’s earlier book, The Cellini Masterpiece, and is an entertaining, well-constructed psychological thriller.

Special thanks to M. Wayne Cunningham (mw_cunningham@telus.net) for contributing his review of Mix, Match and Murder and to Raymond John for providing an uncorrected proof reader's copy of the book for review.

Review Copyright © 2008 — M. Wayne Cunningham — All Rights Reserved — Reprinted with Permission

If you are interested in purchasing Mix, Match and Murder from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): For fifteen years Jason suffered from an amnesic event which blocked out about an hour of his life when he was seven years old. Unfortunately, that particular hour was precisely the time of the brutal murder of his mother with his own Exacto knife. He needs to remember, knowing that those memories might reveal he was the murderer. What could only be worse than that was that someone else murdered his mother and didn’t want him to remember.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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Mystery Savings: Murder Mystery Weekends at BedandBreakfast.com

Mystery Savings periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing mystery-themed products and services products through our partner websites. Below is a special offer recently received by us that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

BedandBreakfast.com is a comprehensive worldwide listing of bed and breakfasts, B&B homestays, country inns, urban bed and breakfasts, guest houses, lodges, cabins, historic hotels, small resorts, guest ranches, farmhouse accommodations, and working farm and ranch vacations. B&B database searches allow you to find the ideal bed and breakfast inn, whether you are looking by location, amenities, online bookings, recipes, special packages, last-minute availability, and more.

Enough of the marketing pitch. What we found most interesting was their list of Murder Mystery Weekends and upcoming Halloween specials. From the home page click on the orange Search tab near the top and select Special Packages. From the drop down menu, select Halloween Happenings or our favorite category Murder Mysteries. Bed and breakfasts featuring these mysterious events are listed from A (Arkansas) to Z ... er ... W (Wisconsin) as well as some in Canada and Italy. Click on the banner below to explore the possibilities of acting out your inner sleuth at one of the bed and breakfasts listed on their website.

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Mystery Book Review: Night Kill by Ann Littlewood

Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Night Kill by Ann Littlewood. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.

Night Kill by Ann Littlewood
An Iris Oakley Mystery

Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-504-6 (1590585046)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-504-7 (9781590585047)
Publication Date: September 2008
List Price: $24.95

Review: Ann Littlewood introduces zookeeper Iris Oakley in Night Kill, a well-crafted mystery in which the small community zoo across the river from Portland (Oregon) in Vancouver (Washington) has already claimed one victim and she may be next.

The victim is Iris' husband, Rick, who also worked at the zoo. Just a week earlier they had split over his drinking. He had moved out of their home and was staying with a friend when the two meet up at a party held by one of the zoo's staff, Rick drinking nothing stronger than root beer. Rick is adamant about remaining sober and the they agree to a reconciliation, one day at a time. Iris returns home alone only to return to work the next day to discover that Rick had been found in the lion's cage, mauled and drunk. Iris is outraged, both at Rick's duplicity and that he was stupid enough to wander into a dangerous area while drinking. The authorities rule his death an accident, but Iris can't understand what could have possibly happened after their reconciliation meeting that would have caused him to start drinking again and then inexplicably return to the zoo in the middle of the night. As she starts asking questions, accidents -- potentially deadly accidents -- begin to occur that put her life in danger. It isn't until by chance she comes across a piece of evidence that suggests Rick's death wasn't an accident, but murder.

Night Kill is a terrific whodunit in that the identity of the killer remains a surprise to the reader until the very end. False leads and red herrings abound -- even Iris is presented as a credible suspect by Rick's friend Denny -- but the clues to the killer's identity are readily available to those readers looking for them. The book is well written and has an intricately constructed plot involving relatively few characters. The setting is atmospherically wonderful; zoos have all sorts of hidden passages and alcoves and back rooms off-limits to visitors. It's all very mysterious, as it were. If there is a weakness it's in the characters themselves who aren't as fully realized as they might have been. Iris, as the widow, suspect, and potential victim, is the most well-rounded but even she comes across flat at times. The supporting characters are largely interchangeable; that may add to the ability of the author to keep the killer hidden in plain sight as long as possible, but ultimately makes for a less interesting book overall. Though presumably the first of a series, and an interesting series it would likely be, the conclusion of Night Kill casts that conjecture somewhat in doubt.

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of Night Kill for this review.

Review Copyright © 2008 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.

If you are interested in purchasing Night Kill from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

Synopsis (from the publisher): Iris Oakley, a young zookeeper at the Finley Memorial Zoo in Vancouver, Washington, hopes to reconcile with her newly sober husband, Rick. But when he’s found dead—and dead drunk—in the lion exhibit, a paralyzing mix of grief and anger at his betrayal keeps Iris from questioning the assumptions around his death.

But Iris’ friends motivate her to prove that her husband could not have died the way it appears. Soon, however, these same friends impede her progress as she follows ambiguous clues and sorts through unlikely motives.

Meanwhile, Iris must also adjust to losing her beloved job as feline keeper and instead learn to be a bird keeper. The zoo’s veterinarian respects her skills, but the foreman would far rather she get a job elsewhere—and the senior bird keeper seems to agree. After Iris survives a series of near-fatal “accidents,” she begins to understand what really happened to Rick. But Iris must survive to prove it.

For more mystery book reviews visit Mysterious Reviews, a partner with the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books which is committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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First Clues Review: Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway by Wendelin Van Draanen

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is delighted to introduce a new feature for our website, book reviews written by students. These students offer their unique perspective on the book in their review and provide a valuable resource to parents looking for new mystery adventures for their kids to read.

Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway by Wendelin Van Draanen
The Sammy Keyes Series

Random House (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-440-41911-5 (0440419115)
ISBN-13: 978-0-440-41911-2 (9780440419112)
Publication Date: May 2007
List Price: $5.99

Review written by Tiffany, Age 11, Grade 6. Date of review: October 2008.

Review: Have you ever wanted to read a thrilling story with lots of twist and turns, as well as mayhem and adventure? Well if so then Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway by Wendelin Van Draanen is the right book for you! This book is full of adventure with my all time favorite Character, Sammy Keyes and of course along with her, her many friends and adventures! Sammy is a wild and kooky girl who loves adventures and mysteries! She can’t help but to get into trouble once again, only this time it’s dangerous! There are many thrills, spills and conflicts in this book! This is book number 10 and follows after book number 9, Sammy Keyes and the Psycho Kitty Queen.

This book has many different exciting and interesting locations where it takes place, like an old house full of parts of trains and cars, a school, Sammy’s home and more! Sammy’s been working hard this year and her old enemy Heather still bugs her to this day, and for once Heather gets in trouble, only this time it really was Sammy! Sammy was wandering through the classroom early to drop off her books and bags and who does she see flying towards her full speed ahead? Tango! Mrs. Ambler’s new lovebird, so what does Sammy do she forces the door shut, and as she opens it slowly she hears a small thud. The main mystery of this story involves figuring out why someone is trying to get Sammie’s favorite dog killed!

Overall this is a great book that is very stimulating and keeps you up for hours and hours reading more! It has many twists and turns with unexpected surprises! I think children with better understanding of mysteries would be well suited to read this book, but the readers should be a little more mature due to some language, and very minor violence. I would suggest age groups 9-12+. It is just as good a book as the others in the series if not better! I would advise all readers who love a good book to start cracking on this one!

Wendelin Van Draanen has had numerous awards: State Award Master, Christopher Medal, Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Children’s Mystery four times in the past six years, and California Young Reader Medal. This author is highly skilled and I would suggest any of her books any day!

If you are interested in purchasing Sammy Keyes and the Dead Giveaway from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

First Clue Mysteries is pleased to provide information on nearly 100 mystery series for children and young adults. Each series is conveniently listed under three different age categories (New Sleuth, ages 4 to 7; Future Sleuth, aged 7 to 10; and Sleuth in Training, ages 10 and older). If you have a favorite mystery series you'd like to see added to our site, please contact us.

All student book reviews are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any manner, print or electronic, without the express written consent of the copyright owner. Reviews are published here with permission of the copyright owner.

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Games of Mystery: Demo Version of the Latest Nancy Drew PC Game Now Available

Games of Mystery, your source for mystery-themed games, parties, and vacations, is pleased to announce a demonstration version of the latest Nancy Drew mystery game that is available to download from its developer, Her Interactive.

The Haunting of Castle Malloy, the 19th game in the hugely popular series, was released to retailers this past week. (MBN note: Visit the Games of Mystery: Nancy Drew page for more information, or to purchase, all Nancy Drew games for the PC or Nintendo DS. Also available are strategy guides for many of the games.)

In the game, Nancy Drew is in Ireland to attend the most romantic event ever to grace the ruined halls of Castle Malloy. The Simmons-Malloy wedding was supposed to be a fairytale beginning, but now the groom is missing! Can you, as Nancy Drew, unravel the knot of scattered clues and scary superstitions?

To download the demonstration version, right click on this link (Nancy Drew 19: Demo) and save the file to your computer. It's 270MB so it may take a while! Unzip the file and double click on CastleMalloy.exe to install the game.

Her Interactive has also released two video trailers for the game. The most recent can be viewed below:

Don't forget to visit Games of Mystery for all types of mysterious fun!

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New Mysteries: Video Trailers for The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

This morning we highlighed the latest Harry Bosch mystery by Michael Connelly, The Brass Verdict, on our mystery bestseller list for the week ending October 17, 2008. The book also brings back Mickey Haller from The Lincoln Lawyer. We thought you might be interested in viewing the video trailers produced for the The Brass Verdict. The first two videos relate directly to the book itself; the third is author Michael Connelly introducing the book. The videos are first-rate productions and serve as a terrific introduction to the book.

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First Clues Review: False Notes by Carolyn Keene

First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is delighted to introduce a new feature for our website, book reviews written by students. These students offer their unique perspective on the book in their review and provide a valuable resource to parents looking for new mystery adventures for their kids to read.

False Notes by Carolyn Keene
The Nancy Drew Series

Simon & Schuster (Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-689-86568-6 (0689865686)
ISBN-13: 978-0-689-86568-8 (9780689865688)
Publication Date: March 2004
List Price: $5.99

Review written by Priya, Age 11, Grade 6. Date of review: October 2008.

Review: Have you ever thought that you could solve a kidnapping mystery? Well, Nancy Drew sure has! False Notes by Carolyn Keene has ideas and clues to ponder about kidnapping. It is the 3rd book in the All New Nancy Drew Series. Nancy Drew, along with her two best friends, George Fayne and Bess Marvin by her side are determined to crack this kidnapping case, no matter how long it takes!

When Nancy goes to her neighborhood friend, Lucia Gonsalvo, she suspects something very suspicious, with a bickering couple walking on the road. Later in the story, when they’re observing a newspaper, they find out that the couple fighting is the candidate for mayor, Mrs. Simmons and her husband. Nancy knew them because of their famous piano playing daughter, Leslie Simmons. After a while, Nancy and her friends start to figure out some mysterious clues about the argument her parents had had. Drawing conclusions too fast, she believes that someone is trying to distract Mr. and Mrs. Simmons from turning in their registration form for the mayor on time. The only possible culprit they have in mind is the other candidate for mayor, Granger. But after having a long discussion with him, he seems to know nothing about the situation. But then when they hear some news about a scholarship that the music agency is giving out, they knew that it isn’t Mr. and Mrs. Simmons who are the problem, its Leslie herself! Somebody very sneaky wants to win that scholarship more than Leslie, and would try to capture her so she doesn’t get to her audition on time. In the little town of River Heights, who would have the mind to do such a thing? You’ll just have to read and find out!

False Notes is a wonderful mystery book, although I’d recommend this story to younger, high level readers, maybe around third grade. They’d enjoy the clues and suspicious action that takes place in this story. Being an eleven year old in sixth grade, I could predict what would happen next very easily. I did enjoy it though. In the book, my favorite part was the suspense. After almost every chapter, there was a distinctive cliffhanger that Carolyn Keene wrote. Although I did love it, there were a couple of negatives I had towards this book. After reading many Nancy Drew books, I’ve come to see that all of the books have the same outline. I was hoping for this book to really pop out to me. Also, the clues were very noticeable, and mostly happened towards the beginning of the story. The author, in my opinion should have spread out her clues better, and maybe added a few more. Nonetheless, people that enjoy books with suspense and many forks in the road will really truly enjoy this story.

If you are interested in purchasing False Notes from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.

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Mystery TV Theme Music (081017)

Mysteries on TV, your source for the most complete selection of detective, amateur sleuth, private investigator, and suspense television mystery series now available or coming soon to DVD, is pleased to provide you with the Mystery Theme Music of the Week.

Click on the play button below to hear the mystery theme music from a current or classic TV mystery series; on most browers it plays correctly but seems to play at a slightly slower speed on IE:

Think you know what show this theme is from? Enter your answer in the comment section below or click here to be taken to the series that featured this mystery theme.

Visit the Mysteries on TV website to discover television mystery series currently available on DVD.

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Mystery Bestsellers for October 17, 2008

A list of the top 15 mystery hardcover bestsellers for the week ending October 17, 2008 has been posted on the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books website.

For the third week in a row there is no change in the top 4 bestselling mysteries this week with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, the first book in The Millennium Trilogy by the late Steig Larsson, in the top spot. [MBN note: Read our review of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.]

New this week and debuting in the 7th position is The Brass Verdict, the 14th mystery in the Harry Bosch series by Michael Connelly. Things are finally looking up for defense attorney Mickey Haller. After two years of wrong turns, Haller is back in the courtroom. When Hollywood lawyer Jerry Vincent is murdered, Haller inherits his biggest case yet: the defense of Walter Elliott, a prominent studio executive accused of murdering his wife and her lover. But as Haller prepares for the case that could launch him into the big time, he learns that Vincent's killer may be coming for him next. Enter Harry Bosch. Determined to find Vincent's killer, he is not opposed to using Haller as bait. But as danger mounts and the stakes rise, these two loners realize their only choice is to work together. Publishers Weekly states, "A beautifully executed crime thriller....Bosch might have met his match in the wily Haller, and readers will delight in their sparring."

On our bestseller page, we've added an icon next to every title that is available for immediate download onto the Amazon Kindle. To learn about this wireless reading device, visit the Amazon Kindle page for more information.

The top four mystery bestsellers this week are shown below:

Please visit the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books where we are committed to providing readers and collectors of mystery books with the best and most current information about their favorite authors, titles, and series.

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