Beyond the Grave

This was a pretty good story. Definitely a nice recovery from the last one. Signs of the Madrigals appearing on two seperate occasions was very interesting. I liked Theo and Hilary though they don't seem to be likely to be in future stories. Oh well. It was a pretty good book. My first Jude Watson read ever, but well done. ( )

These are great fun and better than I expected them to be. ( )

The clues and puzzles get even more contrived! ( )

Amy and Dan, with faithful au pair Nellie, travel to Egypt in the fourth adventure in the 39 clues series. I greatly enjoyed this book, more than any other in the series, probably helped along because I love Egypt and its ancient archaeological wonders. My spoiler heavy synopsis is to help me remember the events in the series; if you are reading this review, be warned.

As usual, Amy and Dan are following a vague clue that suggests Cairo could lead them to another big Clue, and once in Cairo they use a combination of luck and skill to trace the trail left by their Cahill ancestors. While hiding from Irina Spasky, they meet Theo, an Egyptologist. He notices that they are attempting to buy a genuine (forged) golden Sakhet that Napoleon had once owned, and he offers to take them to a museum that used to house Napoleon's scholars. They agree, and find a tile in the house that bears the Lucian crest, which hides a clue behind it. The clue is cryptic, something about an L. Palace, so they head to Hotel Excelsior, where Alistair Oh had rooms, to try and find time to ponder their newly acquired knowledge. Instead, they discover an Ekhat stronghold, hidden in the hotel, and narrowly escape imprisonment by Alistair's sinister uncle, Bae Oh. As they dash out of the hotel, a strange woman pulls up in car and provides miraculous transportation. They find out that she is Hilary Vale, an old friend of their grandmother, Grace Cahill. She also happens to be Theo's mother, who they reunite with at her house.

While there, they have a few moments of peace to gather their thoughts. The stronghold had furnished further clues, along with its risk of doom. It operated as a museum of Ekhat genius; the children had seen three golden Sakhets on display there, along with the maps hidden inside two of them. The maps are clearly of Egyptian tombs, but the kids need more information. They suspect that the third Sakhet is a fake, since it has no hidden compartment for a secret message. In Hilary's house, they receive a wonderful surprise when she gives them a valuable that Grace asked her to keep for them. It is the third gold Sakhet! Dan figures out how to open it, and they discover yet a third map of an Egyptian tomb. Along with this treasure, Grace also delivers to them, via Hilary, a Christmas card and a travel book to Egypt filled with Grace's own notes. Dan combines the sketches of the three maps and discovers the one true map hidden in them all; Theo informs them that it is a map of Queen Nefertari's tomb. Clues in the tomb lead them to the Temple of Isis, but not before they are marooned and escape a hungry crocodile, and to a double cross, which prompts a double cross of their own. Just another day in the topsy turvy world of Amy and Dan Cahill.

With a different author for each new book in the series, the tone and atmosphere of the successive books can change, even if plot points and character development are charted out ahead of time. I look forward to reading other books by Jude Watson (the writers in the series may write more than one book, just not in order), because his writing style pulled me and anchored me in the story. I saw more character development in this book, sympathy for even the worst characters, and a depth to personality that was more rare in the last two books. The action is still nonstop, and often over the top, but is balanced with the maturing interactions between Amy and Dan, a romantic spark from Nellie, and insight into the humanity that Irina Spasky is trying to lock away. The mystery is built up, as well, as Bae Oh seems to be working for the mysterious men in black. Even the Madrigals register their ominous appearance by the end. Complete everything with the setting - Egypt, where mysterious treasure hunts through history left in clues by famous historical figures feels natural, given the cryptic tombs with their secret passages and trips, the suggestive nature of hieroglyphics, the eerie associations with mummy's curses - and this is the best book in the series yet. It certainly has renewed my interest in discovering the fate of underdogs Amy and Dan. Along with Riordan's series starter, this novel lives up to the potential of the fun idea of a hidden treasure hunt through history that takes place around the world. ( )

The way the authors of this series blend fact with fiction is absolutely astounding to me. I feel compelled to look up every little "fact" stated to see if it's true or simply part of the Cahill canon, but I stop myself because I REFUSE to destroy the temporary suspension of disbelief with this series (at least until I've finished it). ( )