Hauntings And Heists (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

Mysterious Four #1

by Dan Poblocki

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Viola Hart, a newcomer in Moon Hollow, joins forces with Rosie Smithers, Sylvester Cho, and Woodrow Knox to solve a variety of mysteries in six clues or fewer, including a sea monster, thefts, and a spooky basement.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy

176 pages, Library Binding

First published May 1, 2011

About the author

Author of The Stone Child, The Nightmarys, The Ghost of Graylock, and the Mysterious Four series,The Haunting of Gabriel Ashe, and The Book of Bad Things.

Reviews

[Dan Poblocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in The Mysterious Four series. I'm really excited to share this one! One thing I learned while writing this book is that coming up with mysteries that people can solve along with the characters is actually really difficult -- sort of like juggling.

Of the fourteen mystery stories, there should be something for everyone... River monsters, haunted houses, swindles, psychics, and thieves.

It was lots of fun creating these characters and putting them in creepy situations. Look for the next books coming out this year: Clocks & Robbers and Monsters & Mischief.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was different than I thought it was going to be (although to be fair, I mostly just saw the cover and thought it would be fun). It's definitely more short stories or mysteries (kind of like Encyclopedia Brown) than actual story. I like the characters and the mysteries were interesting enough though.

[Ipsita Bose · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨ This was such a perfect atmospheric read. I'll admit it's a bit late to read this right now but nothing screams Winter more than a spooky middle grade, a warm blanket and a piping hot cup of coffee for me!

[Nam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like the part about the twins, as the vast majority of twins that I have met are nothing alike, but I really enjoyed the several clues and the storyline.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories the kids shared and solved together. There was so much variety to the kinds of mysteries they encountered. I really appreciated that the clues are all there and readers can discover the answers along with Viola, Sylvester, Rosie, and Woodrow.

I presumed this would be a more straightforward, linear narrative where I got to know the characters more directly rather than through their mystery stories. That doesn't make this style bad- it's just different from my expectation.

Young readers who love solving mysteries and puzzles will enjoy this series.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for the fourth grade set! Viola has just moved to Moon Hollow and is lucky enough to find 3 bright, inquisitive friends right away. The kids create a club called the Question Marks, they meet regularly and tell each other about the day to day mysteries they find and use questions to solve them. Each chapter ends with a question for the reader to solve.
Lots of fun.
I think it would read aloud just fine in classrooms and families.

[Julesmarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastically fun! The characters are likable, the "mysteries" are fascinating and realistic and delightfully varied.

My favorite thing: that the questions the kids are asking themselves as they go about solving their mysteries are printed in bold and followed by a page break so the reader can attempt to solve along with The Question Marks.

I'm delighted I picked up two copies of this, that way I can keep one for my classroom library!

[Icy-Cobwebs-Crossing-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading for middle-graders on looking beneath the surface of life, of learning observation and deductive thinking. Some wisdom here for adults, too-we're never too old to learn these skills, nor to understand the value of pooling resources and that sometimes others have parts of the puzzle to add.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this with my 12 year old so that she could take an AR test on it at school. It was a cute little book. A group of four new friends solve various mysteries around the neighborhood. It was fun trying to figure out the clues. I would probably recommend this for ages 9 or 10.

[Marge]

fun read - each chapter a new mystery for the four to solve - who threw the vegetables in the trash?

[hunger games and K POP LAVA!!!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was ok i liked all the clues and questions

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this was a very good book with all the descrpitstion... also beacause i love mysterys.

[Brandy Dugger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story for young readers. The mini mysteries really help kids be aware of the things going on around them.

[Louanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE Poblocki, but prefer the older characters such as in Ghost of Graylock and Night Marys

[Parthiv Adeshra · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good