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elizabethkroberts's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
katrina_ingram's review against another edition
3.5
Really fun murder mystery set at a hotel with children as the lead investigators. As it was middle grade it was very easy to follow what was going on. The narration was good on the audio too which made it more enjoyable
yapha's review
4.0
A fun, Agatha Christie style mystery, set in a haunted hotel in Colorado. When the guests get snowed in, it's up to the three kids to figure out who the murderer is. It has a similar feel to Greenglass House, though set in the present day. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
valerie07's review
3.0
took me a while but i finished it. i actually really enjoyed the mystery and all the subplots.
the_fabric_of_words's review
5.0
This mystery is for lower elementary kiddos, a bit on the younger side, as the mystery's not terribly complicated. It features 12-year-olds JJ, who fancies himself a ghost hunter, and Penny, whose father was a proper police detective, albeit now retired, and hotel ghost-under-their-noses Emma.
JJ and Penny's parents are summoned to a free luxurious weekend at the Barclay Hotel, but in reality, they're being framed -- or at least held up as possible suspects -- for a murder. All of them had contentious dealings with the owner of the hotel, who they're told has turned up dead. (Note, no body on scene.) It's up to the kids to figure out who actually killed whom. Emma poses as the daughter of the chef, although it's made perfectly clear to the reader that she, the midnight cat, the groundskeeper and others are mere shadows of what they were in life.
Along the way, JJ figures he'll catch some ghosts. The mansion is said to be haunted, and he sets up his cameras and other equipment. Penny's the realist, who doesn't believe in ghosts, at all. And Emma...she keeps popping up or disappearing into thin air, when neither JJ or Penny expect it, but for quite a while there's no hard evidence Emma's anything other than a girl who lives at the hotel.
There's a fairly big plot twist toward the end that involves identity theft and stepping into someone else's shoes, almost literally, so I won't say much more.
Enjoy this slightly spooky middle grade mystery!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
JJ and Penny's parents are summoned to a free luxurious weekend at the Barclay Hotel, but in reality, they're being framed -- or at least held up as possible suspects -- for a murder. All of them had contentious dealings with the owner of the hotel, who they're told has turned up dead. (Note, no body on scene.) It's up to the kids to figure out who actually killed whom. Emma poses as the daughter of the chef, although it's made perfectly clear to the reader that she, the midnight cat, the groundskeeper and others are mere shadows of what they were in life.
Along the way, JJ figures he'll catch some ghosts. The mansion is said to be haunted, and he sets up his cameras and other equipment. Penny's the realist, who doesn't believe in ghosts, at all. And Emma...she keeps popping up or disappearing into thin air, when neither JJ or Penny expect it, but for quite a while there's no hard evidence Emma's anything other than a girl who lives at the hotel.
There's a fairly big plot twist toward the end that involves identity theft and stepping into someone else's shoes, almost literally, so I won't say much more.
Enjoy this slightly spooky middle grade mystery!
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
emilyj22's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
gwendolyn_kensinger's review against another edition
5.0
This is a spooky middle grade murder mystery! It’s perfect for fans of Clue and other locked room mysteries.
This is actually something I can see myself recommending to friends who don’t read middle grade, because it was atmospheric, fast paced, mysterious, the characters were all hiding secrets, it has illustrations, and some of the reveals were surprising!
Five surprise “you’re a winner” invitations are sent: one to a cowboy, one to a librarian, one to a CEO, one to an actor, and one to a detective. Once the guests arrive at the Barclay Hotel the butler reveals that they’ve been gathered to solve a mystery. Mr. Barclay has been murdered and all of them are suspects. JJ, the CEO’s young son tagged along with his mom because The Barclay Hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in Colorado and he loves ghost hunting, but now it looks like there’s a mystery to solve. JJ, along with Penny, the detective’s young granddaughter and Emma, the hotel chef’s niece team up to find out who killed Mr. Barclay.