The Secret of Dinswood

The Dinswood Chronicles #1

by Ellen Alexander

Desperate to get away from a home where she no longer feels wanted, twelve-year-old Emma Higsby is elated when she wins a scholarship to the prestigious Dinswood Academy boarding school.

Emma quickly falls in love with the renovated castle nestled in the heart of the mountains. But when rumors surface that her new school is having financial problems and may have to close, she begins to search for a way to save her new home.

When she discovers a riddle of buried treasure left by the eccentric school’s founder, Lord Dinswood, she and her friends must use their courage and intelligence to solve each clue.

But someone else is searching for the treasure as well. Emma and her friends will have to race against time and discover the secret of Dinswood first!

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

408 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Evelina | AvalinahsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how I loved this wonderful adventure! The Secret of Dinswood is just the kind of book I wish I had read more of when I was actually in my middle grade years. There's just something empowering about a bunch of kids solving mysteries and riddles, and potentially getting themselves in trouble, skulking around dark caves and castle hallways! Even aside from that, there's the whole allure of kids in a boarding school, especially one in a castle!

The Secret of Dinswood is somewhere in between of mysteries for children with young detectives and young adventurers looking for treasure. It was just the right kind of amusing, cozy mystery with a great ending. I enjoyed it very much and will be impatiently waiting for the sequels. The things I enjoyed the most about this book was that there was just the right amount of cozy mystery, adventure and tension, the relationships were explored in fun and adorable ways, and the story didn’t shy away from tough subjects either. I’ve got more to say about it, so if you want to read the full review, here’s the full blog post:



I thank BHC Press for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange to my honest opinion. Receiving the book for free does not affect my opinion.

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[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary of this eBook from the author, publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Emma, Doug and friends find out that their boarding school is home to a treasure under the school with a riddle placed there by a famous pirate that recently used to live in the castle but died and gave the castle over to be made in the school, they go try to find it. Is someone else seeking it too? Read on and find out for yourself.

This was a pretty good action-packed adventure YA middle grade story that is inspired by the movie the goonies. If you enjoy books like this, definitely check the book out when it officially releases to bookstores and wherever books are sold online on February 26,2019.

[*Stani* · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was too juvenile for me. And believe me, I love a good middle grade read. Sadly, this wasn't it.

The writing was all telling and no showing - too much backstory and too much over-explanation for and about everything.

To me, it felt like a slight rip-off of Harry Potter, but that is just my feeling. From the exact replica of Hogwarts and Hogsmead to teachers.

The dialogue was silly and I didn't care for any of the characters, the least bit about the main character, Emma.

To me, this was a pale shadow of what a good middle grade looks like.

The only part I enjoyed very much was the prologue - about the captain that wanted to re-invent himself as a decent, rich and highborn member of a society. Although even that felt like a slight riff off the Princess Bride and Dread Pirate Robert.

Alas...I wish it was better, it just wasn't.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's written with teenagers in mind, but I enjoyed it as an adult woman. This is a nice adventure story with mysteries. The start reminded me a little of Harry Potter, but without the magic. A few chapters in the story gets less HP-like and more into it's own style. I found some parts actually exciting, even though it wasn't very realistic. The parts describing the castle were very livid and I could imagine myself seeing it. Not too young-adult so no obvious romance was in this book. I also liked that the writing style was not too childish. Overall, a great read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. These are my opinions and are in no way influenced by the fact I got the ARC for free.

[Serena · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 91% (but still will be reviewing it since it's an ARC and 90% of a book is pretty much a whole book)

Sometimes you have a long list of reasons why you didn't like a book, but this time I just didn't connect with it. I guess it was for a way younger audience than me, I wouldn't even recommend it for 12yo, having a brother that age. It's definitely younger middle-grade.

There was too much tell and too little show. The characters, their abilities, the people they met were all too convenient so the plot would move forward. The four MCs were also too childish for a 12yo that's living in a world with modern computers, videogames and smartphones. But I can understand these are things that go with the genre.
There's not much talk about the elitism in private catholic schools like this one, which would've been a nice topic to make children aware of this, and it isn't hard to bring up.

Basically I didn't have much real trouble with the book, I just wasn't the target even though I tend to love middle grade.

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great fun read about making friends and adventure. This is really enjoyable and easy paced. The characters are really relatable (even though I’m no longer a teenager) it’s aimed more at the early teen market and I feel would be a great read for them, although I’m older I still enjoyed it, but a younger reader would have more in common with the books. Lovely feel good factor. Really enjoyable.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, middle grade adventure novel set in a castle boarding school. Fans of Harry Potter who like the aspects of adventure with a group of friends in a boarding school location should enjoy this. There is no magical element to the adventures and most of the action happens toward the end of the book. The boarding school is a Christian school but the author is not heavy-handed with the religion. The book models positive values like patience, persistence, and being there for others. I would recommend for middle grades and older readers who enjoy books in this style.

Thanks to NetGalley, BHC Press, and the author Ellen Alexander for an advanced electronic review copy.

[Stephanie Roxane · Rating 3 out of 5]

* I received this book from Netgalley and BHC Press in exchange for an honest review*

3/5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was fun watching the kids work out the riddles, and there were several small moments of suspense which were good.

The writing was a bit hard for me to get into though. At times it felt almost too simplistic for a book marketed as Middle grade and YA, and at other times it felt too over the top. There were times when we’d get paragraphs upon paragraphs of description on things that had zero bearing on the story or character development.

Also, I was confused a bit over when this book was supposed to be taking place. While they talk about tv and video games, the language often used by the children (one example, which I noted down when I read it was: “g-g-gosh I’m sorry. You don’t suppose it’s ruined do you?” Which just doesn’t flow for me as something a twelve year old in modern times would say.

I do feel that this is a lower middle grade book that can definitely be enjoyed my readers in that age group. While I read and love a lot of middle grade, this particular story was simply too much for my particular tastes.

[Ilona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of The Secret of Dinswood by Ellen Alexander. I voluntarily read and reviewed this copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While studying at the Dinswood boarding school, four teenagers become friends and discover that a treasure hidden by the school's founder could be what they need to save their school from financial troubles. In order to find the treasure they must solve all the riddles before someone else does.

The Secret of Dinswood is a story full of mystery, adventure and most important of all, friendship. The friendship between Emma, Martha, Doug and Sebastian is the foundation of this great story and flowed strongly throughout the whole book. The mystery never felt dragged on. The switch between heartfelt and dialogue chapters and the adventure and action chapters felt very natural. As a reader I was fully committed from the first page.

The transition between different POV's was confusing at times. Maybe because of the E-book format, but quite a few sentences needed to be reread in order to determine that the POV had changed.

All in all, a highly enjoyable book full of adventure that I recommend to readers of all ages.

[Layla Crowie · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I was sent an eARC through NetGalley for an honest review.)

I really wanted to fall in love with this story! It had so many elements that I love. Sadly I have to be able to connect to the characters and I didn't do that.

I couldn't help but draw similarities to Harry Potter, not only with regards to plot but minute details, such as the characters appearances and personalities. Which I think is why I found myself struggling to connect, because I struggled not to compare them to one another.

I wanted a little more from the characters, to bond them, as they honestly just fall into instant friendships to take on this epic quest. And I felt that the main character, Emma, from how her character was initially described, her upbringing ect she should have been a more level headed, cautious person. And not someone so easily trusting, or wanting to throw herself into friendships so fast. It just felt a little rushed and disjointed for me. I know that their age might play a factor in this, but I felt that more work could have been put into their relationships.

There was a big focus on potential romances, which I think for 12/13 it can be a big thing, but shouldn't be a main focus. And I think I would have enjoyed it more, had it focused on the platonic side and the sense of adventure and riddle solving.

I love the story idea, anything to do with mystery and castles and boarding school type scenarios always gets me. And I think the premise behind it, is really good.

[Julieanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret of Dinswood is a fantastic story that blends just the right amount of whimsical mystery with a believable world centered around the primary character Emma and her friends at Dinswood Academy.

If you are a fan of history-based mysteries and youths on the trail of the truth, I highly recommend this book. Not only is the dialogue organic and real, the descriptions of surrounding make it easy to paint the picture in your mind of what the scene looks like.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book surprised me slightly by reminding me quite a bit of the classic Nancy Drew books. While I liked this to an extent, it also means this book had similar issues, mainly the cliffhangers that turn out to result in nothing. I also wasn’t a fan of the unnecessary descriptive paragraphs describing various holidays at Dinswood, as they ended up not adding anything to the story or the experience of the book. Rather than adding to the wonder if the school, the descriptions just took up space and took me out of the story. On the plus side, the kids’ trek through Lord Dinswood’s riddles and the school’s tunnels was a nice and exciting addition, with the threat of villains following them adding tension. Overall, it’s a decent children’s book, but nothing particularly special.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, clever middle-grade book that boasts a story with appeal for both an audience the same age as the characters and for adult readers.

Alexander really nails the atmosphere component of the book. The plot, too, is clever and compelling...it's kind of like Harry Potter meets Goonies. Add in a likable group of kids, riddles with just the right degree of difficulty for the target audience, and pirate treasure and you've got a real winner of a story.

There were, however, a few elements of the book that were too problematic to be ignored and cost it a 5-star review.

First, it's simply too long. I appreciate the attention to detail (descriptions of all the little things about the school, very much in the style of JK Rowling,) but there is SO much filler material in this book that should be edited out. I could have done without, for example, the several pages that give play-by-play of a three-legged race.

The second problem is a bigger one, and it's is that the author seems very out of touch. Sometimes that just results in quality issues (the way Alexander tells us the 7th graders are dressed makes it seem like she's never seen an actual 7th grader. Also, no one under the age of 40 uses the word "slacks.")

That alone I could have overlooked, but the author's clearly Christian conservative bent is really hard to ignore and quite frankly, completely obnoxious. This book is not billed as "Christian fiction," so it feels like a bit of a bait and switch. The mentions of the students going to chapel is fine, but Alexander's beliefs creep in all over the place in a way that I expect would alienate a large portion of the target audience. And speaking of out of touch, I'm still half laughing, half cringing at "The school did not celebrate Halloween, as it is a pagan holiday." Ms Alexander was clearly born about 100 years too late for her line of thinking.

The above is tough to get past, and I imagine will be impossible to get past for some readers, but I really, really enjoyed the premise of the story. I'd certainly read another, IF the above issues are addressed in the second installment.

*I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Geoff Habiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emma Higsby is a first-year student at Dinswood Academy, a prestigious boarding school built within a renovated castle. Most students at Dinswood come from wealthy families, but Emma has been accepted into Dinswood by her wits, passing the school's hard entrance exam and received a scholarship. Emma quickly adjusts to the new school and makes friends with fellow 7th graders Martha, Sebastian, and Doug. But things are not well for Dinswood Academy, as the school might be forced to close for financial reasons. Having made it into the prestigious school Emma doesn't want that to happen, so when the kids learn a rumor about Lord Darius Dinswood's lost treasure they decide to try and find it to save the school. What Emma and the others don't realize is that there are others seeking Lord Dinswood's treasure, and they are not afraid of using whatever means necessary to get it.

The Secret of Dinswood is a simple adventure tale that younger readers may enjoy, but I found it to be predictable and missing a spark that would make it stand out. The story draws heavily on elements from Harry Potter (the story takes place across one school year and the action is interspersed with school work) to The Goonies (the school will close unless money is found, and now, conveniently, there is a rumor of a pirate's treasure). While the story draws from these other works, it did not stand apart from them and make its own mark. The style of the writing also made it difficult to get to know the characters. While Emma is introduced and is nominally the main character, the narrative is in third-person omniscient, so in each scene we jump from one character's thoughts to another, from one paragraph to the next. This was very jarring to me, and I found it very distracting. A third person limited (with only Emma as the main POV character) or even a third person omniscient where we only change POV at scene or chapter breaks, I think, would have allowed for the reader to get to know the characters better.

The characters were not memorable to me. Again, Emma is introduced as the main character, and we learn the most about her, but I did not see her struggle or grow as a character. To me, she was the same person at the end of the school year as she was at the beginning. I had hoped there would have been more growth to her, a personal challenge to overcome, and this did not happen. The other characters, Martha, Sebastian, and Doug, also have limited growth and development, and do not stand out to me.

I liked the story, but I would not recommend it except for younger kids who will probably enjoy the hunt for the treasure. That treasure hunt has an element of daring and adventure but for me it doesn't make up for the limited character development and jarring narrative style.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley**

I would rate this book somewhere around 2 1/2 stars. It's not poorly written, it's just not all that interesting or original.

If a non-magical Harry Potter and Goonies had a baby it would look something like this book - but it wouldn't quite live up to the legacy of its parents. I think the biggest problem with this book is that it was somewhat difficult to care about whether or not the characters succeed. In this day and age it is hard to feel bad that a (pretentious) school which caters to rich kids might have to close - and readers are expected to believe that in the modern era this school operates with no computers or education-based technology? That's a stretch. Also, is the board of directors made up entirely of the parents of current students? Another point against it.

The four main characters aren't overly interesting either. Emma's father and stepmother are presented as so awful they lose some credibility as realistic characters. The entire part of the story involving the school dance was little more than filler, made very little sense, and did nothing to move the plot forward. It also seemed as though the author wasn't sure what she wanted Clarice to be as a character - the way she's presented throughout much of the novel doesn't fit with her part in the treasure hunt. The big bad bully of the story is a cliche and the fact that this school was made for someone like him makes you care about it staying open even less. I don't want to include any spoilers here, but the way in which an adult uses the children for his own amusement (under the guise of having them prove there are students worth keeping the school open for) is troubling.

This is the first book in a series, but I'm not sure there is enough to sustain it through multiple books.

A note on the covers - the front cover looks like a Disney theme park castle and the picture on the first page looks like Hogswart. It would have been better to have an artist create something original to prevent comparisons to other works.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of young students strive to save their school from financial ruin by attempting to solve a series of riddles to find hidden treasure in Ellen Alexander's The Secret of Dinswood.

To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.

After working hard to earn a scholarship to a prestigious boarding school located in a castle, twelve year old Emma is excited to leave her less-than-desirable home life, where she feels unwelcome, to head to Dinswood Academy. Becoming accustomed to the new routines and rules of the school, Emma enjoys her surroundings, time learning, and making some new, close friends. When she and her friends learn that the school might be facing financial troubles that would cause it to close, they try to find a way to prevent that from happening. The rumored treasure of the eccentric Lord Dinswood would certainly help keep the school open, but there are riddles keeping the treasure hidden; solving them will require the skills of each of Emma's friends, some quick thinking, and bravery aplenty if they want to earn the treasure and save their school.

Reminiscent of The Goonies and Harry Potter, the story of the students' adventure to solve the mystery of the hidden treasure to save Dinswood is familiar yet entertaining all the same. There was plentiful description throughout the narrative that seemed an effort to demonstrate a touch of writing mastery; however, some of the details provided for nonessential events and locations could have been pruned back to keep the story from being too bogged down with extraneous information, thus lengthening the novel unnecessarily and slowing the momentum of the narrative. There was quite a bit of overt moralizing through the thoughts and actions of the characters that I found to be a bit much, which pulled me out of the story, but as a middle grade novel a basic level of lesson teaching is expected as an edifying element, and it might not feel as overt to younger readers. Though much of the story is virtually timeless, I was still a bit confused about when this story is meant to be taking place as there were contemporary technologies and activities mentioned, such as computers and video games, but the language used for the children's dialogue was more evocative of something more stereotypical of the 1950s, creating a feeling of anachronism.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a story about a couple of students at a boarding school,solving mysteries about a treasure. Unfortunately, it wasn't for me. I managed to read more than half of the book,about 57 % I believe but then decided I should leave it .
It was interesting at first but then slowly got more boring. Nothing seemed to be happening after the first little search the kids went on. I thought it was just too similar to Harry Potter ,and I see I'm not the only one who thinks that after reading a couple reviews of others who've read this book. I mean,it's set in a boarding school with strict teachers and a little village they go on a trip to ( a bit too similar to Hogwarts and Hogsmeade) ,and the kids are 'breaking the rules' while searching for a treasure. I also found it to be very predictable. Everything I thought would happen did actually happen. The author wrote the story in a way which spoiled the plot:" Emma had a feeling someday soon Reggie's intelligence would get them all out of trouble." , "She had no way of knowing the danger that awaited her later that evening.". That annoyed me the whole time.
I also found myself skimming through paragraphs of unnecessary descriptions. Everything just needed to be described to tiniest bits which bothered me too,but not as much as the spoilery stuff.

That being said,there were parts of the book that I enjoyed,like the prologue and the first trip to the village when they started discovering the mystery. One of the characters I liked was Martha which I cared more about than the main character,Emma.
Again,thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a middle grade adventure novel. The four main characters (2 boys and 2 girls) were 12 years old. Most of the book was a typical boarding school story: making new friends, learning their way around the school, special events like a dance and athletic competitions, and a little bit of romance. They learn about both the school's need for funds and the hidden treasure near the beginning of the story, but little progress was made after an initial failed attempt to solve the clues. The last 20% of the story gets them on the right track, and they solve riddle after riddle to overcome dangerous challenges.

The characters were likable, and the riddle sequence was very exciting (especially as Bad Guys were following after them). The school sequences were enjoyable, but I'd expected the book to be more focused on the mystery than on social challenges. Actual tweens (as the intended audience) will probably find this more emotionally engaging than I did. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this fun story.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Bethany Swafford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Emma is delighted when she wins a scholarship to the prestigious DInswood Academy, which is housed in an old castle. On hearing the school is on the brink of closure, she and her friends decide to seek out the Dinswood treasure to save their school.

If the entire book had been paced like the last quarter of the book, I would have enjoyed this a lot more. As it was, this took me two months to get through as it was because I was bored. There were just too many unnecessary scenes that added nothing to the plot or character development. I also had no interest in the potential of romance between 12 and 13-year-olds. Too young! And the focus was all over the place, when keeping with one character would have strengthened the narrative.

Once I hit the last quarter, though, things picked up the pace and became the adventure I was expecting. Riddles, secret passages, pirate ships-it reminded me of The Goonies.

Though this is aimed towards middle-grade readers, I'm not sure they would have the patience to get through it.

I received a free copy from the author for reviewing purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free digital copy of this book from Library Thing in exchange for a review.

I thought this book was fun and suspenseful. There were a few parts that dragged a little bit for me, but I'm guessing the intended audience is more YA. I would have absolutely loved this book as a teenager. As an adult I have a lot more reading experience, so I'm used to a different pace.

This book reminded me a little bit of Harry Potter only because of the setting. It's set in a school in a remote area, like Hogwarts. And the kids in this book are probably about the age Harry and the gang were when they started school. This book doesn't have any "magical" elements though -- it's pretty much grounded in reality (although some of it is a little hard to believe).

I think young adults that like mysteries would probably love this book, and it's very much PG-rated. Who wouldn't want to go to boarding school in a mysterious castle? I know I would!

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. This a fun, clean middle grade adventure. It could use a little editing of some long descriptive passages and nonessential events (for example, a description of decorating the castle for Christmas could have been much shorter)- I skimmed through quite a few that didn't really add to the book. Never the less, it kept me reading to the end and I think some kids will enjoy it. It had a bit of a Harry Potter meets Goonies feel, minus magic and vulgarity. The whole mystery was a bit contrived for me as an adult but the intended audience will probably not care. This is a book I would not mind my children reading and if you have a young advanced reader, this would be a good book with its lack of swearing and violence.
Disclosure- I was given a free ARC digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many years ago a pirate got so much gold that he decided to retire in anonymity. He named himself Lord Dinswood and established a school. His ancestors kept up the tradition and now it is a prestigious place. One that Emma Higsby is delighted to be going to. Her father remarried and the family doesn't seem to have a place for her any more.
Dinswood school is high in the mountains and the students are rich and snobby. At least, a lot of them are. But luckily, Emma makes some friends. And she's going to need those friendships to help save the school from financial ruin. They'll need to solve the riddle of Lord Dinswood to find the treasure, outsmarting the others searching for the same thing.
This book was fun but a little long. Definitely a book for fans of epic tales about finding treasure.

[Sarah Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There were times when I forgot that this was a children’s book, and other times when it was overwhelmingly obvious. This was a novel about 4 grade 7’s at boarding school going on a treasure hunt to try to prevent the school they love from going bankrupt. What follows really reminds me of a mix of Harry Potter ( minus the magic) and the Goonies. They must overcome some serious obstacles and get involved in some violent altercations. Along the way, the group of 4 develop some strong bonds which is cute and sweet but sometimes difficult to believe. The story was also a bit long in spots.

However, that all being said, it was a cute story and it kept me in suspense. I think this is a series and I’d be curious to see what the next installment holds. I want to see how Emma and Doug’s characters develop through time

[Rinku Geeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It led to nostalgia - as it had elements similar to the cool books I had read during my school days, and which were reasons I got hooked to the habit of reading.
The clue hunt was exciting...I loved the way the clues were revealed to Emma and her friends and the way they figured those out...... I loved that the clue hunt was not skimmed over.......the time it took them to decipher each clue made it realistic. (Some "Treasure Hunters" books I had recently read had not really felt involved when it came to the actual process being given clues, deciphering them, leading to the next.......)
I all the loved the characters - Emma, Doug, Martha & Sebastian, the most, of course!

[Kurt Springs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was first published on Kurt's Frontier.

Synopsis:

Emma Higsby is on her way to Dinswood Academy. Emma is a girl still grieving from the loss of her mother. Her father has remarried, and her stepmother is rather cold to her. Ignored at home, she accepts a scholarship to the prestigious Dinswood Academy, founded by the late Lord Dinswood. An elite school, usually the domain of spoiled rich kids, Emma feels out of place at first. She makes friends with one of her dorm mate, Martha, and to two boys a short time later: Doug (the dean’s son) and his constant companion Sebastian. They quickly falls in love with the school, a renovated castle set the heart of the mountains. Emma’s joy turns to desperation when she finds out the school is in financial trouble and may need to close. Desperate to save their school, the four friends stumble upon a riddle that could lead to the treasure of Lord Dinswood. Yet they aren’t the only ones looking for Dinswood’s treasure. Their competition will kill to get a hold of it.

Review:

Please note, I am reviewing an older copy of the book, which was published by the now-defunct Tate Publishing and Enterprises, LLC. The current version of the book is published by BHC Press.

Ellen Alexander spins an intriguing young adult mystery. With their beloved school in financial trouble due to low enrolment, the four friends stumble upon a riddle that will lead to the hidden treasure of the Dinswood family. As the four piece together clues, they soon realize that others are looking for the treasure, and their motives are much more selfish.

I found the book intriguing. It was easy to get invested in the characters. However, the author has a tendency to tell rather than show. This slowed down the pace of the book. While not quite the page-turner it could have been, it is still an enjoyable read.

[Jelke Lenaerts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I RECEIVED A GALLEY OF THIS THROUGH NETGALLEY

This book reminded me of so many things I loved as a kid, which made it so much fun for me to read. I loved the setting of the castle and the history behind it all. I also loved the mystery. It was so much fun. I also really liked the characters and their friendship. I didn't like the romance that was included i this, though. It's very low-key but I would have preffered it if it wasn't in there at all. It was a fun time and I would highly recommend this to everyone, especially kids. This would have been one of my favourites if I read this when I was younger but, for now, it just wasn't that special to me.

[Neonila · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! A group of boarding school kids trying to solve riddles and mysteries is always something I find entertaining. I feel like if you enjoy mystery with tons of fun, a good cast of characters and school setting then this will definitely be a hit for you.

Even though I enjoyed this book, I can't say that I loved it. Nothing was wrong with it per se, but I guess I just wanted something more in order to fully love this story.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for a fair review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ***

3 1/2 stars. A solid middle grade read perfect for those looking for a light-hearted treasure hunt with a bit of suspense. Good characters with a plot that moves well. Needs a little tightening in the prose, but overall a good read. Feels like a mix of Harry Potter, Nancy Drew, and a little Goonies.

For full review: The Secret of Dinswood on EPJ

[Ellen Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

My granddaughter gave this rating. She really liked the book. Especially since the main character is named after her.😊

[Marije · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really really liked this book. The riddles and mysterie maked that I wanted to continue reading. I would encourage everyone to read this book.