Diamondback Cave

Wesley Mackey #3

by K.L. Fogg, David L. Walker (Narrator)

Imogene Vandergrift wants out of jail. And she'll say or do just about anything to make sure she can recover the millions in diamonds she has hidden away. Television reality-adventure star Jack Mackey wants nothing to do with Imogene—especially after what she has already put his son Wesley through. Jack has assured Wes that the evil woman who pretended for years to be his mother will remain behind bars. But that was before Alex Harris mysteriously disappeared. Now the rules have changed. Wesley and his best friend Amanda decide it is up to them to find Alex, Amanda's soon-to-be stepfather. A little covert detective work leads them to Diamondback Cave. Although Imogene's diamonds are hidden inside, it is named for the rattlesnakes that infest the black hole in the ground. However, the cavern also holds other dangers—henchman who may be working for, or against, Imogene. Can Wesley's friends and family survive these new attacks from Imogene Vandergrift? Will Amanda find Alex before it's too late for him to become part of her family? Will you be able to catch your breath as you dive into Diamondback Cave?

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Adventure, Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Lds Fiction, Mystery

376 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

K.L. Fogg is a former television news anchor, reporter, and talk-show host. She received her bachelor's degree in communications from Brigham Young University, and studied for her master's in journalism at the University of Missouri, where she worked for NBC 8. She is married and has three children.

Reviews

[Emmalynne Crist · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to find out that this book had been released! I absolutely loved the first two books in this series, even though they are children's books, they are amazing. I have this series as an audio series and the narrator is wonderful, David Walker. I really enjoy KL Fogg's writing style, but feel she crammed too much stuff into this last book. I think she could've written 2 very great novels with the information she shoved into this one. All in all it was a wonderful series that I will defiantly read again.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the last one in the series so I was sad when it ended. I loved it though and hope the author writes more books!!!!

[Miriam Mackay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Major let down. I did not like the plot device of Maggie losing her memory to create conflict. It felt awkward, and forced. The characters did not feel true to themselves and the story did not provide a good ending to a trilogy that started out so strong and intriguing.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it more every time

The first and second book are my favorites but this one toes things up nicely. There's still some humor and I like the twists.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping. Loved all 3 in the series

[Megan Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. I've read it multiple times. The book's climax is way more tense than I remembered it being, but its a very satisfactory ending. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

[Shaun Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILERS:

This series provides some delightfully surprising symbolism that I thoroughly enjoyed. When they lost the diamonds in the cave, then Maggie lost her memory, I was struck by the parallelism of those two events. Just like the briefcase of priceless diamonds that tumbled down the abyss, Maggie lost what was most precious to her: the new life she had began with Jack, Westley and her little children.

When Jack retrieves the diamonds, Maggie retrieves her memories.

I also loved the climax on the cliffs overlooking the place where it all started. As far as story line goes, this book kept me guessing. I really didn't know what Jack was going to do about Imogene.

The characters were delightful. I was very impressed by the way the story washed over me in layers, little by little. The villainy of Imogene was very believable too, and all the more chilling because of her emotional manipulation of characters.

Powerfully told, engrossing, and meaningful.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited that this book came out! I absolutely loved the first two books! I finished it in two days! It would've been faster, had I had more time to read it. I loved the twists of the plot in the book. The beginning was pretty predictable, but I like it when I can predict it. The rest of the book just twisted and turned constantly! I thought one thing was going to happen, and the exact opposite happend! This book was wonderful, but I could've been better. The editor must not have gone through this very well, because there were lots of grammar and punctuation mistakes. Most books have one or two, this had quite a few. In the end, this book was really good and I would reccommend it to just about anyone!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY CRAP THIS ONE WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I liked this one just as much as the first and second!!!!!! This one was the most unpredictable, and it had a lot of awesome adventure. When Maggie lost her memory, and Wesley stepped on a Stonefish, and Teddy died, and Maria got married, and all of that awesomeness, it was amazingly incredible, unpredictable, the whole nine yards. This is one of my all time favorite series, books, etc. I read it in a day, and just loved it. The books ahev so much packed into them, that you wonder, after everything you read about in the summmary, if it will ever end, and you're shocked at how much you have left and wonder what will happen and how it will end. It was miraculous, I just loved this book and I love the series.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the almost unknown series Serpent Tide, by K.L. Fogg (equally unknown), Diamondback Cave appears to me as an attempt to draw in an older crowd. The previous two books were aimed at readers at a third to sixth grade reading level. While Diamondback Cave's style remains ideal for this level, the plot line seems a poor attempt to create drama and romance. As far as I can tell, all this has done is make the younger readers skip over the "gushy" parts.
In all, this is a good book and necessary to finish the story presented by the first two books, but I really only recommend this for young readers and those looking for a quick read.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

One places says series is Serpent Tide series and one places Wesley Mackey series. Either way I like the series. Full of action, dramas, interesting characters and just a well told story.

Alex has disappeared right before his wedding to Maria. Wesley thinks its more than cold feet that made Alex text his breakup. No one believes him. So Alex and Amanda decide to try and find him. They find him and get kidnapped themselves.

Missing diamonds in a old cave system with lots of bats, snakes and other wild life.
It goes from one dangerous adventure to another.
clean read. Exciting right to the last page.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imogene Vandergift, an evil women who pretended to be Wes’s mother for years, is desperate to get out of jail and recover the millions in diamonds she has hidden. Wes’s real father, television star Jack Mackey assured Wes she will stay behind bars. But then Wes’s friend Amanda who helped Wes in book one, soon-to-be stepfather Alex Harris disappears. Wes and Amanda decide they are on the case. They track Alex to a cave this is known to be infested with rattlesnakes. What are they going to do?

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book concludes Fogg's trilogy, and is a little bit of a change of pace from the first two. The first half of the book feels like the previous books did, but then things are resolved and the family has to deal with some psychological issues rather than the physical dangers they have been through. It was interesting, but unexpected.

It's a clean, fun, exciting series, and would be a good book for a parent to read with their elementary school-aged child.

Rating: PG-13 for some intense content.

[Anneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this (the third) book before I read 'Widow's Revenge' (the sequel to the first book) and I still understood most of what had happened from references and clues. It's not like Harry Potter where they flat out tell you what has happened before, which is buggery.

I liked this book, but it did get quite predictable. The first book of the series is good but wanting a sequel. But having not read the second book, I don't know whether this was a good addition to the trilogy that K.L. Fogg has created so far.

[brittanyb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I read this one first out of all the others even though it is the last book, but it didnt give away too much about the other books and it gives enough information to know what they are talking about! It is adventureous, mysterious, and a little bit romantic. It was quite a thriller, that made you want to keep reading on and on to the end. By the end you will wish there was another book to read.

[Tiffiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this a few years ago and loved it. 2012 listened to it with my son and he liked it (David Walker is the performer - wonderful!). I think there were some things that were too mature for him (he's almost 9) about marriage and relationships but the overall message at the end was great for him, ie forgiveness is powerful.

[Ketra Remund · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thrilling conclusion to the trilogy. The book opens with a lot of action and excitement. The last half of the book turns slightly philosphical as the one of the hero's has an internal struggle he has to overcome. Sort of soap-opera-ish from the middle to the end. This one has some more grown-up ideas in it than the first two. A quick read. My sons really liked it.

[Lisa the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of the trilogy. It got pretty convoluted and even a bit cheesy at times.

I did like the resolution, which I won't share because I don't want to spoil the book.

I did think that the wrap up "final scene" after the main resolution was pretty lame and the last two or three pages ridiculously cheesy

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again I loved this book it was really sad at some parts and really funny at others. I've really come to love the characters of these books and I'm sure I'll enjoy them over and over time and time again. I'd highly recommend this series (and have) to anyone who loves good family morales, funny characters, and a never ending adventure.

[Shaelee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book, was very... Hard to explain. Like come on. That happens once in a million years. When she got locked in an airtight vault and then a safe. Really? It just had a lot going on at once. But it did keep you on your toes, making sure you were paying attention because you never knew what was going to happen.

[Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great series and I would recommend them, however the first was my favorite. The second and third were good but I really think the third one was dragging about halfway through. The climax came really quick and then it went on and on but I would still read it again and it is an age-apropriate book that kids could read and really enjoy!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh my goodness. theses books are adicting. i feel like i am living in this book. i turn each page with no idea what is going to happen. i am strangly attached to the characters and their pain makes me wince. you must read

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book has been targeted for elementary grade readers, I found the book captivating and highly engaging! I began to find myself truly concerned for the safety of the characters, and unable to put the book down.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this series by K L Fogg. She is a delightful person as well, having the opportunity of meeting her. This book transcends middle reader. It's a light read that keeps you hooked throughout. Nice escape!

[Keira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series. I have to admit that it was not quite as grabbing to me as the first two books. I enjoyed it, but didn't really get to the "can't put it down" stage until almost the very end of the book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this three book series! It is definitely young adult...the main character is 15 years old in this third book. All three books are full of fun adventures and twists and turns. You love the good guys and hate the bad guys....just an exciting, quick-paced adventure read!

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third and final enstallment in the Serpent Tide series was just as much fun as the first two. The characters have matured and grown as they try to out manuever the notories Imogene Vandergrift. A fun read that is very enjoyable.

[Spransys6 · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book, Serpent Tide, was very entertaining. Book Two, Widow's Revenge, was not as good. This one, Diamondback Cave, was ridiculous. That many terrible things could not happen to one family. Try again, Ms. Fogg.

[Cj Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good because it was action at the beginning and it kept the rest of the previous books going. The thing I did not like was the ending and it dragged on about how one of the characters "Maggie" lost her memory.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing conclusion to the trilogy! It is so suspenseful and keeps you wondering and hoping that it turns out okay. It is full of surprises and you can never guess what will happen in each new chapter.