Seven books into the series, Mr Snickett sustains the level of interest sparked by the first two (the only other ones that I've read). The three poor orphans face being burned at the stake in the Village of Fowl Devotees, and only barely escape the evil machinations of Count Olaf through their own wits and an uncharacteristically fortuitous deux ex machina. Among the unpleasant matters they endure are hordes of migrating crows, an angry mob, being tried before the Council of Elders, and some most unusual hats. I may be an adult, but I found the last few chapters "gripping". Now I look forward to more of the series. By the way, what other children's book would introduce (with full explanation) such terms as "mob psychology" and "deus ex machina"? ( )

Yet more bad things happen to the Baudelaires. Normally this series is good at keeping you guessing, but this time I knew the solution to the mystery at the beginning of the book and I've already solved V.F.D. It's disappointing the brilliant Bautdealires aren't up to snuff on this one. It's nice to see them grow and change as a result of their misfortunes, and the series is still clever and well done. ( )

So far, the poor Baudelaire orphans have lost just about everything, and what little they have left they are further on the verge of losing. There are some things that can never be taken from you. These are things like your self-determination or your secret Aztec gold you've placed a special curse on.

The Baudelaire orphans have a fortune, but it's not in cursed Aztec gold, so it can be taken away from them. Count Olaf, a distant relation to their family, has tried countless (well, as of this volume, seven) time to get that fortune. It's locked in arrears--a word which here means "unable to be accessed by anyone, orphan or villain"--until the oldest orphan, Violet comes of age.

The banker in charge of their late parents' estate, Mr. Poe, has determined that the old maxim "It takes a village to raise a child" to be quite valid, and puts the Baudelaire orphans in the hands of the V.F.D., which may or may not be the same V.F.D. that the Quagmire triplets had mentioned to them before Count Olaf spirited them away in his devious plot to get the Quagmire sapphires, yet another great fortune.

While the entire village expects to get free labor from the orphans, only Hector really cares for them. He's the town's handyman, and he is secretly violating several of the village's rules (he has a secret workshop in which he's designing things using forbidden--a word here, which means "all"--technology, and a secret library containing all the books describing people breaking the village's rules, including, of course, the village rulebooks). Additionally, the orphans are getting strange couplets mysteriously, which leads them to believe that the Quagmire triplets are closer than they think. But with the Quagmires comes Olaf, who too, would be closer than they think. So close, that the village elders claim that they have found him, and that they will burn him at the stake.

But, again, this is a series of unfortunate events, and it's only the seventh volume, so the orphans trouble cannot possibly be over this soon.

This volume is definitely recommended for anyone who has enjoyed the previous six, or any other writings of Lemony Snicket, or his good friend Daniel Handler. This is not the best place to start reading the series, however, as you may find yourself confused when references are made to previous books. In fact this or any later book in the series (or quite possibly any book after and including book two) would not make a good place to start reading the series. The best place would have to be book one: The Bad Beginning. So start there, and by all means, don't finish here (there are still six books to go!). Each volume uncovers more and more mystery AND misery. Enjoy, for the sake the poor Baudelaire orphans. ( )

Dark and mysterious this book leads you into a new era in the Baudelaire's lives. ( )