The Five Clues , is a real-time murder-mystery thriller and family drama, combining an exciting race against time with a heart-rending story about a teenager learning to live with the loss of a beloved parent. Walking back from her mother’s grave, 13-year-old schoolgirl Edie Marble finds a note in a pocket of the sheepskin coat that she hasn’t worn since the day, a year earlier, when she received the awful news of her mother’s death. The note is from her mother, who had been looking into a corporate human rights violation and had become fearful for her life after receiving death threats. She trusts only Edie – because of their special bond and Edie’s intelligence – and has laid a trail of clues for Edie to find that will help her to shed light on the violation and uncover the mystery around her death. Through her wit and determination, Edie steadily gathers evidence and negotiates the dramatic twists and turns of the story by collaborating with her friends and family to gradually unearth a sinister attempt by a pharmaceutical company to conceal their illegal development of a lethal virus. As Edie’s investigations progress she is introduced, in parallel, to the Three Principles, which help her conquer various psychological stresses and support her in coming to terms with her grief. Reading age 11+. The Five Clues is the first in the Don't Doubt the Rainbow series.
I enjoyed this murder mystery very much. It is the first book in the "Don't Doubt the Rainbow" series and I am looking forward to the next. Edie Marble finds a note left in her coat pocket by her mother, who died a year ago. The note tells her that her mother was murdered and there are clues to find that only Edie can solve. This set-up is a little contrived but if you just go with it, the story evolves quite well. Anyone, of any age, can read this and I recommend it to readers who like mysteries and escape rooms.
The first in the Don't Doubt The Rainbow detective series from Anthony Kessel, The Five Clues is a pacey read, with themes of grief and resilience. As Edie works to unravel the trail of clues that she hopes will reveal the truth about her mother's death, she discovers reserves of strength and determination that she didn't know she had. I was relieved that she also gradually discovered when to reach out for help from friends, family and finally, the police! I'd recommend this book for confident readers who enjoy a well-woven mystery, packed with peril.
Coming out of reading harry potter back to back I was eager to get to the next in the series but I had to do this instead for a semi school thing so it took me a while to get into at first hence how long it took me to read it. i read 80% of the book in the last 3 days or so it really should not have taken so long i just procrastinate too much. Very wonderful book. Might even try to find the next one in the series.
Honestly, I like this book, but I was not mindblown.
Edie is truly a young Nancy Drew. I love the adventure and the suspense waiting on every page. Edie was like a breath of fresh air, adventurous, courageous and brave.I really liked her character, and I liked the whole mystery. I think it was really well made. The whole thing had me hooked from the beginning. I loved her friendship with her best friend, I think that it was so promising and the loyalty they have for each other was unbelievable.
Also, the whole main idea that the book was based on seemed pretty original. It was really interesting to read because the emotions and the character were really well written. I think that the simplicity of this book is also why I am attracted to it, the descriptions and the whole writing style were beautiful. Thought I think that this was a good book, but it wasn’t an amazing book.
Still, I think that this book is one that I would recommend.
A year after the tragic loss of her mother eleven year old Edie finds a letter, a letter that sends her on the hunt to find out the truth. Edie quickly finds herself immersed into a world of conspiracy, determined to find out what had caused her mothers death; these five clues which are left to her supposedly helping bring everything to light.
While the story was strong there were moments of mild predictability, and a writing style that you can spot a mile off as being aimed at younger generations. Luckily for Kessel this book seems to have been aimed right at that audience, a perfect introducer for these young minds into the world of crime and detective work.
All in all, this book was beautifully written, exploring the strength and courage that children can have alongside the importance of friendship and the unbreakable bond of family.
I was sent a copy of this book for review. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. This book follows Edie Marble (13) on her first murder mystery. Edie lost her mother tragically a year before and while attending a stone setting ceremony which is customary in the Jewish faith, she finds a letter from her mother. It explains to Edie that her mother was investigating a company for human rights violations and had received death threats before her death. As Edie is the only one she trusts, she has set out 5 difficult clues which Edie must work through and solve that will lead to her mother's killer and the identity of the company.
Edie must use all the knowledge her mother has instilled in her (including the Three Principles in psychological thinking), her innate ability to problem solve and her fierce tenacity to crack the codes in all 5 clues to unearth her mother's murderer and expose the illegal and deathly virus that the pharmaceutical company was creating. As she gradually lets her friends and family in on her discovery, she starts to find the evidence she needs to bring those responsible to justice but will she end up being next on the killer's hit list?
This was a 🌟🌟🌟🌟 read for me. This is aimed at the 11+ age mark but was attention-grabbing and written in a way that older readers can enjoy it. The story centres on Edie and her family and the grief that has devastated them. I liked how the murder mystery became the catalyst for Edie to start processing her loss and subsequently her family's grief. The use of the Three Principles in psychology was an interesting way to funnel this story through a mental health discussion for young people while giving me food for thought as well. I did feel that the references to these principles became a bit repetitive and that some of the terminologies were a little technical for this story. I liked Edie and found her to be an independent and determined young woman and intriguing to read. Overall a great first book in this new young adult mystery series and I will be reading the next book.
The Five Clues by Anthony Kessel Crown House Publishing Children's Fiction | Middle Grade | Teens & YA Pub Date 02 Aug 2021
I am reviewing a copy of The Five Clues through Crown House Publishing and Netgalley:
Don’t Doubt the Rainbow is a new contemporary middle grade detective series with a difference to solve each mystery, 13-year-old Edie Marble must harness the Three Principles, a new approach to understanding how the mind works that is currently proving invaluable in improving mental health and well-being in children internationally.
The Five Clues is the first book in the series is a real murder mystery thriller as well as family drama, combining an exciting race against time with a heart-rending story about a teenager learning to live with the loss of a beloved parent.
While walking back from her Mother’s grave 13-year-old schoolgirl Edie Marble finds a note in a pocket of the sheepskin coat that she hasn’t worn since the day, a year earlier, when she received the awful news of her mother’s death. The note comes from her Mother who had been looking into a corporate human rights violation and had become fearful for her life after receiving death threats. She trusts only Edie – because of their special bond and Edie’s intelligence – and has laid a trail of clues for Edie to find that will help her to shed light on the violation and uncover the mystery around her death.
Edie steadily gathers evidence and negotiates the dramatic twists and turns of the story by collaborating with her friends and family to gradually unearth a sinister attempt by a pharmaceutical company to conceal their illegal development of a lethal virus.
When Edie progresses in her investigation she is introduced, in parallel, to the Three Principles, which help her conquer various psychological stresses and support her in coming to terms with her grief.
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought: Title: The Five Clues (Don't Doubt the Rainbow 1) Author: Anthony Kessel
Star Rating: 5 Stars Number of Readers: 15 Stats Editing: 9/10 Writing Style: 9/10 Content: 9/10 Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers: 15 would read another book by this author. 15 thought the cover was good or excellent. 14 felt it was easy to follow. 15 would recommend this book to another reader to try. Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’. Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’. Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’. 14 felt the pacing was good or excellent. 15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments “I loved that the author didn’t dumb down the story for teenagers. It’s got a complex plot which I loved, and a lot of suspense.” Girl, aged 15 “This is a good ‘thriller’ sort of story with a mystery involving her mum’s death for the hero to solve. I liked how she’s so determined yet still suffering from the loss of her mum.” Girl, aged 15 “It’s exciting but it’s also thought-provoking too in terms of corporate greed and finding the truth. This is not a silly book.” Girl, aged 14 “I think most young teenagers will relate to the girl, how she feels, and what she’s trying to do. I would read another book by this author.” Boy, aged 15
To Sum It Up: ‘A superbly plotted mystery with a strong and determined female protagonist. A FINALIST and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
A year after the tragic death of her mother Edie discovers something which could change everything.
Setting out on a hunt to uncover the truth through clues that her mother has left hidden only for her. Will Edie be able to uncover the truth about her mothers death or will it prove too dangerous?
This is such a gripping story - filled with adventure but also the reality of grief and loss. How it effects each of us in different ways and the importance of a friend and family who will stand by you no matter what.
Edie is taken on a journey of self discovery as she investigates the truth - and at the end of it all is a realisation that makes her and her family stronger.
This book was one I found hard to put down - I was always looking for that extra 5 minutes to read just a little bit more. I would highly recommend this book to readers age 11+.
Honestly, I like this book, but I was not mindblown.
Edie is truly a young Nancy Drew. I love the adventure and the suspense waiting on every page. Edie was like a breath of fresh air, adventurous, courageous and brave.I really liked her character, and I liked the whole mystery. I think it was really well made. The whole thing had me hooked from the beginning. I loved her friendship with her best friend, I think that it was so promising and the loyalty they have for each other was unbelievable.
Also, the whole main idea that the book was based on seemed pretty original. It was really interesting to read because the emotions and the character were really well written. I think that the simplicity of this book is also why I am attracted to it, the descriptions and the whole writing style were beautiful. Thought I think that this was a good book, but it wasn’t an amazing book.
Still, I think that this book is one that I would recommend.
The premise of the book is that Edie Franklin is solving the mystery of what happened to her mother, though it becomes a mystery within a mystery. The author utilizes SEL strategies to help the protagonists deal with the death of their mother, and I really liked how this was woven in. As a parent myself I felt very emotional at the children's realistic portrayal of grief. I also felt that the descriptions of violence were sometimes too graphic for a middle grades novel.
This would be a great selection for fans of mysteries, especially Nancy Drew, who are looking for a spunky young detective character for the current era. I think Edie fits the bill!
Thanks to NetGalley for the gifted e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book!
5 stars. This book was so carefully crafted and well thought-out that it undoubtedly deserved a five star rating. As soon as I read the blurb, I was gripped and immediately bought the book. Although we are given numerous clues along the way, the full solution is still left unknown, leaving the reader guessing until the end.
I would recommend this book as it’s mysterious intensity, gripping description and references to psychology will leave you jaw-dropped. If you read this book you won’t regret it.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book with a captivating, exiting and enticing plot. What was particularly interesting about this book is that many sub-topics are covered in relation to Edie Marble’s courageous activities such as philosophy, human rights issues and the special forces which help to make the story line all the more compelling. Overall, a highly enjoyable read!
This is a really interesting read and I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does next. The writing style is interesting and was broken up well with clues and images that keep the readers engaged. It was engaging and I would recommend it to an advanced pre-teen reader who likes a bit of suspense... I know I would've loved it so much if I had read it when I was younger.
I found the blurb and the idea of the Three Principle interesting. Unfortunately the books failed to keep my attention as I found that the 3Principles made the mystery take the back seat . Not my cup of tea. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I absolutely loved this book, and the reason why is that it had a rich storyline. I loved how each character was unique and amazing. I rated the book five stars because I enjoyed the book and would read it again.
Great child detective story featuring Jewish girl (and her brother) solving clues left by her mother (now deceased) to unravel the reason for her death, and the culprit.
A sensitive portrayal of grief and a gripping murder mystery aimed at 11-14 year olds. Perfect for fans of Fleur Hitchcock, the Scarlet and Ivy series and Robin Stevens.
I know that this book is well made, but I personally found it boring because I'm not a big fan of detective or mystery stories 😅 Just my preference of books.
brooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! i cant put enough o's to express how much i loved this book! i literally could NOT stop reading it, it's def going on my list of fav books ever! i love edie and her connection w her mom, nothing could not have made this book better! the characters and plot is so well-written! def gonna re-read it
this is one of the books i would MOST DEFINITELY recommend to a mystery lover! theres so much action 😍
Thirteen-year-old Edie Marble and her family have had a tough year. Edie's mother passed away a year before and Edie learns at the stone unveiling that her death may not have been an accident after all. Through five clues that she leaves for her daughter, Edie's mother leads Edie to the truth about her death and a massive corporate human rights violation. The Five Clues is Anthony Kessel's debut novel and the first book in the Don't Doubt the Rainbow series about amateur sleuth Edie who must harness the Three Principles approach to solve crimes.
The Five Clues is cool in many ways. It has an Alex Rider approach to crime fighting in that it is pretty implausible, definitely not something you should try at home, but bucketloads of fun and non-stop action nonetheless. Like Anthony Horowitz's teen crime fighter, London-based Edie is working through her grief over the loss of her mother and couldn't do it without the help of a very good friend.
Unlike Alex Rider, Edie has a tight-knit family, including a loving father and younger brother. It is this love that will determine whether or not Edie is successful in her quest. I loved the music references that Edie and her parents shared and know that this book will appeal to the teens of music loving parents.
What I enjoyed most about the novel was Edie's Judaism and the descriptions of the Jewish grief rituals such as the stone laying service. Being half-Jewish myself, I'm most familiar with Jewish funerals and graveside rituals and it felt great to see that represented in a YA novel.
What Kessel does best in The Five Clues is to write complex and detailed villains, especially in Zero, the trained assassin central to the story. It is rare to really get to the heart of a villain's motives and raison d'etre, especially in a young YA novel such as this.
But that is where The Five Clues doesn't quite meet the mark. It is aimed at the younger side of the YA spectrum and the ways the Three Principles are shoehorned in to the story felt a lot like telling, not showing. I'm not certain it was particularly well done either, I have a post-grad in psychology but still have little understanding and appreciation for what the Three Principles entail, besides seeming vaguely Jungian. I do know that it was mentioned so many times in the novel that I lost the will to care about it by the end and I suspect younger readers will feel the same.
Nevertheless, TheThe Five Clues is fun with a well-thought out mystery and well-written antagonists. I give it three out of five stars and recommend to fans of Alex Rider and Enola Holmes.
I received an electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley. I will always provide an honest review, whether books are provided to me or purchased by me.
Edie is very earless and daring which makes her character very likeable. I liked the anticipation and tension of the adventures. All the characters make the story better and the way the author wrote the descriptions was captivating. The mystery parts weren't the best but I would still definitely recommend :)