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Devlin Quick Mysteries #1
Into the Lion's Den
Watch out, Nancy Drew—Devlin Quick is smart, strong, and she will DEFINITELY close the case in this thrilling new mystery series for girls and boys from New York Times bestselling author Linda Fairstein
Someone has stolen a page from a rare book in the New York Public Library. At least, that’s what Devlin’s friend Liza thinks she’s seen, but she can’t be sure. Any other kid might not see a crime here, but Devlin Quick is courageous and confident, and she knows she has to bring this man to justice—even if it means breathlessly racing around the city to collect evidence. But who is this thief? And what could the page—an old map—possibly lead to? With her wits, persistence, and the help of New York City’s finest (and, okay, a little bit of help from her police commissioner mother, too), Dev and her friends piece the clues together to uncover a mystery that’s bigger than anyone expected—and more fun, too.
With all of the heart-pounding excitement that made her internationally bestselling Alexandra Cooper series a hit, Linda Fairstein paves the way for another unstoppable heroine . . . even if she is only twelve.
Someone has stolen a page from a rare book in the New York Public Library. At least, that’s what Devlin’s friend Liza thinks she’s seen, but she can’t be sure. Any other kid might not see a crime here, but Devlin Quick is courageous and confident, and she knows she has to bring this man to justice—even if it means breathlessly racing around the city to collect evidence. But who is this thief? And what could the page—an old map—possibly lead to? With her wits, persistence, and the help of New York City’s finest (and, okay, a little bit of help from her police commissioner mother, too), Dev and her friends piece the clues together to uncover a mystery that’s bigger than anyone expected—and more fun, too.
With all of the heart-pounding excitement that made her internationally bestselling Alexandra Cooper series a hit, Linda Fairstein paves the way for another unstoppable heroine . . . even if she is only twelve.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2016
42 people are currently reading
1242 people want to read
About the author
Linda Fairstein
101 books1,605 followersLinda Fairstein (born 1947) is one of America's foremost legal experts on crimes of violence against women and children. She served as head of the sex crimes unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's office from 1976 until 2002 and is the author of a series of novels featuring Manhattan prosecutor Alexandra Cooper.
Like Fairstein, Alex ('Coop') Cooper is in charge of the Special Victims Unit of the Office. She works closely with NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. The 17th book in her best-selling series - DEVIL'S BRIDGE - launches in paperback in June, 2016. The 18th novel - KILLER LOOK - debuts on July 26th.
This year, Fairstein will debut a new series for Middle Grade readers - 8-12 years old. Her kid sleuth, Devlin Quick, appears in INTO THE LION'S DEN in November, 2016. The series is an homage to Nancy Drew, whose books inspired Linda's two careers - in crime fiction and in the law.
Ms. Fairstein is an honors graduate of Vassar College (1969) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1972). She joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 1972 as an Assistant District Attorney. She was promoted to the head of the sex crimes unit in 1976. During her tenure, she prosecuted several highly publicized cases, including the "Preppy Murder" case against Robert Chambers in 1986.
Linda Fairstein left the District Attorney's office in 2002, and has continued to consult, write, lecture and serve as a sex crimes expert for a wide variety of print and television media outlets, including the major networks, CNN, MSNBC among others. Ms. Fairstein is often called to provide her opinion on high profile prosecutions including: Michael Jackson's molestation charges in 2004, Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charges, and Scott Peterson's trial. She is also a frequent speaker on issues surrounding domestic abuse.
Ms. Fairstein lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard with her husband, Michael Goldberg. Her novels draw on Ms. Fairstein's legal expertise as well as her knowledge of and affection for the rich history of the city of New York.
Series:
* Alexandra Cooper Mystery
Like Fairstein, Alex ('Coop') Cooper is in charge of the Special Victims Unit of the Office. She works closely with NYPD detectives Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace. The 17th book in her best-selling series - DEVIL'S BRIDGE - launches in paperback in June, 2016. The 18th novel - KILLER LOOK - debuts on July 26th.
This year, Fairstein will debut a new series for Middle Grade readers - 8-12 years old. Her kid sleuth, Devlin Quick, appears in INTO THE LION'S DEN in November, 2016. The series is an homage to Nancy Drew, whose books inspired Linda's two careers - in crime fiction and in the law.
Ms. Fairstein is an honors graduate of Vassar College (1969) and the University of Virginia School of Law (1972). She joined the Manhattan District Attorney's office in 1972 as an Assistant District Attorney. She was promoted to the head of the sex crimes unit in 1976. During her tenure, she prosecuted several highly publicized cases, including the "Preppy Murder" case against Robert Chambers in 1986.
Linda Fairstein left the District Attorney's office in 2002, and has continued to consult, write, lecture and serve as a sex crimes expert for a wide variety of print and television media outlets, including the major networks, CNN, MSNBC among others. Ms. Fairstein is often called to provide her opinion on high profile prosecutions including: Michael Jackson's molestation charges in 2004, Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charges, and Scott Peterson's trial. She is also a frequent speaker on issues surrounding domestic abuse.
Ms. Fairstein lives in Manhattan and on Martha's Vineyard with her husband, Michael Goldberg. Her novels draw on Ms. Fairstein's legal expertise as well as her knowledge of and affection for the rich history of the city of New York.
Series:
* Alexandra Cooper Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
July 30, 2018
A few things annoyed me in this book:
1. Bad librarian representation - Librarians in this novel seem unhelpful and unknowledgeable. I've also never known a librarian in my life (and as a librarian, I know more librarians than most people) that would yell at you if you said you saw someone doing something wrong, like ripping a page from a book. We have a degree in finding things. We will do an investigation.
2. There is obviously security at the library. Even a basic public library in a poor Ohio town like where I work has cameras. You want me to believe someone sat in an open table at a rare book library and ripped a page out and no one saw it on camera afterward? No book thief involved in rare book theft would ever pull this trick. There is a reason most rare book thieves are librarians, archivists, curators, professors at the institutions they steal from, and other insiders. In fact, read about the Carnegie Library's recent bust just last week! The thief was an archivist.
3. Good police forces and librarians don't betray information about people to others. There are extensive privacy policies in place to prevent 12-year-old sleuths from knowing what cat books I'm checking out from the library, and a rare book library is no different. A good (in an ethics or professional sense) police officer or detective would not tell any non-employee someone's address or arrest record.
4. It's unclear to me what time period this takes place in. Maybe I missed something? But I found myself being frustrated as they discussed software the police had access to but couldn't just google someone's address and find a picture on linkedin or something.
5. Sometimes it seemed like the author was trying to create a dichotomy between Liza and Dev as the stupid and smart one. Liza had some moments, but I felt like she was portrayed as a bumbling idiot who just couldn't get it.
1. Bad librarian representation - Librarians in this novel seem unhelpful and unknowledgeable. I've also never known a librarian in my life (and as a librarian, I know more librarians than most people) that would yell at you if you said you saw someone doing something wrong, like ripping a page from a book. We have a degree in finding things. We will do an investigation.
2. There is obviously security at the library. Even a basic public library in a poor Ohio town like where I work has cameras. You want me to believe someone sat in an open table at a rare book library and ripped a page out and no one saw it on camera afterward? No book thief involved in rare book theft would ever pull this trick. There is a reason most rare book thieves are librarians, archivists, curators, professors at the institutions they steal from, and other insiders. In fact, read about the Carnegie Library's recent bust just last week! The thief was an archivist.
3. Good police forces and librarians don't betray information about people to others. There are extensive privacy policies in place to prevent 12-year-old sleuths from knowing what cat books I'm checking out from the library, and a rare book library is no different. A good (in an ethics or professional sense) police officer or detective would not tell any non-employee someone's address or arrest record.
4. It's unclear to me what time period this takes place in. Maybe I missed something? But I found myself being frustrated as they discussed software the police had access to but couldn't just google someone's address and find a picture on linkedin or something.
5. Sometimes it seemed like the author was trying to create a dichotomy between Liza and Dev as the stupid and smart one. Liza had some moments, but I felt like she was portrayed as a bumbling idiot who just couldn't get it.
September 23, 2021
It was a cute mystery. Too young for me though. I think my daughter might enjoy it in a few more years if she develops a taste for mysteries. Lots of fun info about libraries, and police procedures, and New York.
How I choose my rating:
1* Didn't like it at all. These are rare as I usually just don't finish any book I dislike this much.
2** Didn't like it. Again usually DNF if I dislike it this much, but occasionally I feel it still has potential and I try to stick with it to the end.
3*** I liked it. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable enough. It is unlikely I'll ever reread it but I might finish the series if it is a part of one.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this at some point, and I will almost always finish the series if part of one.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will probably reread this and possibly more than once. I will definitely finish the series if it's part of one.
How I choose my rating:
1* Didn't like it at all. These are rare as I usually just don't finish any book I dislike this much.
2** Didn't like it. Again usually DNF if I dislike it this much, but occasionally I feel it still has potential and I try to stick with it to the end.
3*** I liked it. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable enough. It is unlikely I'll ever reread it but I might finish the series if it is a part of one.
4**** I really liked this book. Maybe not a work of genius, but highly entertaining. I might reread this at some point, and I will almost always finish the series if part of one.
5***** I loved this book. I found little to no issues with it at all. I will probably reread this and possibly more than once. I will definitely finish the series if it's part of one.
July 10, 2017
Ugh. This might be the last time I take book recommendations from a middle schooler. For a book that takes place entirely in our world, with no magic or fantastic elements, it was thoroughly unbelievable. The entire mystery revolves around the main character's friend kinda-sorta, not really, seeing someone steal a page from a library book. Instead of going to the librarian, the friend chases the possible book destroyer out of the library where she runs into the main character, who decides this is a worthwhile mystery and sets about using all of the resources of the NYPD to track down this person and the possibly stolen page. Oh, her mom's the head of the NYPD, so naturally Dev knows absolutely everything about policing, because all children know everything their parents do about their jobs. *eye roll* All characters were really one-dimensional, and Dev was such a Mary Sue. It was like reading Nancy Drew, but not as interesting.
February 9, 2017
***This review has also been posted on Xpresso Reads
Written in the vein of books like Chasing Vermeer, Into the Lion’s Den will appeal to all the kids (and not kids), who love fun mysteries riddled with historical artefacts. As someone who grew up on Blue Balliett’s books, I was immediately taken in by the synopsis of this one and ready to devour it. Into the Lion’s Den is a fun read that will take you on an interesting chase through the streets of New York. It features some kick-ass ladies you cannot help but look up to and a kick-ass MC who is sometimes a little miss know-it-all but that’s okay because her friend reminds her when she goes overboard with assuming that she is the only one who knows all the things. This book is set in a library as a plus so my fellow bibliophiles will feel right at home :’) My only complain is that I wish that the characters felt less trope-y. Tropes are not necessarily a bad thing but in this case, I think the book would have benefited from better rounded characters. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this one to peeps!
Note that I received a finished copy of this book for review.
Written in the vein of books like Chasing Vermeer, Into the Lion’s Den will appeal to all the kids (and not kids), who love fun mysteries riddled with historical artefacts. As someone who grew up on Blue Balliett’s books, I was immediately taken in by the synopsis of this one and ready to devour it. Into the Lion’s Den is a fun read that will take you on an interesting chase through the streets of New York. It features some kick-ass ladies you cannot help but look up to and a kick-ass MC who is sometimes a little miss know-it-all but that’s okay because her friend reminds her when she goes overboard with assuming that she is the only one who knows all the things. This book is set in a library as a plus so my fellow bibliophiles will feel right at home :’) My only complain is that I wish that the characters felt less trope-y. Tropes are not necessarily a bad thing but in this case, I think the book would have benefited from better rounded characters. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this one to peeps!
Note that I received a finished copy of this book for review.
February 16, 2017
i don't know the formula for kid's mysteries having only read one Hardy Boys and no Nancy Drew. if this follows the formula, i apologize for the review.
Bratty, self-involved kid, daughter of the NYPD commissioner involves herself in a mystery which involves accusing her step sister's boyfriend of being a thief and lying to an NY Public special-librarian. ending up reading three chapters beyond where i gave up because i was stuck on a bus w/only this to read. television would have been better.
Bratty, self-involved kid, daughter of the NYPD commissioner involves herself in a mystery which involves accusing her step sister's boyfriend of being a thief and lying to an NY Public special-librarian. ending up reading three chapters beyond where i gave up because i was stuck on a bus w/only this to read. television would have been better.
October 18, 2018
Thirteen-year-old Devlin Quick has a mystery to solve. Her new friend Liza, an exchange student from South America and map lovers, believes she witnessed a man stealing a map from a rare book at the New York Public Library! When Devlin and Liza tell Devlin's mom, the police commissioner of the City of New York, she promises the girls she'll get on it- eventually. Taking that to mean never, the girls team up with Devlin's best guy friend Booker to solve the mystery.
This story intrigued me because this type of theft is something I learned about in library school. In fact I knew exactly who stole the map and how because this mystery for tweens is based on a real life case of theft. I couldn't put the book down though because I was curious how the kids would catch the thief. It was obvious the kids were going to catch the thief without the help of adults. This isn't a fantasy world where adults are stupid, they just don't really think there's a reason to be concerned. In fact the kids act on suspicion without evidence and when the adults tell the kids it doesn't concern them, the kids go off and try to solve the mystery anyway. I did not like the methods used to solve the mystery.
I really can't stand Devlin. She wants to be like her mom, which is great but she'll never make it if she continues to "bend" the rules and fib a little. Her arrogance knows no bounds. She thinks she knows it all -more than your normal teenager. Devlin manages to gain access to top secret police databases by cajoling and tricking legitimate police officers who have better things to do than entertain young girls. She isn't above stealing, lying, sneaking or doing anything to get what she wants. She coerces her friends into following her lead. Devlin also thinks she knows everything so therefore her way is the right way. Some of the things she does are downright dangerous. I don't care how smart she is or that she goes to private school or is only 13. She needs to be grounded for a very long time! One thing I DO like about her is that she read an introduction to Pride and Prejudice at school and she kinda liked it. It was much better than those three English sisters her mom keeps trying to force her to read! ;-) Devlin's mom has a passion for Romantic and Victorian English authors.
Booker is slightly less arrogant. He's tall for his age and acts more mature than Devlin, leading people to believe he's an adult. I didn't like how he went along with Devlin's plans and puts himself in a potentially dangerous situation.
I liked Liza much better. Liza is more cautious and practical than Devlin. Though the girls have known each other only a few days, Liza isn't afraid to call out Devlin's devious and know-it-all behavior. I like that about her! I also like how she pokes down the American ego by studying early maps that show South America but not North. I really liked her interest in maps. While I prefer books, her passion for maps led her to understand maps shouldn't be removed from books!
Devlin's mom is hardly in the book but I liked her. She's a widow and single mom plus a career woman in a high stakes job. It sounds like she manages OK with the help of Natasha. Natasha is a sweet college student who looks after Devlin like an older sister. Natasha's story sounds horrific and makes me like Devlin's mom even more, but it's not a story a young teen should know the details of just yet. I loved Devlin's grandmother. I was expecting an Emily Gilmore old money sort because she's a Boston brahmin, but instead Devlin's grandmother turned out to be a firecracker. I love her spunky personality and her passion for philanthropy. Obviously anyone on the board of the NYPL is a friend of mine! She does let Devlin get away with a lot but she's a grandmother and not a mom.
The portrayal of librarians in this book is completely inaccurate. First of all, children aren't even allowed in research institutions alone without a parent or teacher. Second, the librarian in this book acts completely stupid. It would be so simple to investigate the children's accusation. Check the call slips, find out which book the patron was using and look through it to see if pages are missing. The clues that are revealed later show why some of this doesn't happen. There's no way kids would be able to do any of the things they do in this novel while visiting the NYPL's map and rare books research library.
This series may appeal specifically to tween and young teen girls 12-14.
This story intrigued me because this type of theft is something I learned about in library school. In fact I knew exactly who stole the map and how because this mystery for tweens is based on a real life case of theft. I couldn't put the book down though because I was curious how the kids would catch the thief. It was obvious the kids were going to catch the thief without the help of adults. This isn't a fantasy world where adults are stupid, they just don't really think there's a reason to be concerned. In fact the kids act on suspicion without evidence and when the adults tell the kids it doesn't concern them, the kids go off and try to solve the mystery anyway. I did not like the methods used to solve the mystery.
I really can't stand Devlin. She wants to be like her mom, which is great but she'll never make it if she continues to "bend" the rules and fib a little. Her arrogance knows no bounds. She thinks she knows it all -more than your normal teenager. Devlin manages to gain access to top secret police databases by cajoling and tricking legitimate police officers who have better things to do than entertain young girls. She isn't above stealing, lying, sneaking or doing anything to get what she wants. She coerces her friends into following her lead. Devlin also thinks she knows everything so therefore her way is the right way. Some of the things she does are downright dangerous. I don't care how smart she is or that she goes to private school or is only 13. She needs to be grounded for a very long time! One thing I DO like about her is that she read an introduction to Pride and Prejudice at school and she kinda liked it. It was much better than those three English sisters her mom keeps trying to force her to read! ;-) Devlin's mom has a passion for Romantic and Victorian English authors.
Booker is slightly less arrogant. He's tall for his age and acts more mature than Devlin, leading people to believe he's an adult. I didn't like how he went along with Devlin's plans and puts himself in a potentially dangerous situation.
I liked Liza much better. Liza is more cautious and practical than Devlin. Though the girls have known each other only a few days, Liza isn't afraid to call out Devlin's devious and know-it-all behavior. I like that about her! I also like how she pokes down the American ego by studying early maps that show South America but not North. I really liked her interest in maps. While I prefer books, her passion for maps led her to understand maps shouldn't be removed from books!
Devlin's mom is hardly in the book but I liked her. She's a widow and single mom plus a career woman in a high stakes job. It sounds like she manages OK with the help of Natasha. Natasha is a sweet college student who looks after Devlin like an older sister. Natasha's story sounds horrific and makes me like Devlin's mom even more, but it's not a story a young teen should know the details of just yet. I loved Devlin's grandmother. I was expecting an Emily Gilmore old money sort because she's a Boston brahmin, but instead Devlin's grandmother turned out to be a firecracker. I love her spunky personality and her passion for philanthropy. Obviously anyone on the board of the NYPL is a friend of mine! She does let Devlin get away with a lot but she's a grandmother and not a mom.
The portrayal of librarians in this book is completely inaccurate. First of all, children aren't even allowed in research institutions alone without a parent or teacher. Second, the librarian in this book acts completely stupid. It would be so simple to investigate the children's accusation. Check the call slips, find out which book the patron was using and look through it to see if pages are missing. The clues that are revealed later show why some of this doesn't happen. There's no way kids would be able to do any of the things they do in this novel while visiting the NYPL's map and rare books research library.
This series may appeal specifically to tween and young teen girls 12-14.
May 7, 2020
Great read!!! This is my only book read by this author, and I love Linda Fairstein already!!!
December 8, 2016
This one was a no brainier for me.......have three grands 12, 13 and 14.......I am a trustee at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh .......,and I am a big fan of Linda Fairstein mystery books. However, the diverse band of amateu sleuths and the map puzzle were the wonderful additions to a smart and crafty mystery. Don't overlook this one for any reader......the grown ups are the color and quirk!
February 12, 2018
Ok, so this book...it has great character development and a pretty great setting description of NYC. But, there are a couple cons. I felt as if the ending didn't exactly give the reader a sense of "I should read until the last page." In fact, I was almost tempted to skip the last couple pages. There is also the fact about Booker. He could have been way more involved in this mystery, but he was assigned the more...well I'll let the book tell you. There was also a kind of strong repeating pattern - nobody believed them even though they had the right culprit for HALF the book. I mean just one adult? Come on. But otherwise it's a pretty good novel I suppose...
Want to read
June 4, 2019Being prejudice, hateful, conniving, disgraceful, a liar, deceitful, scandalous, selfish, malicious, it's not what make you a good lawyer, it makes you Linda Fairstein SMH WHAT ASHAME!!!
December 23, 2022
This was too cute and I'm obsessed with all of these characters.
February 4, 2018
This was an amazing book it's is awesome if you hate it it's kind of hard to see if you like any other mystery book.
June 2, 2019
No way in HELL am I ever going to read or support the prosecutor of The Exonerated Five.
Check out When They See Us on Netflix.
White people, we need to do better. Start by watching this and withdrawing all support as THE LEAST YOU CAN DO.
Check out When They See Us on Netflix.
White people, we need to do better. Start by watching this and withdrawing all support as THE LEAST YOU CAN DO.
March 4, 2018
3.5 stars really. I liked the plot but not the characters . Devlin is bossy while Liza is sometimes dumb and clueless.
August 20, 2017
Devlin Quick, whose single mother is NYC's police commissioner, is hosting a student from Argentina for three weeks of summer school. While working on an assignment in the maps collection at the NYC public library, Liza (I think that was her name) sees a man cut a map from a book. That starts Devlin, Liza, and Dev's friend Booker on a quest to discover the identity of the map thief, and bring him to justice--particularly difficult when no one believes what Liza saw, and when Devlin's mother forbids her to pursue the case when there is no evidence. Devlin believes her friend so ignores her mother's strictures and makes use of all the resources at her disposal, including the resources of the NYCPD. But even if they discover the identity of the thief, is there any way to bring him to justice?
Before I comment on other aspects of the book, I totally have to rant about how completely unbelievable the librarians were in this book. The whole plot is based on librarians blithely allowing Devlin and others to see who their borrowers are and what they borrowed, which goes directly against the Library Bill of Rights--borrower privacy is a key tenet of our profession, and I do not believe any NYC librarian would release that information without a subpoena. I also don't believe that if a librarian heard that a student saw someone cut a map from a valuable book, she would not take the time to check the day's books herself, since Liza knew the exact time and there weren't many books in use at that time. I do not believe that a librarian would instead just bluster and refuse to believe a child. The librarians in this book were in general rude, disbelieving, and unprofessional, and I was highly offended on their behalf at this representation of them.
My other librarian rant is that although I appreciate Devlin loving her middle school librarian, the list of books the librarian gave her just made me so frustrated--every single book was at least 50 years old, and many were far older. "Classics." As a middle school librarian myself, I would never hand a 7th grader a 200 year old "classic" unless they asked for it. I feel that in too many books, authors use "classics" as a shorthand for saying "this kid is smart." Why would someone want to write in the children's literature field without knowing the best recent books that a librarian would actually hand a smart student? At the very least, look at the Newberies. Think Holes, Wonder, Despereaux--so many thousands of better books to hand a student. If you want textual complexity, go for Hardinge or McKinley or Taylor. You know what, ASK A LIBRARIAN to recommend titles. Ok, end of rant.
Librarians aside, I thought this moved along well and had an interesting plot, and I liked the addition of the student from Argentina, and having Dev's mother be police commissioner is a unique and interesting angle for this series. I will admit I did not really like Dev. She is unethical, reckless, impulsive, and pushes her friends into danger. That said, I appreciate that she's the kind of girl who will grow up into a formidable woman who will get things done. So, she's believable and sometimes impressive, but I don't think we'd be friends. I will admit that I did skip over most of the "peril" part of the book, once the mystery was solved.
Before I comment on other aspects of the book, I totally have to rant about how completely unbelievable the librarians were in this book. The whole plot is based on librarians blithely allowing Devlin and others to see who their borrowers are and what they borrowed, which goes directly against the Library Bill of Rights--borrower privacy is a key tenet of our profession, and I do not believe any NYC librarian would release that information without a subpoena. I also don't believe that if a librarian heard that a student saw someone cut a map from a valuable book, she would not take the time to check the day's books herself, since Liza knew the exact time and there weren't many books in use at that time. I do not believe that a librarian would instead just bluster and refuse to believe a child. The librarians in this book were in general rude, disbelieving, and unprofessional, and I was highly offended on their behalf at this representation of them.
My other librarian rant is that although I appreciate Devlin loving her middle school librarian, the list of books the librarian gave her just made me so frustrated--every single book was at least 50 years old, and many were far older. "Classics." As a middle school librarian myself, I would never hand a 7th grader a 200 year old "classic" unless they asked for it. I feel that in too many books, authors use "classics" as a shorthand for saying "this kid is smart." Why would someone want to write in the children's literature field without knowing the best recent books that a librarian would actually hand a smart student? At the very least, look at the Newberies. Think Holes, Wonder, Despereaux--so many thousands of better books to hand a student. If you want textual complexity, go for Hardinge or McKinley or Taylor. You know what, ASK A LIBRARIAN to recommend titles. Ok, end of rant.
Librarians aside, I thought this moved along well and had an interesting plot, and I liked the addition of the student from Argentina, and having Dev's mother be police commissioner is a unique and interesting angle for this series. I will admit I did not really like Dev. She is unethical, reckless, impulsive, and pushes her friends into danger. That said, I appreciate that she's the kind of girl who will grow up into a formidable woman who will get things done. So, she's believable and sometimes impressive, but I don't think we'd be friends. I will admit that I did skip over most of the "peril" part of the book, once the mystery was solved.
May 8, 2020
This is a great book! I don't know why so many people didn't like it, :/
I found it very enjoyable.
I found it very enjoyable.
November 19, 2017
Fairstein, Linda The Devlin Quick Mysteries: Into the Lion’s Den, 312 pgs. Dial, 2016. $18. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G
Devlin and her friend (and exchange student) Liza are at the library when Liza thinks she see’s a man stealing a page out of rare book. Devlin is thrilled –now she can help solve a mystery –something her mom does all the time as the Police Commissioner. With the help of her friend Booker as well –the trio discover the world of antique maps and the theft of them. They find some suspects and get to work investigating.
I am always on the lookout for a good mystery, so with its cover appeal I was excited to read this book. Sadly I didn’t enjoy this read. Its easy to see why Nancy Drew is older –she has some autonomy. But a 12 year investigator must lie and sneak frequently to investigate which doesn’t sit very well with me, as does her use of the police resources –because she has her mother’s position as sway. Liza is her supposed to be Devlin’s friend, and her family is in charge of keeping her safe during her exchange program time –but Devlin knowingly puts her into many dangerous situations. The big bad plot about the stolen maps is kind of boring –as are the suspects. Combine this with overly long and I found myself struggling to finish reading it.
EL -NO. Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Devlin and her friend (and exchange student) Liza are at the library when Liza thinks she see’s a man stealing a page out of rare book. Devlin is thrilled –now she can help solve a mystery –something her mom does all the time as the Police Commissioner. With the help of her friend Booker as well –the trio discover the world of antique maps and the theft of them. They find some suspects and get to work investigating.
I am always on the lookout for a good mystery, so with its cover appeal I was excited to read this book. Sadly I didn’t enjoy this read. Its easy to see why Nancy Drew is older –she has some autonomy. But a 12 year investigator must lie and sneak frequently to investigate which doesn’t sit very well with me, as does her use of the police resources –because she has her mother’s position as sway. Liza is her supposed to be Devlin’s friend, and her family is in charge of keeping her safe during her exchange program time –but Devlin knowingly puts her into many dangerous situations. The big bad plot about the stolen maps is kind of boring –as are the suspects. Combine this with overly long and I found myself struggling to finish reading it.
EL -NO. Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
December 18, 2016
Okay, so usually when authors of adult fiction try to write in the middle grade or young adult genre, it's not usually so successful. I am really picky about requesting those books because usually they are terrible. But in this case, it worked pretty well.
Into the Lion's Den was pitched to me as a modern Nancy Drew, and that's exactly what it is. I was a huge Nancy Drew fan as a child. I read so many of those books, and this was very similar. Intelligent beyond her years teenager helps someone with solving a crime, and said crime takes her and her friends all over New York City.
It's fun, it's exciting, and I really enjoyed the tightly plotted story. This is the first book in a series. I have no idea how long it's going to be or if the entire thing will be in NYC, but I'm excited to see where it goes next. This is exactly what I am looking for in a middle grade novel. Adventure, excitement, and a great story.
The only complaint I have? Devlin. I liked her, but 7th graders do not speak the way she speaks. It is entirely TOO adult. I wish the author had taken more time to understand how kids actually talk. Even intelligent kids do not use the turns of phrase that Devlin uses. There were times it got a bit bizarre and yanked me out of the narrative. This sometimes happens when adults write children, and I hope it's more realistic in future books.
Into the Lion's Den was pitched to me as a modern Nancy Drew, and that's exactly what it is. I was a huge Nancy Drew fan as a child. I read so many of those books, and this was very similar. Intelligent beyond her years teenager helps someone with solving a crime, and said crime takes her and her friends all over New York City.
It's fun, it's exciting, and I really enjoyed the tightly plotted story. This is the first book in a series. I have no idea how long it's going to be or if the entire thing will be in NYC, but I'm excited to see where it goes next. This is exactly what I am looking for in a middle grade novel. Adventure, excitement, and a great story.
The only complaint I have? Devlin. I liked her, but 7th graders do not speak the way she speaks. It is entirely TOO adult. I wish the author had taken more time to understand how kids actually talk. Even intelligent kids do not use the turns of phrase that Devlin uses. There were times it got a bit bizarre and yanked me out of the narrative. This sometimes happens when adults write children, and I hope it's more realistic in future books.
February 4, 2017
Devlin Quick has moxy! I thought that from the first chapter and was happy to find that her grandmother agreed with my assessment. It was great fun to read about a mystery that originated in the NYC Public Library and is solved by pre-teen sleuths. Books set in NYC have so many landmarks and so much history to draw upon.
The plot reminded me of the old Nancy Drew mysteries. There is the friend who brings a mystery to Devlin's attention, her professional parent with helpful connections, her partners in sleuthing and her single-minded pursuit of the answer to the puzzle -- all elements that evoke the nostalgic memory of Nancy Drew's many adventures.
With the mystery of who planted the bomb in Paris that killed Devlin's father before she was born on her to do list, we know there is much for Devlin to do as she grows up.
The plot reminded me of the old Nancy Drew mysteries. There is the friend who brings a mystery to Devlin's attention, her professional parent with helpful connections, her partners in sleuthing and her single-minded pursuit of the answer to the puzzle -- all elements that evoke the nostalgic memory of Nancy Drew's many adventures.
With the mystery of who planted the bomb in Paris that killed Devlin's father before she was born on her to do list, we know there is much for Devlin to do as she grows up.
December 10, 2016
This is a good example of a book aimed at a young audience which can be enjoyed by adults. I'm about the same age as the protagonist's grandmother, and I found it to be—in the words of someone–a Rattling Good Yarn. The adolescent characters are shown as intelligent and sensible, as are the adults. It's a refreshing change from much entertainment created during the last 30 years, wherein the kids are wiseass little manipulators, and the adults are clueless comedy relief, horrid, or both. It was also great fun to learn about the inner workings of a massive library, as well as the world of collectible maps.
February 14, 2017
This book, written for the eight to twelve age bracket, is a fun read for adults, too. I enjoyed the tours of the New York Public Library and One Police Plaza, and I learned quite a bit about the rare map trade as well.
Although the characters in Into the Lion's Den all seem a bit too good to be true, I had to remind myself that I wasn't reading my usual fare. Devlin is smart and resourceful-- a born detective-- and her grandmother Louella "Lu" Atwell is my favorite adult.
This is a fun, fast-paced, intriguing read for children, and it makes a nice change of pace for adults, too. How about some quality reading time together?
Although the characters in Into the Lion's Den all seem a bit too good to be true, I had to remind myself that I wasn't reading my usual fare. Devlin is smart and resourceful-- a born detective-- and her grandmother Louella "Lu" Atwell is my favorite adult.
This is a fun, fast-paced, intriguing read for children, and it makes a nice change of pace for adults, too. How about some quality reading time together?
August 21, 2018
This had so much potential with the plot (if you think mysteries connected to libraries are compelling, like I do), but was ruined by the characters. Devlin was a self-absorbed, bratty Mary-Sue who tries to trick or bully to get her way, and if that doesn't work she gets her rich bulldozer of a Grandmother to do it for her. A big part of the story had to do with how connected Devlin's family was to law enforcement, if so then she and Granny should know that trying to intimidate a poor librarian into giving out information about what other library patrons are checking out wouldn't work, no matter how much you throw veiled threats relating to your wealth or status into the conversation.
September 27, 2016
Devlin Quick is the daughter of the NYC Police Commissioner. The student they are hosting from South America, Liza, thinks she sees a man tear a page out of rare map book in the special collections room of the New York Public Library. But who's going to believe a 12-year-old girl? Devlin uses her detecting skills and resources from the NYCPD to track down the truth. Clever premise, and well-written. I look forward to more in the series.
July 24, 2016
While the premise of this book wasn't bad, the writing did not work for MG. Some adult and YA authors seem to really find their stride in MG, but it didn't happen hear. The characters felt forced and unrealistic. There's better MG mysteries out there. Pass on this one.
May 4, 2017
An awesome kids crime book. Devlin and her friend Liza work to track down a criminal mastermind stealing valuable pages from irreplaceable books.
January 26, 2019
Devlin Quick is another 12-year-old girl detective with one deceased parent; the other two are Flavia de Luce from The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and Agatha Oddlow from The Secret Key. Normally, extra smart teenagers would get on my nerves, but these three girls are quite likable.
I enjoyed this well-written and suspenseful mystery very much. The authoress has written about a place and a subject that she knows thoroughly. I think that is partly why this book was so good. Devlin, her super cool mom, and her "family" and friends were nice, relatable characters. They added a nice warmth to the story and provided a good background for the young heroine.
I enjoyed the mystery as well. At some points, I felt like my heart was in my throat; I think that is a pretty good sign that this middle-grade mystery was crafted very well.
I enjoyed this well-written and suspenseful mystery very much. The authoress has written about a place and a subject that she knows thoroughly. I think that is partly why this book was so good. Devlin, her super cool mom, and her "family" and friends were nice, relatable characters. They added a nice warmth to the story and provided a good background for the young heroine.
I enjoyed the mystery as well. At some points, I felt like my heart was in my throat; I think that is a pretty good sign that this middle-grade mystery was crafted very well.
December 25, 2020
Devlin is such an annoying main character as she gets everything she wants so easily, acts like she knows everything, and bosses people around all the time. She has no weakness or struggle so I could hardly like her as I read it. Liza was a more interesting character, but they reduce her to the sidekick role the whole time. They made all the adults into idiots when they clearly could have done something. I'm sure a librarian wouldn't just brush aside serious concerns about books, and I'm certain they would have measures in place that would make it difficult for someone to steal a map like they did -- security cameras?? This book has never heard of them. I also found it hard to believe how much free reign they gave Devlin over everything as if she could just get access to anything she wanted. The story is also very slow paced as barely anything really happens until the last 50 pages. I will say I was invested at the end, but the whole book leading up to it I was like "come on, something happen already."
February 5, 2023
Read this aloud to my 12 year old kid, and could rarely read a page without making some exasperated editorial remark. When we were done I asked her why we actually finished it, and she said she had wanted to know how it ended. That’s the problem with mysteries and curious readers. Someday I’ll teach her my trick of skipping ahead in a book I’m having trouble with: skip ahead and read a bit further along: it can spoil things but also helps me determine if it’s worth sticking w a book.
My biggest complaint had to do with the main character. She was a little snot. And not meant to be. Privilege oozed off her. Luckily a couple of times her friends kept her in check, but not enough. She also talked and thought like a 40 year old.
The writing itself was clunky and didn’t help me imagine the scenes, and sometimes seemed to contradict itself.
And, oh my, cops and librarians that freely share personal information about other citizens/patrons; to curious children? I hope it isn’t that easy to get information.
My biggest complaint had to do with the main character. She was a little snot. And not meant to be. Privilege oozed off her. Luckily a couple of times her friends kept her in check, but not enough. She also talked and thought like a 40 year old.
The writing itself was clunky and didn’t help me imagine the scenes, and sometimes seemed to contradict itself.
And, oh my, cops and librarians that freely share personal information about other citizens/patrons; to curious children? I hope it isn’t that easy to get information.
March 10, 2018
So totally MEH. I may have ruined myself by reading a review before though, but I got weird vibes from this book. I don’t think the way that the two girls gout around 1 Police Plaza as they did in the book would be as easy as in real life. That made it all cheesy and unbelievable. The characters fell flat as well. Decline was kind of rude and Liza was too timid. The plot itself was the most interesting - chasing a thief that Liza *thinks* she saw steal a page from a priceless map book in the NYC Map Divisions library. There are several coincidences that Devlin makes that also don’t make sense whatsoever. I’m not a fan of this book and I’m rather annoyed that I had bought it for my library collection, tbh.
July 9, 2018
I'm a big fan of relentless girl detectives, and obviously of libraries as well, but while I think kids will enjoy this, I'm calling it a 3.75 for a few really obvious and infuriating flaws in detection. As per usual, the adults in charge don't all believe our child heroes that a crime has been committed, even though it's something that would be incredibly easy to verify - yet no one does. Also, with all the online research our heroine does, she can't look up a photograph of her main suspect? It drove me batty, and detracted from the well drawn characters, enticing vision of a New York City summer, and eventually exciting plot.
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