Reviews

Very good, even though I had picked up the this without reading the book before it. Looks like the third in a trilogy and I remembered the first book had been good (and it was at a big discount) so we got it. Turned out very satisfying despite my own lack of knowledge in some minor parts. Some of the puzzles seemed a little to easy, but overall it was a great read.

thatgirlinblack's review against another edition

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5.0

Now THIS is the Mysterious Benedict Society we know and love! No plodding travel, disobedient kids, and scarcity of riddles. Just our favorite characters saving the world the way they do best!

The opener is an enthralling real-life Prisoners Dilemma, with the Society locked in 2 attic rooms. Recapping and hashing through it brings to light that the children are all naturally loyal, possibly with the exception of the still cranky Constance, that Kate's physical prowess can still get them out of just about any scrape, and that Reynie still excels at out-of-the-box problem solving.

The Society, their parents, and Mr. Benedict's crew are essentially under house arrest in the Benedict manor as the government vigilantly watches over the Whisperer housed there while continuing in the fruitless search for Ledroptha Curtain. While chafing under the restrictions, the children welcome the opportunities to baffle and sneak past the guards, as well as spend this regular time with each other. Constance is brought to the forefront in an alarming way as, just as Mr. Benedict is about to adopt her, a stranger claims he is her father instead! This throws the household into a tizzy as measures are taken to refute this claim (also leading to the dubious finding that Constance previously survived by living in libraries), but unawares a dastardly plan of Mr. Curtain's is being put into action.

Things soon kick into high gear. A blanket of darkness covers the city as all the electricity goes out! A wave of terror is unleashed as Curtain's Ten Men go out on the march in full force, seeking both the Whisperer and Constance for her mental powers. This time, the kids don't have to sneak off for the story to get anywhere, but there's a natural progression of story for the adults and kids to get separated and each shine in their own talents and abilities. In search of Constance, escaping from the Ten Men, and traveling the darkened streets: the Society does it all together.

The stakes are heightened and the ante is upped with the extra sneakiness of Mr. Curtain and the Ten Men. By now, they know the Society and the kids they're up against. Reynie utilizes his cleverness, Kate's agility, and Sticky's knowledge in deciphering secret messages, brainstorming solutions, and executing retaliations. But the bad guys have a few tricks up their sleeves, making everything much more scary and exciting!

A standoff against the Ten Men does not end well this time. The kids' out-of-the-box solution to the Prisoners Dilemma comes in handy against the cruel fiends, and they'll need all their quick thinking and swift action to help themselves and Milligan (laughably underequipped as always) out of the stickiest situations yet.

torihoo's review against another edition

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5.0

Trenton Lee Stewart never fails to impress. This third and, perhaps, last installment in the series was every bit as good as the previous ones.

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