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Knightley & Son #3
3 of a Kind
Who will hold the winning hand? Sherlock meets Ocean's Eleven in this wickedly funny, action-packed crime caper.
Darkus Knightley is used to expecting the unexpected. An extraordinary solver of crimes, with immense powers of deduction, and regularly found bedecked in tweed, Darkus is anything but the average 13-year-old. But he is the person to call when strange goings-on are afoot!
Despite trying to leave his detective ways behind to lead a normal teenage life, when his father's loyal housekeeper, Bogna, goes missing, Darkus must return to the family fold and follow the clues to America and the bright lights of Las Vegas. Alongside his father, Alan, and stepsister, Tilly, Darkus must once again face the deadly criminal organisation the Combination – and this time, all bets are off. With danger at every turn, Knightley and Son will need an ace or two up their sleeves in order to win this game. Will the odds be in our detective duo's favour? Or will this be the Knightleys' final roll of the dice?
Perfect for fans of Sherlock, this thrilling crime adventure will keep you on the edge of your seats.
Darkus Knightley is used to expecting the unexpected. An extraordinary solver of crimes, with immense powers of deduction, and regularly found bedecked in tweed, Darkus is anything but the average 13-year-old. But he is the person to call when strange goings-on are afoot!
Despite trying to leave his detective ways behind to lead a normal teenage life, when his father's loyal housekeeper, Bogna, goes missing, Darkus must return to the family fold and follow the clues to America and the bright lights of Las Vegas. Alongside his father, Alan, and stepsister, Tilly, Darkus must once again face the deadly criminal organisation the Combination – and this time, all bets are off. With danger at every turn, Knightley and Son will need an ace or two up their sleeves in order to win this game. Will the odds be in our detective duo's favour? Or will this be the Knightleys' final roll of the dice?
Perfect for fans of Sherlock, this thrilling crime adventure will keep you on the edge of your seats.
- GenresMysteryMiddle Grade
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2016
6 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 18, 2018
This middle school grade book is the third of a trilogy, and as seems to be the case lately, I had not read the first two books. As is also the case usually, I was able to understand the characters and their relationships fairly quickly.
Darkus Knightly is the kid detective and working with his father, Alan, and stepsister, Tilly try to find and capture the criminal organization known cryptically as the COMBINATION. Intriguing.
The plot was good, and the twists and turns keep the reader trying to guess what will happen next.
The ending was surprising and quite good, even without my knowing what occurred in the previous books.
I won this Advance Uncorrected Proof book from a Goodreads giveaway.
Darkus Knightly is the kid detective and working with his father, Alan, and stepsister, Tilly try to find and capture the criminal organization known cryptically as the COMBINATION. Intriguing.
The plot was good, and the twists and turns keep the reader trying to guess what will happen next.
The ending was surprising and quite good, even without my knowing what occurred in the previous books.
I won this Advance Uncorrected Proof book from a Goodreads giveaway.
March 10, 2019
Good book for 12 - 13 year old boys. Darkus and Tilly travel to the USA with Knightley senor to rescue his housekeeper Bogna. Uncle Bill follows behind to help find his love and save the trio in the desert.
August 8, 2017
Probably my least favorite in the series.
The plot just wasn't as strong or intriguing as previous books.
The plot just wasn't as strong or intriguing as previous books.
January 31, 2020
A very good book suddenly got me intrested in this series
August 12, 2021
What a strange read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite not reading the first two and the characters were complex yet simple and the plot was enjoyable.
February 5, 2016
I received a print copy of this title from Bloomsbury Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis:
While Darkus is trying to put detective work behind him, Bogna goes missing after leaving for an internet date. The Knightley's will be drawn across the pond, through desert and classified areas before they get to the bottom of the mysterious game in which Bogna is a pawn.
Three of a Kind takes on a “road trip” format, with Darkus, Tilly and Alan jetting off to the USA in pursuit of housekeeper Bogna, who it appears has been kidnapped by the Combination in order to force the Knightley’s into some bizarre kind of game. Excepting Clive, who I would be quite happy to whack in the face with a brick, the characters hardly irritated me at all throughout this book. Win! The road trip element was also an interesting touch, with some of the places visited – Survival Town, particularly – laden with the potential for imaginative exploration. Unfortunately, not a lot of time was devoted to each place – the Knightley’s are on a time-sensitive chase, after all – but again, the plot seemed quite focused and featured enough variety in setting to keep the reader on their toes. I was quite impressed with the action-packed, firecracker ending of this one, and was a bit sorry that the same level of adventure couldn’t have come into the story earlier. We also get to find out more about Tilly’s mother in this one, with some quite shocking secrets revealed that cause Tilly no end of identity-crises.
The biggest problem that I have with these books is that there isn’t enough suspense woven into the story to keep me turning the pages. I feel like the foundations are all there to have a brilliant series of books, but the actual stories are lacking in atmosphere. Perhaps the amount of attention that has gone into creating quirky characters (and every character in these books has at least one obvious quirk) has been at the expense of developing a pervading sense of menace and danger in the plot.
Ten Second Synopsis:
While Darkus is trying to put detective work behind him, Bogna goes missing after leaving for an internet date. The Knightley's will be drawn across the pond, through desert and classified areas before they get to the bottom of the mysterious game in which Bogna is a pawn.
Three of a Kind takes on a “road trip” format, with Darkus, Tilly and Alan jetting off to the USA in pursuit of housekeeper Bogna, who it appears has been kidnapped by the Combination in order to force the Knightley’s into some bizarre kind of game. Excepting Clive, who I would be quite happy to whack in the face with a brick, the characters hardly irritated me at all throughout this book. Win! The road trip element was also an interesting touch, with some of the places visited – Survival Town, particularly – laden with the potential for imaginative exploration. Unfortunately, not a lot of time was devoted to each place – the Knightley’s are on a time-sensitive chase, after all – but again, the plot seemed quite focused and featured enough variety in setting to keep the reader on their toes. I was quite impressed with the action-packed, firecracker ending of this one, and was a bit sorry that the same level of adventure couldn’t have come into the story earlier. We also get to find out more about Tilly’s mother in this one, with some quite shocking secrets revealed that cause Tilly no end of identity-crises.
The biggest problem that I have with these books is that there isn’t enough suspense woven into the story to keep me turning the pages. I feel like the foundations are all there to have a brilliant series of books, but the actual stories are lacking in atmosphere. Perhaps the amount of attention that has gone into creating quirky characters (and every character in these books has at least one obvious quirk) has been at the expense of developing a pervading sense of menace and danger in the plot.
November 3, 2016
3 of a Kind is the third book in the Knightley & Son series of middle grade novels by Rohan Gavin. This is a series that should be read in order, especially since the conflicts of this story are directly related to the previous mysteries. Darkus Knightley is used to expecting the unexpected. An extraordinary solver of crimes, with immense powers of deduction, and regularly found bedecked in tweed, Darkus is anything but the average 13-year-old. But he is the person to call when strange goings-on are afoot! Despite trying to leave his detective ways behind to lead a normal teenage life, when his father's loyal housekeeper, Bogna, goes missing, Darkus must return to the family fold and follow the clues to America and the bright lights of Las Vegas. Alongside his father, Alan, and stepsister, Tilly, Darkus must once again face the deadly criminal organization the Combination and this time, all bets are off. With danger at every turn, Knightley and Son will need an ace or two up their sleeves in order to win this game.
3 of a Kind is full of mystery and character development. Darkus is not really interested in the family business after what happened in K-9, but is drawn into another mystery after the well being of other people is at stake. There is plenty of drama between Darkus, his father, and Tilly. There is also some other character conflicts, like those surrounding Clive and Bogna. The big mystery is as complex and dangerous as the other books, but it seemed a little over the top and more confusing. I still enjoyed the characters and the wit inherent in the story, like in the previous book. It just seemed to be a little more, intangible maybe? I liked the inclusion of Tilly's technical skills and some of the twists. There was a lot of wonderful, I just did not connect with the story as much as I expected to.
3 of a Kind is a interesting read and left me with a balance of closure and open curiosity of what might be coming next. A good, solid read, but not quite as good as the first two installments in the series.
3 of a Kind is full of mystery and character development. Darkus is not really interested in the family business after what happened in K-9, but is drawn into another mystery after the well being of other people is at stake. There is plenty of drama between Darkus, his father, and Tilly. There is also some other character conflicts, like those surrounding Clive and Bogna. The big mystery is as complex and dangerous as the other books, but it seemed a little over the top and more confusing. I still enjoyed the characters and the wit inherent in the story, like in the previous book. It just seemed to be a little more, intangible maybe? I liked the inclusion of Tilly's technical skills and some of the twists. There was a lot of wonderful, I just did not connect with the story as much as I expected to.
3 of a Kind is a interesting read and left me with a balance of closure and open curiosity of what might be coming next. A good, solid read, but not quite as good as the first two installments in the series.
May 6, 2021
We picked up this paranormal detective series at the library, after a recent re-release with the new cover art. My son and daughter devoured them.
The context: Darkus' father, a private-detective in London who veers toward the paranormal for explanations of weird events, has been in a coma for four years. Darkus reads his father's case files to feel closer to him, while he's sleeping, and learns the family business. Then his father wakes, and they're on the hunt for a shadowy, paranormal group called The Combination.
Each mystery is a bit different, with a slight twist at the end that could be explained rationally or could be paranormal. We really enjoyed the second book, K-9, but I won't say exactly why...it would spoil the read! This book has a particularly dark tone, and if your MG reader is sensitive about dogs, I'd skip it.
The third one is set in LA and the desert southwest, where Darkus and his Dad meet their American "clones," or close enough to it, track The Combination to Area 51, and end up in Las Vegas, where his father ends up in a coma, again.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com
The context: Darkus' father, a private-detective in London who veers toward the paranormal for explanations of weird events, has been in a coma for four years. Darkus reads his father's case files to feel closer to him, while he's sleeping, and learns the family business. Then his father wakes, and they're on the hunt for a shadowy, paranormal group called The Combination.
Each mystery is a bit different, with a slight twist at the end that could be explained rationally or could be paranormal. We really enjoyed the second book, K-9, but I won't say exactly why...it would spoil the read! This book has a particularly dark tone, and if your MG reader is sensitive about dogs, I'd skip it.
The third one is set in LA and the desert southwest, where Darkus and his Dad meet their American "clones," or close enough to it, track The Combination to Area 51, and end up in Las Vegas, where his father ends up in a coma, again.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com
February 10, 2016
Amazing story this book can be read by all ages. It was a fabulous gift from the author and I thank this author Rohan Gavin for the privilege and pleasure of reading this wonderful book. A fabulous modern day detective story this book had danger, action, & 2 scotts men with there colourful language. A truly exquisite mystery in which it had you on the edge of your seat a thrilling delight. This book I would be delighted to recommend to my friends again my thanks to the wonderful author Rohan Gavin for a true pleasure to read this amazing book so to all happy reaing from wee me. xx♥☺
Want to read
March 22, 2016I haven't read this book yet but - what is with the new cover design? It's doing absolutely nothing for me and it is also going to ruin my collection. I have the first two books in their old black covers and this one is going to stand out like a sore thumb. Disappointed.
But I still want to read the book.
But I still want to read the book.
January 19, 2016
I recently won this book in the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.
Totally different from what I usually read, but I did enjoy. I shall now pass this book on to my younger brother who has been making it quite obvious that he wants to read it.
Totally different from what I usually read, but I did enjoy. I shall now pass this book on to my younger brother who has been making it quite obvious that he wants to read it.
January 16, 2016
Gave this to my younger sister to read.
She said she loved it.
She said she loved it.
Want to read
September 4, 2016I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2016
ARC from NetGalley
Not my favorite of the series.
Not my favorite of the series.
January 6, 2017
A great book. I can't wait for the next one.
August 29, 2021
Amazing adventures of a 13 yr old boy/inquiry agent working with his Dad, step-sister and shadow government agency. Some rather gruesome bits though. Very sad that Wilbur died.
April 28, 2017
This one gets crazy and goes to America. Glad it ends with a bang. Still a lot of missing pieces.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews