Book Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Book # 2 in the series. I again listened to it on Audiobook, read by Del Roy. I love his voice. He is the perfect voice for this book. It's an ageless type of mystery/action story. There is more imminent danger to the children in this second book, as they are following clues and puzzles left behind by Mr. Benedict before he was kidnapped. These clues lead them to venture half way around the world on their own. The story is just as long as the first one (roughly 500 pages) and does have certain moments that drag a bit, but the puzzles are great, the characters are realistic and the action in this one keep the reader wanting to know more. The new characters introduced, including a circus strongman and a ship's captain, add to the delightful combination of personalities. All of the children are dealing with new personal dilemma as they grow older and are facing even more danger. Yet they all manage to work together and come through their struggles just fine (not to ruin the ending).

Book Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This was my first encounter with the Mysterious Benedict Society. This first installment of the series follows the creation of the secret society. The children include: Reny- age 11, leader and puzzle solver; Sticky- 11 yr old genius with amazing memory; Kate- Resourceful 12 year old who carries her prized possessions in a bucket at her waist; and Constance- a pint-sized child who retains her willful independence. These orphans and runaways are contracted to help Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic recluse, stop the evil Mr. Curtain from brainwashing the world through child messengers. The story, though written in 2007, has a style reminiscent of the 50's mystery novel. The characters and settings are timeless and the children present a positive deviation from the norm. I highly recommend this book. I "read" it on audiobook and the narrator's voice is fabulous!