Death's Door

Herculeah Jones Mysteries #4

by Betsy Byars

Herculeah Jones finds herself in the middle of another mystery when her best friend Meat barely escapes a hitman’s bullet. Someone must have mistaken Meat for someone else. But who? Herculeah is determined to solve the mystery, before the assassin comes after her!

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

About the author

Betsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!

Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.

Reviews

[Spencer E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, this is an exciting book. It starts out with Herculeah watching a motel for her mom. Herculeah's mom is a private investigator. Chapter 2 described a killer being hired to kill someone. The next chapter had Meat and Herculeah in the cafe and Herculeah figures out that her mom sent her there just to get her out of the way. The next chapter describes the killer watching from a window ready to shoot someone. The next thing that happens is that Meat and Herculeah are almost shot. I am curious about why all of this is happening.

This was an extremely exciting story. You must read it to find out why the shooter shot at Meat and Herculeah by mistake. "The Bull" thought Meat was his uncle because Meat was wearing his uncle's hat. You will be impressed with Herculeah's bravery! Once again she helps her father catch the bad guy. I was so nervous when Herculeah was almost shot by "The Bull." You will be too!

[Amirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Herculeah Jones mystery solver was walking to her best friend's (Meat) uncle's store and someone shoots Meat. He almost gets hit but the hat he was wearing gets a hole through it. Herculeah wasn't sure why someone would try to shoot Meat but she has a feeling it was because of that hat. Trying to find out what the situation was, would she get killed herself? Read "Death's Door" to find out.
I would recommend this to everyone; well mostly people who love mysteries. This is a story that has something to do with the hat Meat was wearing. It belongs to one of his family members and she thinks the guy with the gun might be wanting to kill he/she. She has to find out who that person is to prevent another shooting.

[Книжни Криле · Rating 5 out of 5]

Вече ви запознахме с Еркюлея Джоунс, младото момиче-детектив от книгите на Бетси Байърс. Благодарение на издателство „Монт” поредицата с нейните мистерии продължава и Еркюлея демонстрира завидни умения в разнищването на криминални случаи, които я превръщат в първа конкурентка на нейната колежка Нанси Дрю! Прочетете ревюто на "Книжни Криле":

https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/201...

[Dow Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great fast-paced book that takes place over a few days of an attempted mayor assassination, trying to kill someone who could’ve seen the killer, and a wild chase to freedom with Herculeah literally caught in the crosshairs. There’s a lot of great action but no mystery. What I thought was going to happen didn’t, which is nice, but I guess that would’ve made the book longer and more convoluted than kids could possibly handle.

The previous three books all mentioned prior events, but this book doesn’t mention the previous book, only the first two. Kind of strange.

Because this one is more of an action thriller, I didn’t like it in regards to these kids being in the middle of it, but it’s still a good book.

[Andrea Dearborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun!

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A review from my old blog (of the whole series)...

I enjoyed these books. I wouldn't say that these were the best mystery books I have ever read although I have to admit that I haven't read Nancy Drew books or other mystery books written for that age in a long time.

Personally I felt that the subject matter was a little serious for the age group that the books were aimed for but Byars avoided telling any gruesome details and managed to tell a fairly good mystery although a bit convoluted and obvious.

I did find out something interesting. Byars mentioned in passing a local grocery store and I thought, "wait, I know that store. She has to be from somewhere around here." So, I flipped to the back and saw that indeed... she lives in the same relative area that I do. I found that quite interesting.

[Noah Oren · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Death's Door" is the fourth installment in the Herculeah Jones Mysteries series. I had never heard of this series before, but one day I was in the bookstore, I looked at it and thought that it looked good, as I like mysteries that aren't to dark or bloody. That night, I read the whole book and by the time I was finished was somewhat scared. Betsy Byars wrote this book very well and I think it is vey well-done , but, it was just to scary for me. The book was not bloody, but it was very creepy. It involved an assassin and the main character is in constant peril for most of the book. If I had read this book during the daytime I think I would have been less scared and I would have enjoyed it more.

WARNING: Do not read if you get scared very easily; This book is much darker than you would think.

[Madi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Herculeah is in a dangerous mystery with her best, Meat. Herculeah and Meat were walking home from the café. After they walked through the park a gunman shot his M16 at Meat and went through his uncles hat that meat had borrowed from his uncle. The next day Herculeah was parent pick-up from school. Her mom was late and she saw Meats mom in a red coat. Herculeah tried to talk to her but she wasn't answering her. Herculeah was a little suspicious because Meats mom was wearing men shoes. WAS it really Meats mom or someone else? Who shot Meat? Read to find out. This book is good for people that are into mysteries. This book was an okay book, because mystery isn't my favorite genre.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thoughts on the entire Herculeah Jones series can be found here in my review of the first book, The Dark Stairs. This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[vampire (dipita) grul · Rating 4 out of 5]

it myesterieous!!!!

[Brett · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit more exciting than the last.

[Wileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is crazy. herculeah's friend meat almost got shot by a man but she already had her own case which might enthrall you.

[Micherac0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its about how she and meat almost got shot and she wants to find out who did it, it has no blood but if you like mystery books i think you will like this book!

[Gabriella 11-12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay it was not my favorite.

It was not that good because I did'nt picture it in my mind.

Tords the end of the book it was a little bit better

[Rey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny, mysterious and suspensful book. Its about a girl named Hurculeah and she goes and solves mysteries.

[Macy Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an ok book. I liked that it had killing and murder in it. My favorite part was when a person shot the guy and it hit his hat and almost killed him.