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sjholmes's review
4.0
This was my first Magical Mystery Book Club mystery, and it was fun trip! The cast of characters is quite large as there are nine book club members alone, but the group collaborates well, so it's not too difficult to drop in on a later book without the full story on how each of them joined the club. This is a light-hearted story with a paranormal premise as the club and the entire Snapdragon Inn itself get transported into the book they choose to start reading. This book takes them to an island to meet and help small crew of ghostly pirates. While there are a few bodies, this mystery centers on the theft, jewels, and magic.
If you want an entertaining, light, cozy, this perfectly fits the bill!
If you want an entertaining, light, cozy, this perfectly fits the bill!
katreader's review
4.0
SECRETS AND SCALLYWAGS by Elizabeth Pantley
The Fifth Magical Mystery Book Club Mystery
After choosing a new member to join them, the Magical Mystery Book Club is ready for their next adventure. A ship has just washed up on the shore of a quaint island community-the same ship, islanders believe, that was sunk by pirates the year prior. When the gang visit the ship they discover the crew still on board. A ghostly crew that is. The book club needs to find out what really happened so that they can free the ghosts thereby solving the mystery and returning home.
Readers are once again plunged into the delightful world of the Magical Mystery Book Club series with its fifth book SECRETS AND SCALLYWAGS. This time the gang lands in an island community and discover their mission is to help a band of ghostly pirates. I appreciate how the mystery doesn’t start with a murder, although there are dead bodies soon enough. I also appreciate the realism within the fantasy, such as Valeria’s reaction to a dead body and the reassurance of the gang to remember it’s just a book. Amid the laughs, and there were plenty, there was also more danger, and a darker danger, along with some moral ambiguity.
We meet a few new characters in SECRETS AND SCALLYWAGS, not only the people in their new book adventure, but the new club member. It was an interesting choice and I'm not sure how I feel about it. That being said, Valeria seems to be fitting in quite well. As for the island characters, I particularly enjoyed the pirates and the fact they were able to help Mollie. I also got very negative vibes from some of the island folk. As for our regulars, I'm even more intrigued given the veiled hints about Frank! I can't wait to learn more, especially about...whoops, no spoilers!
Family remains the heart of the Magical Mystery Book Club series. Not just family by blood, but the family you make; people banded together who not only care for each other, foibles and all, but work together for a common cause. That’s what makes this book, indeed the whole series, so heartwarming. There’s a mystery to solve, but the camaraderie and character growth make it special.
Pirates, ghosts, and magic combine making SECRETS AND SCALLYWAGS a fun and exciting escape.
The Fifth Magical Mystery Book Club Mystery
After choosing a new member to join them, the Magical Mystery Book Club is ready for their next adventure. A ship has just washed up on the shore of a quaint island community-the same ship, islanders believe, that was sunk by pirates the year prior. When the gang visit the ship they discover the crew still on board. A ghostly crew that is. The book club needs to find out what really happened so that they can free the ghosts thereby solving the mystery and returning home.
Readers are once again plunged into the delightful world of the Magical Mystery Book Club series with its fifth book SECRETS AND SCALLYWAGS. This time the gang lands in an island community and discover their mission is to help a band of ghostly pirates. I appreciate how the mystery doesn’t start with a murder, although there are dead bodies soon enough. I also appreciate the realism within the fantasy, such as Valeria’s reaction to a dead body and the reassurance of the gang to remember it’s just a book. Amid the laughs, and there were plenty, there was also more danger, and a darker danger, along with some moral ambiguity.
We meet a few new characters in SECRETS AND SCALLYWAGS, not only the people in their new book adventure, but the new club member. It was an interesting choice and I'm not sure how I feel about it. That being said, Valeria seems to be fitting in quite well. As for the island characters, I particularly enjoyed the pirates and the fact they were able to help Mollie. I also got very negative vibes from some of the island folk. As for our regulars, I'm even more intrigued given the veiled hints about Frank! I can't wait to learn more, especially about...whoops, no spoilers!
Family remains the heart of the Magical Mystery Book Club series. Not just family by blood, but the family you make; people banded together who not only care for each other, foibles and all, but work together for a common cause. That’s what makes this book, indeed the whole series, so heartwarming. There’s a mystery to solve, but the camaraderie and character growth make it special.
Pirates, ghosts, and magic combine making SECRETS AND SCALLYWAGS a fun and exciting escape.
hugbandit7's review
5.0
This is such a fun series, and if you haven't picked up any of the books, you need to do that, and soon! Make sure to start with the first book to understand how this all came to be for Glo and Paige.
The concept for this cozy series is unique and brings in paranormal aspects. I love how they get thrown into a book and have to solve the crime. The characters are all unique and blend well together. I have to laugh at how much these characters also love to eat. I swear they are eating all of the time!
This plot is a little different than some of the others as it brings in pirates, and the crime isn't really a murder that they are trying to solve. I enjoyed the twists and turns and how this story came to its conclusion. I thought that one of the characters might stay behind in the book, and I was surprised when this one did not. You might come to the same conclusions, so I hope I haven't spoiled anything for the reader.
One of these days, Frank and Zell are going to spill the beans on how long this book club has been meeting and how long they have been participants. I am very curious what their background is with this book club. I also like how the right new member always appears. It is definitely a merry band of book lovers and crime solvers.
We give this book 5 paws up.
The concept for this cozy series is unique and brings in paranormal aspects. I love how they get thrown into a book and have to solve the crime. The characters are all unique and blend well together. I have to laugh at how much these characters also love to eat. I swear they are eating all of the time!
This plot is a little different than some of the others as it brings in pirates, and the crime isn't really a murder that they are trying to solve. I enjoyed the twists and turns and how this story came to its conclusion. I thought that one of the characters might stay behind in the book, and I was surprised when this one did not. You might come to the same conclusions, so I hope I haven't spoiled anything for the reader.
One of these days, Frank and Zell are going to spill the beans on how long this book club has been meeting and how long they have been participants. I am very curious what their background is with this book club. I also like how the right new member always appears. It is definitely a merry band of book lovers and crime solvers.
We give this book 5 paws up.
karen_the_baroness's review
5.0
Secrets and Scallywags by Elizabeth Pantley have the book club getting a new member and dealing with ghost pirates!
Will the treasure be easy to find?
The Book Club
The Magical Mystery Book Club is back with a new mystery and member. I love how, in each new book, we find out more about each character than we did before. Another thing that I like is how each new mystery shapes the group into who they are, and the eight of them share a special bond. I can't wait to see what the next book entails for the club that is starting to turn into a family for all of them. Let's hope that this new member is as good as the others!
The Mystery
The Magical Mystery Book Club members chose a book with ghost pirates in it, and they must help the pirates find their treasure. I was hanging off the edge of my seat throughout this mystery. Ms. Pantley has such an epic imagination to imagine two worlds for these books since she has to create a new mystery each time. I love the magic system in this latest find, and of course, the pirates were awesome. However, I have to ask Ms. Pantley, how in the world can you write all the scenes about food without getting hungry? I mean, seriously, this book group eats a lot, and I have to have a snack beside me at all times. My wardrobe will be suffering soon.
Five Stars
Secrets and Scallywags by Elizabeth Pantley is such an awesome, fantastic book that had me guessing throughout the book. I loved everything about it, and here's to hoping those ghost pirates have a safe journey after they get their treasure back.
I am giving Secrets and Scallywags by Elizabeth Pantley five stars and a recommendation to anyone who wants to pick up this series but hasn't yet. This series can be read in any order as they don't really talk about the other book adventures that they've been on.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Secrets and Scallywags by Elizabeth Pantley.
Until the next time,
Karen the Baroness
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.
thriftyloco's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
5.0
This is such a fun series! I've been reading it in order, but I think each story is completely self-contained and works fine as a standalone.
This time around, Paige, Glo, and the rest of the book club members literally dive into a pirate/missing treasure adventure. There are plenty of twists and turns as the group tries to help the ghost pirates recover the treasure, which will allow them to "move on", and also allow the club members to return home. There's a murder mystery in addition to the treasure plot to further complicate things for our amateur sleuths! I enjoyed both threads and, while I was able to figure out parts of it, the final reveal still held some surprises!
I liked the addition of a new member to the book club. Valeria has just joined, and it was fun to watch her enjoy her first reading adventure!
I can't wait for the next book!
This time around, Paige, Glo, and the rest of the book club members literally dive into a pirate/missing treasure adventure. There are plenty of twists and turns as the group tries to help the ghost pirates recover the treasure, which will allow them to "move on", and also allow the club members to return home. There's a murder mystery in addition to the treasure plot to further complicate things for our amateur sleuths! I enjoyed both threads and, while I was able to figure out parts of it, the final reveal still held some surprises!
I liked the addition of a new member to the book club. Valeria has just joined, and it was fun to watch her enjoy her first reading adventure!
I can't wait for the next book!
valeris29's review
4.0
“Enough with the POOF!”
“Reading is a passport to countless adventures.”
This book is not your typical cozy and we like it that way. Full of adventure and intrigue, ghosts (and other supernatural beings) the mystery book club finds themselves immersed in a pirate adventure this time with a twist that you have to discover for yourself!
jomaerosa's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
chantie's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I LOVED this book. It is so amazing how Elizabeth Pantley can write about these characters going into the books and, at the same time, pulling me into the book with them. These characters are such an amazing group: I love how they tease each other and how they help each other. I can't wait for their next mystery.
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