Robert Vernon

(4.5 / 5)

Though this series started in the 90s, this book was written and published this year (2022). It still takes place in the mid-90s, which does tend to limit what the reader might suspect is happening, especially given the genre of the series. However, the target audience (8-12 year olds) would probably not try to solve the mystery while reading and instead simply enjoy the excitement and suspense. And even though I found myself unable to stop speculating on the technique used by the show more “bad guy,” I did still really enjoy the story. The descriptions of the driver were sufficiently mysterious and even a little creepy, and the way the Last Chance Detectives worked to solve it was smart and interesting.

I like that this series doesn’t generally follow the modern trend for kids books to have the kids breaking rules, ignoring adults, and generally being disrespectful as they protagonize their way through a story (no, that’s not a word, but I like it). Mike, Ben, Spence, and Winnie are just as curious and determined as I remember them being in the LCD movie I grew up watching (The Mystery Lights of Navajo Mesa). And even better, Winnie gets a little more depth to her character in this book (was she shown to be artistic before? If so, I don’t recall). The feud between her and Ben was amusing, and even realistic in the way it began to be less amusing to their friends as it went on and got in the way of the investigation. The culmination of that was a serious heart-stopper for me, and I’m still not sure how I feel about the way the author went with that in the end. Maybe it wouldn’t have affected me so much if the overall series wasn’t so ingrained in my childhood—though I never read any of the books back then and only watched the one movie, I watched it so many times that when I read the respective book for the first time recently, I read many of the lines in the same inflection as the actors said them in the movie.

Overall, this was a great addition to the series. I was leery of new books being written after so long, but now I’m glad to be able to read more about these young detectives from the 90s and am looking forward to the next one. show less

This series takes place in the mid-90s, though I sometimes think the author takes some liberty with the technology available at the time. Still, this story is fun, with some twists and turns that keep it interesting. There are some things that happen that I feel are unlikely enough to lower the rating by a star, because while kids may not pick up on those issues, that doesn't mean they don't deserve a story with a tighter plot. I also think the kids themselves and their personalities take a show more bit of a backseat to the grander plot, but overall, it was a good addition to the series. I was leery of new books being written after so long, but now I'm glad to be able to read more about these young detectives from the 90s and really hope the author is planning more, especially considering the tiny crumb we're given about Mike's missing dad in this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers/Focus on the Family for providing me a copy of this book to review. show less

Another fun book in the Last Chance Detectives series! This book continues the stories of Mike, Ben, Winnie, and Spence as they embark on another exciting adventure. Based on the popular 90’s tv series, this book delivers a interesting mystery with plenty of twists and turns with the enjoyable friends at the heart of it.

When Mike and his friends go exploring in the desert, they decide to cool off in a nearby river. What they don’t expect to find, is a skeleton hidden behind a waterfall show more who’s been there for centuries. The Spanish conquistador holds an ancient artifact that may just be the key to finding a legendary treasure. But when their find is published in the local newspaper, it attracts the unwanted attention of people seeking the treasure too. It’s a race against time to see who can locate the treasure first.

Perfect for those middle grade readers ages 8-12. There’s action, a pretty solid mystery, delightful friendships, and a subtle religious message woven into the story. I loved what the actual treasure was and the mechanisms they had to use to get to it. The bad guy was a bit of a surprise with an ending that was quite suspenseful. We’re also given another clue about Mike’s missing father.

While some of the circumstances seemed a little implausible, I doubt kids will think too deeply about it. Highly recommend this fun action adventure mystery with great messages. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. show less

When Mike Fowler stumbles across bank robbers making a getaway, he becomes an accidental hostage. Unwilling to let him point the finger at them, the thieves leave him for dead in the middle of the desert. Can Mike make it to civilization before succumbing to the sun in Fire Lake?

Wow! For a short book meant for kids, this was quite an intense ride! Unlike the first book in the series, this one was completely new to me, and it really sucked me in. Mike's trek through the desert, trying not to show more give in to the sun or his own worries, was really suspenseful and kept me hooked all throughout. At the same time, the other Last Chance Detectives are looking for him, and that part is interesting too. Whereas children's books can sometimes venture away from reality, in that the kids in the story do things that kids wouldn't really be able to do in real life, I felt like all of it was quite plausible in this case.

Though there wasn't any kind of mystery in this story, at least not to the reader, it was still full of adventure and great lessons about relying on God and letting Him give you peace in scary situations. Again the danger is very real, but it doesn't get to be what I'd consider too scary for kids, and I highly recommend this book for those around 10-14.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale House Publishers/Focus on the Family for providing me a copy of this book to review. show less