Scan barcode
we_are_all_mad_here26's review against another edition
2.0
I loved The Westing Game - this one, I just didn't.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
How observant are you? That's the question Garson asks of the unfortunately named Dickory Dock, his new assistant. Garson's a painter - somewhat slick, not particularly insightful - who owns a townhouse in Greenwich Village. Soon after Dickory starts, Garson moves to the top two floors, leaving the ground floor to Manny Mallomar and Shrimps Marinara, and Isaac, the disfigured deaf-mute.
Dickory's life becomes more complicated when Inspector Quinn asks Garson's help solving a mystery... and then another mystery... and then a third mystery. Taking on the personae of Inspector Nosegar and Sergeant Kod, Dickory and Garson assist the police by looking beneath the surface of the crime. It turns out, however, that the police don't really need their help - they're trying to solve the crime going on inside the townhouse.
There's humor, mild violence, and much to keep middle grade readers interested.
ARC provided by publisher.
Dickory's life becomes more complicated when Inspector Quinn asks Garson's help solving a mystery... and then another mystery... and then a third mystery. Taking on the personae of Inspector Nosegar and Sergeant Kod, Dickory and Garson assist the police by looking beneath the surface of the crime. It turns out, however, that the police don't really need their help - they're trying to solve the crime going on inside the townhouse.
There's humor, mild violence, and much to keep middle grade readers interested.
ARC provided by publisher.
daisycakesco's review against another edition
4.0
I read (and still read) the Westing Game a zillion times as a kid. But somehow I missed this one.
mamaorgana80's review against another edition
4.0
Trying to figure out who the audience is for this book. Witty and charming.
shogins's review against another edition
2.0
Raskin wrote one perfect book, and I guess that should be enough for anyone.
rouver's review against another edition
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed [b:The Westing Game|902|The Westing Game|Ellen Raskin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356850909s/902.jpg|869832], so I sought out another title by Raskin. Delightfully, this too, featured a young woman protagonist. She must solve multiple riddles & seek justice for an exceptionally eccentric friend/employer. It has quirky characters & a fun plot. The only things that make it feel awkward are the dated descriptions of a man with a severe intellectual disability and facial injuries he suffered as a result of a car accident (it was first published in 1975). A discussion with any kids who read this would be a good idea, but otherwise I would recommend it as an entertaining read for 9-10+ yr olds.
sbaunsgard's review against another edition
4.0
Children's mystery novel from the author of 'The Westing Game' set in New York City. Art student Dickory Dock becomes an assistant to artist Garson. Garson also has Dickory assist him when he consults with the police in cases that require a keen eye for observation. The interesting thing about this book is that it is very external, and does not rely on internal monologues. It is a literary technique that extolls its main point: being observant of what people are doing is an important skill that will tell you many things about people, including some cruel truths. Although the material in here is young adult thematically (the main character's parents were murdered), I would put the reading level younger than that-- it's definitely for a younger crowd than 'The Westing Game.'
I probably read this book a dozen times when I was a kid. Dickory was glamorous to me, everyone in the book has an outrageous name. In a way, I wish it was written at a higher reading level, because that would make it easier to recommend to my friends, who are all adults. If you didn't read it as a kid you'd probably enjoy Susan Patron's 'The Higher Power of Lucky', or E.L. Konigsburg's 'The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place,' more than you would enjoy this. (Both of those are terrific.) On the other hand, I've never read another book that was written like this, much less one for children.
I probably read this book a dozen times when I was a kid. Dickory was glamorous to me, everyone in the book has an outrageous name. In a way, I wish it was written at a higher reading level, because that would make it easier to recommend to my friends, who are all adults. If you didn't read it as a kid you'd probably enjoy Susan Patron's 'The Higher Power of Lucky', or E.L. Konigsburg's 'The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place,' more than you would enjoy this. (Both of those are terrific.) On the other hand, I've never read another book that was written like this, much less one for children.
kejadlen's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it, even though it required quite a bit of suspension of disbelief.
vanessakm's review against another edition
I wanted to check this out since I loved [b:The Westing Game|902|The Westing Game|Ellen Raskin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356850909l/902._SX50_.jpg|869832] so much, and the late Raskin only wrote four books (she illustrated several more.) But I found this odd and despite being so slender a read, not engaging.