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barbtrek's review against another edition
3.0
This was pretty good. I got a little annoyed at times with the filler. I recall one entire chapter devoted to the main character eating breakfast and going for a walk. My son was pretty psyched though that he figured out several of the "mysteries" before they were revealed.
areadingrosekc's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read. It kept me engaged even though it is an elementary-level book. Three more to finish by Wednesday!
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
This mystery by Horowitz has fantastic humor - Tim incompetency with Nick's dark view of life and surprisingly funny commentary combined with the pair's horrible luck makes the book extremely entertaining
nightshade_novels's review against another edition
3.0
I have to admit that this book was better than the first in the series; this may be due to the even smaller role that Tim played in the story. It was still full of puns which while interesting were not always that funny. I enjoyed the beginning when Nick was set up to make it look as though he stole the jewels, and I guessed that
I did like the part where Tim was really happy to have found the Purple Peacock vase and was hugging it, protecting it even as the roof fell in and the tunnel flooded. Therefore it was a little sad that in the end after having managed to find and protect it, Tim sat on the vase, smashing it!
I guessed that
Overall this book receives three stars, as even though it was better than the first one, there was still something lacking.
Spoiler
Snape and Boyle were behind it all.I did like the part where Tim was really happy to have found the Purple Peacock vase and was hugging it, protecting it even as the roof fell in and the tunnel flooded. Therefore it was a little sad that in the end after having managed to find and protect it, Tim sat on the vase, smashing it!
I guessed that
Spoiler
neither Snape nor Boyle were actually dead and that one of the two had been the figure to cut Nick free from the train tracks. I did not however, guess that The Fence was in fact Nick’s French teacher. Therefore the last chapter in which Mr Palis tries to shoot Nick in the school was a surprise.Overall this book receives three stars, as even though it was better than the first one, there was still something lacking.
gemtrants's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
jessicas_academia's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bethcartwright's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
staceym's review against another edition
2.0
This book was ok. If you like quick paced, one explosion after another you'll like this. If you focus on the plot, you won't like it as much. One thing that continued to nag me is how did Nick first know the cops. I thought this was the first book in the series but the author writes as if you already know how the characters are familiar with each other. Why did the parents move to Australia? Another plot thing I didn't like is that I figured out who Fence was half way through the book. I wish I had been held in suspense longer. Lastly, Nick's brother Tim is an idiot. I didn't enjoy his role in the book at all. I wish Nick had a better sidekick.