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michalice's review
4.0
One day Arthur Conan Doyle will create the greatest detective of all -- Sherlock Holmes. But right now Artie Conan Doyle is a twelve-year-old Edinburgh schoolboy with a mystery of his own to solve. Artie and his friend Ham are hired to investigate a series of suspicious accidents that have befallen world-famous magician, the Great Wizard of the North. It seems someone is determined to sabotage his spectacular new illusion. When the huge mechanical dragon created for the show vanishes, the theft appears to be completely impossible. Artie must reveal the trick and unmask the villain or face the deadly consequences. The cards have been dealt, the spell has been cast, and the game is afoot once more! Robert J. Harris, author of The World's Gone Loki series and Will Shakespeare and the Pirate's Fire, brings the young Conan Doyle to life in the second book of this ingenious new detective series.
My Thoughts
After finishing the previous book in the series I was eager to dive into Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon and see what the next adventure would be. From the first few pages you could tell it was going to be a magical mystery, Artie and Ham receive a magical invite to attend Pantheon Theatre to witness an extraordinary exhibition of magic, but they have no idea of who or what the show is for.
Professor John Henry Anderson, the great wizard of the North is ready to perform a truly magnificent show, but after several accidents the wizard wants to hire Artie and Ham to investigate what is going on and who is trying to stop the show. But to keep everything secret the boys are hired under the guise of being stagehands.
From previously reading this series, it was easy to imagine how smoothly Artie and Ham would blend into the 'new' roles....which wasn't really that smooth, but it did make an entertaining read watching Ham try to pretend to be something other than an investigator, no matter how often Artie reminds him otherwise.
Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon not only brings the comedy from Artie and Ham, but also a magical twist to the story, and I really liked reading about the tricks used hide things in plain sight and how it was all managed, along with a bit of misdirection too. I enjoyed trying to connect the dots and sole this mystery.....and failed at this, but was surprised when the answers were all revealed.
Final Verdict
Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon is a book that is ideal for younger readers who don't want to sit and read a big book, it's easy to read as well as entertaining, keeping the reader interested in what is going on. I've really enjoyed reading the first two books in the series, and I'm excited to see where the next adventure for Artie and Ham will take them.
My Thoughts
After finishing the previous book in the series I was eager to dive into Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon and see what the next adventure would be. From the first few pages you could tell it was going to be a magical mystery, Artie and Ham receive a magical invite to attend Pantheon Theatre to witness an extraordinary exhibition of magic, but they have no idea of who or what the show is for.
Professor John Henry Anderson, the great wizard of the North is ready to perform a truly magnificent show, but after several accidents the wizard wants to hire Artie and Ham to investigate what is going on and who is trying to stop the show. But to keep everything secret the boys are hired under the guise of being stagehands.
From previously reading this series, it was easy to imagine how smoothly Artie and Ham would blend into the 'new' roles....which wasn't really that smooth, but it did make an entertaining read watching Ham try to pretend to be something other than an investigator, no matter how often Artie reminds him otherwise.
Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon not only brings the comedy from Artie and Ham, but also a magical twist to the story, and I really liked reading about the tricks used hide things in plain sight and how it was all managed, along with a bit of misdirection too. I enjoyed trying to connect the dots and sole this mystery.....and failed at this, but was surprised when the answers were all revealed.
Final Verdict
Artie Conan Doyle and the Vanishing Dragon is a book that is ideal for younger readers who don't want to sit and read a big book, it's easy to read as well as entertaining, keeping the reader interested in what is going on. I've really enjoyed reading the first two books in the series, and I'm excited to see where the next adventure for Artie and Ham will take them.
goldenbooksgirl's review
4.0
In his 2nd adventure, we follow Artie and his loyal best friend Ham as they are hired by a magician, whose huge comeback show has been plagued by constant disasters which could prove very dangerous, to solve this mystery and save the show. Artie and Ham’s friendship is lovely, and I enjoyed the banter bewteen them lots. In addition, I really liked the addition of Rowena to their team in this book, and am very much hoping she might be a permanent main character going forward. The colourful range of suspects provided plenty of entertainment, and provided a feeling akin to that of a classic mystery such as Enid Bylton’s Five Find-Outers. The culprit and their reason for commiting the crime came as a complete shock, yet still made sense, and overall I had a lot of fun with this and will pick up the next book.4/5
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