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The Mystery of the Fiery Eye by Robert Arthur

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


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With one day left in the month, I cheated a bit and chose to read a YA book, which I knew I could knock back in short order. One more book for the month, huzzah! I read The Mystery of the Fiery Eye by Robert Arthur, which is the 7th in the “Three Investigators” series of classic, young adult mysteries. The main characters are boys Jupiter Jones, Bob Andrews, and Pete Crenshaw.

There’s been a dearth of mysteries for the Three Investigators to solve, until a former detective turned mystery writer calls them to help the son of a friend of his. The son, Gus, has been left an inheritance by his reclusive great-uncle, but the only clue is a cryptic letter sent to him. The boys eagerly take on the case, which they learn involves an infamous gem and the gang of thugs who are intent on claiming it first. The race is on for the boys to solve the clues hidden in the letter and secure the Fiery Eye before Gus’ inheritance is lost forever.

This was a quick read, not only because it was novella length, but also because the plot zipped along. There were red herrings, mysterious characters, and a dash of danger. It was fun, in a nostalgic way, to see the boys pedaling their bikes all over, making (and waiting for) telephone calls, and doing research at the library.

Favorite line: “I am fighting an enraged chair, and I think I’m winning.”

Fun story, four stars

The Mystery Of Hollow Inn by Tara Ellis

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


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I managed to knock back an entire ebook last night. It was The Mystery of Hollow Inn by Tara Ellis. It's the first in the "Samantha Wolf" series of young adult mysteries. Think modern day Nancy Drew or Trixie Belden.

Sam and her friend Ally are excited to spend a couple weeks in Montana with Sam's aunt and uncle. Beth and Bill purchased an old mansion and have turned it into an inn. However, problems are dogging their dreams. There have been acts of vandalism and reports of ghost sightings. Sam thinks the legend of lost treasure has something to do with it, and she and Ally set out to prove it. The girls use an old poem, found hidden in the journal of the original owner, for clues as to where the treasure may be hidden. Unknown to them, someone else is watching their every move and may beat them to the prize.

Since this was a young adult novel I wasn't expecting anything complicated. However, the narrative lacked the more polished plotting of the olden girl sleuth books I've read. Nevertheless, it was a fun read. Characters would have benefitted from more fleshing out, and I would have liked to see the girls just out having fun instead of being consumed with their mysterious treasure hunt.

Favorite line: "Here comes the moon again." Lame, but nothing really jumped out at me.

I have other books in this series, which I'll read eventually. For now, this one earns an average score.

Trixie Belden and the Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road by Kathryn Kenny

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I managed to knock back The Mystery Off Old Telegraph Road yesterday. It's the 20th installment in the "Trixie Belden" series of young adult mysteries, starring intrepid teenage sleuth, Trixie.

When the high school holds an art fair to raise money for the art department, Trixie is dismayed to see how few entries there are. She learns that the art department is vastly underfunded. In an effort to help, Trixie enlists the Bob-Whites to hold a bikeathon to raise money. Things are going well, until menacing phone calls threaten to derail the bikeathon. Trixie can't help but wonder if it's connected to her friend Honey's dastardly cousin, Ben, or to the charred piece of a forged Deutsche mark she finds near the abandoned house on Old Telegraph Road. Although her friends and family warn her to leave well enough alone, Trixie can't help but stick her nose into things, endangering not only the bikeathon, but herself as well.

The story was enjoyable enough. Not my favorite Trixie Belden book, nor my least favorite. The tension introduced between Trixie and Honey was new. Usually these books include plenty of Trixie and her friends just being kids, but this one focused mainly on the mystery and Trixie's investigation.

Favorite line: "We don't dare fight anymore. It's too dangerous!"

'Holding breath' line: It was only then that she realized she'd been holding her breath.

Fun enough story, but just average for a Trixie Belden book; thus, it gets an average score of three.

Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I began an ebook novella last night and finished it this morning. It was Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson, and it's the first in the "Magical Misadventures of Emily Rand" series.

It's an exciting time for Emily. Halloween is nigh, she's on the verge of turning 16, and she's invited to a party that will also be attended by her crush, Sean. On the eve of Halloween, Emily's Aunt Iris tells her she is a witch and will come into her power once she turns 16. Emily is skeptical at first, but Iris bequeaths her a wand and a Grimoire that belonged to Emily's mother.

Fascinated, Emily takes the items home and begins reading the grimoire. At midnight, a ghost appears in her room. She learns that Peter has always been there, but only now can she see him. By the time the Halloween is over, Emily will have inadvertently raised zombies, met Iris' coven, and danced naked with them under the full moon in an attempt to undo her out of control spell. All Emily wanted was to go to the party in hopes of kissing Sean.

As this was intended for young adults, there wasn't much substance to it, but it was a light, entertaining read. Emily is relatable as a teenage protagonist, and her familiar, a crow named Bob, was a fun side-kick.

Favorite line: I rolled my eyes. "Yeah , right, and monkeys might fly out of my butt."

Giving it 4 stars.

Nightcat by Celesta Thiessen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Last night I read the ebook novella Nightcat, the first installment in the "Kitty Castle" series by authors Celesta and Keziah Thiessen. I hadn't realized it was meant for a...shall we say 'younger audience' until I began reading it. I waffled over whether to count it or not, but it was chaptered, so I'm including it.

In this story, the princes and princesses of the realm (what realm, we don't know) are left in the care of their tutor while their parents, the king and queen, go forth in an effort to stop dragons from destroying the kingdom. When following their night cat (named, appropriately enough, Nightcat) one evening, the children discover the secret of night cats and dragons. Will it enable them to help save their kingdom?

So, yeah. The story was simplistic and didn't feature much in the way of characterizations or plot. I mean, it was cute, but not really what I had in mind when I downloaded it.

Favorite line: "I remember that she had lots of cats!"

I'll give it a generous score of three.

The book I finished reading last night was quite a departure for me. It was Emma Lou - Her Book by Mary M Mears. The book was published in 1896, and it read like a diary written by teenage Emma Lou Hansen. This is not something I would ordinarily read, but I had planned to meet a friend for dinner after work, but I had some time to kill first. I had good intentions of taking my work book with me to read, but I forgot it. So, I went to a local resale shop to browse, and I happened upon an old book in the children's books section. I think I was much more pleased to buy a book from 1896 for $2.00 than anything. Ha ha! However, I began reading it that evening while waiting for my friend, and then I kept it in my desk to read if I ended up staying at the office for lunch. I only had one chapter left, which is why I brought it home last night to finish.

As mentioned, the book read like a diary, written by our intrepid heroine. Emma Lou is a fifteen year-old girl, from a family of modest means. She's smart as a whip, though, and when a local school district asks her to fill in teaching its students, Emma Lou jumps at the chance. She is soon discouraged by the sad state of the school house, and when a good storm destroys the building, Emma Lou is relieved to be rid of the job. From there, the narrative rambles along, telling bits of her life, including her travels to Lanark to visit an aunt, and a competition she deliberately lost so that another girl could win, to her next job of copying sermons for a local pastor.

Emma Lou is too serious by far, but she's an earnest young woman, and she has a keen sense of right and wrong. Initially, I thought to read the book as a lark, but I actually found it interesting. It was fun to read about traditions and chores and fashions, as well as Emma Lou's first communication via telegram. In short, it was quaint, but quite delightful.

Favorite line: "How appropriate that they should be called 'old maids', for have not the natural hopes of both been blighted?"
"Oh no," I returned, "Most old maids are old maids because they refused to have their hopes blighted."

:D

Surprisingly good read, four stars:

****

I needed some lighter fare after so many murder mysteries and urban fantasies, so I broke out another Trixie Belden book and read it. This was #10 in the series, The Marshland Mystery, by Kathryn Kenny.

The story wasn't so much a mystery to solve, however. Instead, Trixie's friend Honey had guests staying at her family home, including a precocious, seven year-old violin prodigy named Gaye. I spent most of the book wanting to give the little brat a swat. At one point, she ran away, but Trixie was able to put some clues together and find where the girl was hiding. During the hunt for her, Trixie stumbles on an old cottage in the marsh, where she meets a sweet little old lady whose home is in danger of being torn down to make way for a new, paved road. Trixie and her friends jump in to help by offering to assist the woman with selling some of her household items. Instead, they discover that an old brass box that had been in the woman's family for years was actually more valuable than thought.

These are cute, lighthearted stories that remind me of my own childhood. I typically give them four stars, but this one gets only three.

★★★

Book #15 was a wee cheat, in that I read Trixie Belden #6 - Mystery in Arizona. I enjoyed it, but the mystery wasn't all that mysterious or dramatic. Still, there was always a lot going on, and it kept my attention.

Book #16 was Great Restorations, by fandom's own lovely libby_drew. The characters were to swoon for! *swoons* There was drama and UST and wonderful secondary characters and...why aren't you reading this book?! I promise, you won't be disappointed. Go, buy, read! *shoos you off*