bak8382's review
4.0
In his darkest hour P.K. Pinkerton begins writing his story on blank ledger sheets he finds deep in the mines that he is currently trapped in. He came home on his borthday to find his foster ma and pa murdered, and the murderer is after him for a piece of paper left to P.K. by his real ma. He travels to Virginia City intent on eventually finding his way to Chicago to hopefully work with his real Pa's brother, the head of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. Instead P.K. finds himself slipping in and out of disguises as he makes his way around town trying to avoid capture, and figure out who to trust as he has a hard time reading people's facial expressions. Along the way he just might discover that he has the makings of a real detective.
This is a rollicking mystery filled with colorful characters, though almost too many for this audiobook listener to keep up with. It's a great listen with plenty of twists and turns and the ending leaves several questions unanswered while leaving P.K. open to staring in a few new adventures.
This is a rollicking mystery filled with colorful characters, though almost too many for this audiobook listener to keep up with. It's a great listen with plenty of twists and turns and the ending leaves several questions unanswered while leaving P.K. open to staring in a few new adventures.
thepurplegiraffe's review against another edition
3.0
this book was complete chaos, lol. there's a difference between keeping your plot moving and never giving your character a break (my goodness, please cut the kid some slack). there's also weird racist undertones to the whole thing, a mystery that isn't really a mystery (??), and it was just... odd. didn't super love it, but here we are. 3 stars.
emma_naomi's review against another edition
5.0
Originally posted at the Book Monkey blog: http://bookmonkeyscribbles.wordpress.com
Caroline Lawrence is most well-known for her very popular series The Roman Mysteries. Lawrence has now swapped Ancient Rome for the Wild West in her new novel The Case of the Deadly Desperados, the first in her new series The Western Mysteries, published on 2nd June 2011 by Orion. This is actually the first title I’ve read byLawrence but I can tell you now it certainly won’t be my last!
I won’t go into too much detail over the plot as if you’ve read the blurb above, you already know it. What I love about this novel is the way that this is exactly how I would imagine the Wild West to be, and Lawrence manages to make you feel like you are right there in the middle of it all, with your hoop skirt on and your pistol never far from your hand! It is clear that Lawrencehas dedicated a lot of time to careful research when writing this novel and it has definitely paid off. There are so many little details, from the misspellings in the language to reflect the time period, to the real-life characters included in the story, that help shape this novel into a great piece of story-telling. One of my favourite characters has to be Sam Clemens (the real name Huckleberry Fin author Mark Twain). We see Sam living inVirginia City working as a reporter, exactly as he did in real life. It’s fascinating to get this tiny window into what his life must have been like back then, before he became one of the most famous American authors in history.
Of course the best character of all has to be P. K. Pinkerton, the young half-Indian boy whose foster parents have been murdered by a bunch of desperados. What is most interesting about P.K. is the very subtle hints of him having autism. He doesn’t like to be touched by other people, and he has a lot of trouble deciphering when people are being genuine in their facial expressions or not, and in understanding their emotions. It is never said outright that this is what P.K. has, but of course back in those days they probably didn’t know this illness existed! There are also other questions which must be asked regarding P.K. later on in the novel, which I have to admit I simply didn’t see coming at all, but I will not spoil it for you! I think it’s important to start the novel without knowing certain potential ‘spoilers’.
Poker Face Jace has to be my next favourite character, and not just because I love his name (which I really do!). He is such a brilliant character. As with most people P.K. meets inVirginia City, we must be suspicious of him. When P.K. first encounters him, Poker Face Jace definitely seems like on of the bad guys, set on bringing harm to P.K. But eventually Jace shows his softer side and helps P.K. distinguish between when a person is lying and when they’re not. This proves to be more invaluable to P.K. than he ever thought possible, and in the end I looked upon Jace as an almost father figure for P.K.
Many things get in the way of P.K. and his mission to get his letter (the deeds to some land with a silver mine) to the recording office, so he can have enough money to find his uncle, who runs a detective agency.Virginia Cityin 1862 is a very tough place to live. Everyone is looking out only for themselves – even those we think may be nice at first, those who P.K. chooses to trust. It is a harsh lesson for P.K. to learn that he must grow up fast if he chooses to stay inVirginia City. Not everyone is as kind as they seem, and there’s certainly a shortage of the Christian morals P.K. has been brought up with.
This is authentic Western storytelling at its very best. Caroline Lawrence has created a wonderful piece of storytelling here, and I hope every teenage out there jumps on the bandwagon and gives it a go! I honestly can’t fault it and I’m already very excited for book two in the series. I can see many further developments happening already – with regards to P.K.’s family, his friends such as Poker Face Jace, and I’m crossing my fingers for some good old fashioned cowboy and Indian action!
Caroline Lawrence is most well-known for her very popular series The Roman Mysteries. Lawrence has now swapped Ancient Rome for the Wild West in her new novel The Case of the Deadly Desperados, the first in her new series The Western Mysteries, published on 2nd June 2011 by Orion. This is actually the first title I’ve read byLawrence but I can tell you now it certainly won’t be my last!
I won’t go into too much detail over the plot as if you’ve read the blurb above, you already know it. What I love about this novel is the way that this is exactly how I would imagine the Wild West to be, and Lawrence manages to make you feel like you are right there in the middle of it all, with your hoop skirt on and your pistol never far from your hand! It is clear that Lawrencehas dedicated a lot of time to careful research when writing this novel and it has definitely paid off. There are so many little details, from the misspellings in the language to reflect the time period, to the real-life characters included in the story, that help shape this novel into a great piece of story-telling. One of my favourite characters has to be Sam Clemens (the real name Huckleberry Fin author Mark Twain). We see Sam living inVirginia City working as a reporter, exactly as he did in real life. It’s fascinating to get this tiny window into what his life must have been like back then, before he became one of the most famous American authors in history.
Of course the best character of all has to be P. K. Pinkerton, the young half-Indian boy whose foster parents have been murdered by a bunch of desperados. What is most interesting about P.K. is the very subtle hints of him having autism. He doesn’t like to be touched by other people, and he has a lot of trouble deciphering when people are being genuine in their facial expressions or not, and in understanding their emotions. It is never said outright that this is what P.K. has, but of course back in those days they probably didn’t know this illness existed! There are also other questions which must be asked regarding P.K. later on in the novel, which I have to admit I simply didn’t see coming at all, but I will not spoil it for you! I think it’s important to start the novel without knowing certain potential ‘spoilers’.
Poker Face Jace has to be my next favourite character, and not just because I love his name (which I really do!). He is such a brilliant character. As with most people P.K. meets inVirginia City, we must be suspicious of him. When P.K. first encounters him, Poker Face Jace definitely seems like on of the bad guys, set on bringing harm to P.K. But eventually Jace shows his softer side and helps P.K. distinguish between when a person is lying and when they’re not. This proves to be more invaluable to P.K. than he ever thought possible, and in the end I looked upon Jace as an almost father figure for P.K.
Many things get in the way of P.K. and his mission to get his letter (the deeds to some land with a silver mine) to the recording office, so he can have enough money to find his uncle, who runs a detective agency.Virginia Cityin 1862 is a very tough place to live. Everyone is looking out only for themselves – even those we think may be nice at first, those who P.K. chooses to trust. It is a harsh lesson for P.K. to learn that he must grow up fast if he chooses to stay inVirginia City. Not everyone is as kind as they seem, and there’s certainly a shortage of the Christian morals P.K. has been brought up with.
This is authentic Western storytelling at its very best. Caroline Lawrence has created a wonderful piece of storytelling here, and I hope every teenage out there jumps on the bandwagon and gives it a go! I honestly can’t fault it and I’m already very excited for book two in the series. I can see many further developments happening already – with regards to P.K.’s family, his friends such as Poker Face Jace, and I’m crossing my fingers for some good old fashioned cowboy and Indian action!
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
Caroline Lawrence has moved away from her Roman Mysteries to the Wild West, and it's a lot of fun.
P.K. "Pinky" Pinkerton is a half-Lakota foster child to the Joneses, and we open on their being scalped and killed by "Injuns", except Ma Evangeline realizes they're actually white men. Turns out that one of the men is Whitling Walt, so named because he "whittles" his victims, and they weren't after the Joneses they were after a Letter that PK's real mother gave him.
P.K. runs away, hoping to get to Chicago, where he can persuade his uncle (the famous Pinkerton detective) to hire him. However, he only makes it as far as Virginia City, a Nevada mining town filled with gamblers, Chinese "Celestials", miners and Soiled Doves. Because of his Thorn, P.K. is unable to tell whom to trust and ends up being shot at, tied up and finding ways to disguise himself before he can get to the Recorder's to have his Letter declared true.
The combination of P.K.'s Thorn (aka ASD) and the Wild West atmosphere make this a great Middle School boy read - they'll enjoy the history and detective work, as well as P.K.'s take on people and events.
ARC provided by publisher.
P.K. "Pinky" Pinkerton is a half-Lakota foster child to the Joneses, and we open on their being scalped and killed by "Injuns", except Ma Evangeline realizes they're actually white men. Turns out that one of the men is Whitling Walt, so named because he "whittles" his victims, and they weren't after the Joneses they were after a Letter that PK's real mother gave him.
P.K. runs away, hoping to get to Chicago, where he can persuade his uncle (the famous Pinkerton detective) to hire him. However, he only makes it as far as Virginia City, a Nevada mining town filled with gamblers, Chinese "Celestials", miners and Soiled Doves. Because of his Thorn, P.K. is unable to tell whom to trust and ends up being shot at, tied up and finding ways to disguise himself before he can get to the Recorder's to have his Letter declared true.
The combination of P.K.'s Thorn (aka ASD) and the Wild West atmosphere make this a great Middle School boy read - they'll enjoy the history and detective work, as well as P.K.'s take on people and events.
ARC provided by publisher.
sean67's review against another edition
4.0
Fun mystery-western about young world weary detective, half Indian and with some really great moments, including the surprise reveal about PK - a top notch read and the beginning of a series, roll on number #2!!
quietjenn's review
4.0
If you ever watched Deadwood and thought, "It's good, but I wish it were funnier. And that the hero was a twelve-year old, half-Native kid with Asperger's tendencies." then this is pretty much the perfect book for you. And I mean that in the best possible way, because I do love myself some Deadwood. And this? I enjoyed it ever so much. Like, actually glad it's going to be a series because I want more adventures with this crew, so much and I say things like that very rarely. Just really fun (but also informative!) and a quick pace and actual, legitimate adventure.
emdoux's review
5.0
4th grade booktalk
“My name is P.K. Pinkerton, and before this day is over I will be dead. I am trapped down the deepest shaft of a Comstock silver mine with three desperados closing in on me.”
P.K., or Pinky as his foster Ma called him, is a twelve year-old half-Sioux boy who finds his foster parents murdered on his twelfth birthday, starts running, and pretty much doesn’t stop for the next 276 pages. Hiding on the beams in the ceiling of his cabin home, P.K. overhears the outlaws who murdered his foster parents talking about “it” – and how “it” isn’t there in the cabin. When the killers see Pinky’s birthday cake on the kitchen table, they think maybe he has whatever “it” is, and they want to find him and take it. Pinky doesn’t have any idea what it might be, but as the killers leave and Pinky goes to his dying foster ma’s side, he learns it might be in a medicine bag from his Sioux mother – the deed to a large piece of land. In the Wild West, there are only so many places to hide – but P.K. Pinkerton knows he can get away – he’s related to not only a famous Railroad Detective but a famous private eye in Chicago – he’s just got to move fast, and keep his wits about him.
Not a lot of historical fiction books are funny – but this one definitely is. Check out the first book in the P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries series – you’ll feel like you have to read them all!
“My name is P.K. Pinkerton, and before this day is over I will be dead. I am trapped down the deepest shaft of a Comstock silver mine with three desperados closing in on me.”
P.K., or Pinky as his foster Ma called him, is a twelve year-old half-Sioux boy who finds his foster parents murdered on his twelfth birthday, starts running, and pretty much doesn’t stop for the next 276 pages. Hiding on the beams in the ceiling of his cabin home, P.K. overhears the outlaws who murdered his foster parents talking about “it” – and how “it” isn’t there in the cabin. When the killers see Pinky’s birthday cake on the kitchen table, they think maybe he has whatever “it” is, and they want to find him and take it. Pinky doesn’t have any idea what it might be, but as the killers leave and Pinky goes to his dying foster ma’s side, he learns it might be in a medicine bag from his Sioux mother – the deed to a large piece of land. In the Wild West, there are only so many places to hide – but P.K. Pinkerton knows he can get away – he’s related to not only a famous Railroad Detective but a famous private eye in Chicago – he’s just got to move fast, and keep his wits about him.
Not a lot of historical fiction books are funny – but this one definitely is. Check out the first book in the P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries series – you’ll feel like you have to read them all!
tami_provencher's review against another edition
3.0
The Case of the Deadly Desperados is the first in a new Western Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence. The year is 1862 and our main character P.K. (Pinky) Pinkerton has just turned 12 years old two days before we meet him. Pinky tells us the first part of his story as he writes it deep in one of the Comstock silver mines of the Nevada mountains where is is sure he will die.
On the afternoon of his twelfth birthday Pinky comes home to discover his foster parents have been attacked and scalped. His foster father is already dead but his foster mother lives a few minutes after he discovers her. She lives long enough to tell him she and her husband were not attacked by Indians but by white men disguised as Indians and to take the medicine bag given him by his biological mother and run for safety. She makes him promise her: (1) he will never take another life--not even of those who committed this crime; (2) he will forgive those who committed this act;(3) he will not gamble; and (4) he will not drink hard liquor. Pinky promises. Immediately following his promise, the desperados who killed his foster parents come back.
Pinky realizes the killers were after the paper his biological mother gave to him which deeds the bearer a great deal of land in the mountains of the silver-rich Comstock mines. Pinky flees the tiny town of Temperance for the Big City but is pursued by the Desperados. Pinky soon discovers that the man who is chasing him is none other than Whittlin' Walt--one of the most dangerous and feared killers in the West.
Pinky is determined to sell his claim in order to book passage on a stagecoach to Chicago. Now that he has no family he intends to go to the Pinkerton Detective Agency run by his biological uncle and ask for a job. Pinky has two big obstacles: (1) he is half-Caucasian and half-Lacota Indian which sets him up for mistreatment and discrimination in the 19th Century Old West; and (2)his inability to read other people--he has trouble judging when others are sincere and when they are deceiving him. This particular obstacle results in several missteps that bring Pinky repeatedly into mortal danger.
The story is fast-paced with one cliffhanger after another. Pinky is genuine, smart, funny and good-hearted. He is a hero for whom it is easy to cheer. I thoroughly enjoyed Pinky's tale. If you like adventure and mystery then The Case of the Deadly Desperados is for you!
NOTE: Parents and teachers be aware that--although not frequent--there is historically appropriate language in the story that we now acknowledge as offensive, as well as a scene in an opium house. All language and scenes are handled appropriately but may require discussion with young readers for definition and to specify context.
On the afternoon of his twelfth birthday Pinky comes home to discover his foster parents have been attacked and scalped. His foster father is already dead but his foster mother lives a few minutes after he discovers her. She lives long enough to tell him she and her husband were not attacked by Indians but by white men disguised as Indians and to take the medicine bag given him by his biological mother and run for safety. She makes him promise her: (1) he will never take another life--not even of those who committed this crime; (2) he will forgive those who committed this act;(3) he will not gamble; and (4) he will not drink hard liquor. Pinky promises. Immediately following his promise, the desperados who killed his foster parents come back.
Pinky realizes the killers were after the paper his biological mother gave to him which deeds the bearer a great deal of land in the mountains of the silver-rich Comstock mines. Pinky flees the tiny town of Temperance for the Big City but is pursued by the Desperados. Pinky soon discovers that the man who is chasing him is none other than Whittlin' Walt--one of the most dangerous and feared killers in the West.
Pinky is determined to sell his claim in order to book passage on a stagecoach to Chicago. Now that he has no family he intends to go to the Pinkerton Detective Agency run by his biological uncle and ask for a job. Pinky has two big obstacles: (1) he is half-Caucasian and half-Lacota Indian which sets him up for mistreatment and discrimination in the 19th Century Old West; and (2)his inability to read other people--he has trouble judging when others are sincere and when they are deceiving him. This particular obstacle results in several missteps that bring Pinky repeatedly into mortal danger.
The story is fast-paced with one cliffhanger after another. Pinky is genuine, smart, funny and good-hearted. He is a hero for whom it is easy to cheer. I thoroughly enjoyed Pinky's tale. If you like adventure and mystery then The Case of the Deadly Desperados is for you!
NOTE: Parents and teachers be aware that--although not frequent--there is historically appropriate language in the story that we now acknowledge as offensive, as well as a scene in an opium house. All language and scenes are handled appropriately but may require discussion with young readers for definition and to specify context.
kimsquatch's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this more than I did, because the idea of western featuring an autistic kid detective sounds like a good original idea. However (and I might be being oversensitive), the racial/gender issues were too much for me to overlook, and I found myself wondering who I could ever recommend this book to ("Well, it features numerous horrible stereotypes about Native Americans, and one time they straight up calls a lady a whore. And he sees two people having sex!"). Plus, I'd just read By the Great Horn Spoon! which was just a much more fun kids' western. I would've given this three stars because it was a good mystery, but I'm knocking it down a star for the rest of the faults.