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Seven Days
Seven days to solve a century-old crime. Seven days to unearth the treasure. Seven days to survive...
The countdown is on.
The countdown is on.
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2022
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 22, 2022
Lots of action, but also lots of challenging ethical concerns. And all the twisty secrets.
June 9, 2022
Fast paced and quick to read. Great adventure story with a mystery.
June 26, 2022
Action and mystery, with a believable and satisfying conclusion, part of which I did not see coming at all! Perfect for independent middle school readers, and older.
June 8, 2024
Content warnings: mental health, shitty parenting, bullying, animal attack
I wanted to like this because I really appreciate the way that Fleur Ferris writes young adult crime novels, and particularly the fact that they're Australian. There are all too few Australian YA crime novels on the market, and the kids finds hers really gripping.
This one, however, read more like middle grade adventure than young adult crime and I genuinely cannot tell if that was the point or not. Because, like, this was FINE? But I found the first half particularly slow and while the second half was definitely more engaging, I was never sufficiently invested in a hundred-year old feud between two families in a small country town to actually, you know, give a shit...
I wanted to like this because I really appreciate the way that Fleur Ferris writes young adult crime novels, and particularly the fact that they're Australian. There are all too few Australian YA crime novels on the market, and the kids finds hers really gripping.
This one, however, read more like middle grade adventure than young adult crime and I genuinely cannot tell if that was the point or not. Because, like, this was FINE? But I found the first half particularly slow and while the second half was definitely more engaging, I was never sufficiently invested in a hundred-year old feud between two families in a small country town to actually, you know, give a shit...
April 30, 2022
Pumped through this book in a few hours. So a great easy and relatable book. Ben goes to stay with his cousin and uncle and aunt in the country and finds a historic journal that unravels a family scandal of the past between 2 families. Ben has 7 days to solve the mystery of the stolen jewels. Lots of action for a middle school reader and a bit of a twist at the end.
Yet another great read by Fleur Ferris
Yet another great read by Fleur Ferris
April 30, 2022
Seven Days is an action packed and adventurous novel. With a mystery that Teenager Ben strives to solve. With great references to the Australian way depicted throughout. The Author Fleur Ferris has done a fantastic job with the storyline to leave you reeling in the final chapters. Leaving me happily in tears on the final page. Thoroughly enjoyed yet another novel from the Author.
June 28, 2022
This book was such a fast-paced and easy read with such a good plot twist and conclusion!
January 10, 2024
Amazing book recommendation from my daughter. Great quick read and good one while camping
January 12, 2025
Love Fleur Ferris books
December 10, 2023
This fast-paced novel follows Ben, a teenager who feels like he’s being dumped with his relatives who live in the country for a week of the school holidays. He doesn’t want to go. The last time he went he was tormented by a goose who lives on the property. This is going to be the longest 7 days of his life. So he literally sets a countdown on his watch so he knows just how many of the 168 hours have passed by.
Ben’s cousin, Josh, asks him to help clear through some belongings and that when they discover their great-great grandfather’s journal with the final entry written 100 years ago, right before he was shot. Now Ben has 7 days to resolve a 100 year old feud…and pray he doesn’t lose his life in the process.
Having met Fleur at the @sistersincrimeau Davitt Awards, I just knew that I would love this book. Even though it’s YA, it didn’t feel like anything was simplified or skipped over. I loved the twists and turns and especially enjoyed the dynamic between Ben, the city boy, and Josh, the country cousin.
This was a captivating story and I loved every second of it.
Ben’s cousin, Josh, asks him to help clear through some belongings and that when they discover their great-great grandfather’s journal with the final entry written 100 years ago, right before he was shot. Now Ben has 7 days to resolve a 100 year old feud…and pray he doesn’t lose his life in the process.
Having met Fleur at the @sistersincrimeau Davitt Awards, I just knew that I would love this book. Even though it’s YA, it didn’t feel like anything was simplified or skipped over. I loved the twists and turns and especially enjoyed the dynamic between Ben, the city boy, and Josh, the country cousin.
This was a captivating story and I loved every second of it.
March 30, 2023
Parker must stay with relatives while his dad makes a business trip. A trip Parker hates him for. Uncle Ian, Aunt Christine and their son Josh live in a small town north of Melbourne. Josh is Parker’s age, and the boys do not get along. Josh also thinks they have a killer kangaroo Rooboo and a vicious Goose, Tough Goose, who always bites Parker. It’s going to be a long seven days with relatives.
Parker and Josh unpack boxes that haven’t been emptied since the last house move. Parker finds his great-grandfather’s diary. The diary tells the story of the great-grandfather and the Rhinestone family. Great-grandfather was shot for jewels.
Parker sets out to find the jewels. Josh is reluctant to start with but eventually helps Parker when they must abseil down into the hippopotamus enclosure at the local zoo. What do they find?
I loved the characters, the ethical dilemmas, the truths they investigated, and the twist at the end.
Recommend for readers aged ten years and older.
Parker and Josh unpack boxes that haven’t been emptied since the last house move. Parker finds his great-grandfather’s diary. The diary tells the story of the great-grandfather and the Rhinestone family. Great-grandfather was shot for jewels.
Parker sets out to find the jewels. Josh is reluctant to start with but eventually helps Parker when they must abseil down into the hippopotamus enclosure at the local zoo. What do they find?
I loved the characters, the ethical dilemmas, the truths they investigated, and the twist at the end.
Recommend for readers aged ten years and older.
November 1, 2022
4.5 Stars
Fleur Ferris coming through with the goods! I was umming and ahh-ing about whether or not I should buy this because it seemed to sit between Young Adult and Middle Grade, but I reminded myself how much I LOVED 'Wreck' that I accidentally added it to my cart, oopsie daisy.
This was SO GOOD. I tend to stay away from books with male protagonists and mostly male casts, but this was perfect. Added bonuses were the fact this is Aussie fiction (woo!) and also that I weirdly had a strong connection with the whole zoo thing, because Ben literally experienced a recurring nightmare that I used to have as a child. But seeing him successfully complete that obstacle course was the opposite of my nightmare, so it was a good experience for me. Yay, trauma?
Anyhoooo, this was great!
Fleur Ferris coming through with the goods! I was umming and ahh-ing about whether or not I should buy this because it seemed to sit between Young Adult and Middle Grade, but I reminded myself how much I LOVED 'Wreck' that I accidentally added it to my cart, oopsie daisy.
This was SO GOOD. I tend to stay away from books with male protagonists and mostly male casts, but this was perfect. Added bonuses were the fact this is Aussie fiction (woo!) and also that I weirdly had a strong connection with the whole zoo thing, because Ben literally experienced a recurring nightmare that I used to have as a child. But seeing him successfully complete that obstacle course was the opposite of my nightmare, so it was a good experience for me. Yay, trauma?
Anyhoooo, this was great!
January 19, 2023
Do you love heart-pounding action? Do you enjoy intense action that you have to read through squinting eyes or skim super fast to find out if everybody is ok at the end? Seven Days by Fleur Ferris is that kind of book.
From clues in their great grandfather’s journal, Ben and his cousin Josh are on the trail to find out the truth of a 100 year old crime, find a treasure and possibly stop a family feud. Oh yeah, they only have seven days to do it all in!
The story kept me guessing to the end with a good twist and there were a few scenes that were real nail biters. This was a great story. Recommended ages 10+
From clues in their great grandfather’s journal, Ben and his cousin Josh are on the trail to find out the truth of a 100 year old crime, find a treasure and possibly stop a family feud. Oh yeah, they only have seven days to do it all in!
The story kept me guessing to the end with a good twist and there were a few scenes that were real nail biters. This was a great story. Recommended ages 10+
June 12, 2024
Well, I can now say I've officially read all of Fleurs' books. Having grown up in the same town as her, it is very exciting to see the books she writes do so well. And I gotta say the double plot twist. Wow! I was literally lost for words. This book was a real page turner.
June 18, 2024
I’m so glad I found this book on BorrowBox, having never heard of it before. It was a great adventure mystery, with a twist at the end I didn’t see coming. Well-developed characters that you can love and hate, cheer for and boo.
Highly recommend for ages 9+
Highly recommend for ages 9+
December 21, 2022
A fast paced adventure/mystery story. The fast pace combined with short chapters make this a great read for reluctant upper primary and early secondary readers.
July 31, 2022
We bought this book to appeal to our more reluctant year 7 and 8 readers (especially boys). It promised fast-paced action and it is only a bit over 200 words not to mention it is written by an author we really like with a male protagonist... so hopefully a winner.
The main character, Ben is shipped off to the country to stay with relatives while his dad goes to the USA to finalise a deal that Ben feels will endanger the farming environment of the locals. Ben doesn't like his dad much for this and the fact that he always feels he comes second to his dad's work. He does not want to stay with cousin Josh as he feels like he can never live up to Josh's physical prowess and general "awesomeness" but he has no choice. While at his relative's house he has to deal with the not-so-friendly pet "wildlife", the hostile Rhinestone family, physical danger as well as his determination to solve a crime that involved his great-grandfather.
There are a lot of issues in this book that include family relationships, age-old grudges, greed and discrimination.
It is mostly "face paced" but there were times when I think the reader may not be totally engaged. There is a twist near the end that will probably work for the target audience (I found it questionable) and the end is a little too tidy for me (eg can hate that has been going on for generations suddenly disappear?) but I'm happy to spruik it a school and see what the kids think of it.
The main character, Ben is shipped off to the country to stay with relatives while his dad goes to the USA to finalise a deal that Ben feels will endanger the farming environment of the locals. Ben doesn't like his dad much for this and the fact that he always feels he comes second to his dad's work. He does not want to stay with cousin Josh as he feels like he can never live up to Josh's physical prowess and general "awesomeness" but he has no choice. While at his relative's house he has to deal with the not-so-friendly pet "wildlife", the hostile Rhinestone family, physical danger as well as his determination to solve a crime that involved his great-grandfather.
There are a lot of issues in this book that include family relationships, age-old grudges, greed and discrimination.
It is mostly "face paced" but there were times when I think the reader may not be totally engaged. There is a twist near the end that will probably work for the target audience (I found it questionable) and the end is a little too tidy for me (eg can hate that has been going on for generations suddenly disappear?) but I'm happy to spruik it a school and see what the kids think of it.
March 1, 2023
Pitched as a fast-paced action-packed story I felt it took a bit to get going. However, it was a good read.
Ben is taken to spend some time with his cousin (who he doesn't like nor have anything in common with) while his father heads off for work. While there he uncovers some dark family history in the town and realises that the town hasn't/isn’t addressing it. He has seven days (before he heads home) to try and solve the mystery.
Full of ethics around doing the right things, dysfunctional families and discovering where you fit into the family unit, and the realisation that your past will always catch up to you.
Ben is taken to spend some time with his cousin (who he doesn't like nor have anything in common with) while his father heads off for work. While there he uncovers some dark family history in the town and realises that the town hasn't/isn’t addressing it. He has seven days (before he heads home) to try and solve the mystery.
Full of ethics around doing the right things, dysfunctional families and discovering where you fit into the family unit, and the realisation that your past will always catch up to you.
July 8, 2022
As per usual with Ferris most of the characters are decent and even if they do bad things there is usually a valid reason.
A little different in that the main characters are boys this time but it does neatly show that boys also need their parents and have struggles working out who they are and where they fit.
Ben and Josh are cousins with very different lives and each is jealous of the other for something but they don't see the darker sides of each other's lives until they have time to work together solving a family mystery.
Part mystery, part crime, part teen angst, part hero.
A little different in that the main characters are boys this time but it does neatly show that boys also need their parents and have struggles working out who they are and where they fit.
Ben and Josh are cousins with very different lives and each is jealous of the other for something but they don't see the darker sides of each other's lives until they have time to work together solving a family mystery.
Part mystery, part crime, part teen angst, part hero.
May 12, 2023
Good, engaging action/mystery for middle grade readers. At times I felt the story was a little unbelievable but it was a fun ride. The main character, Ben, and Josh, were characters that were good to get to know and I liked how their relationship developed.
The writing was very clear and easy to read. Most of the story wasn't that surprising but it was a good journey.
The writing was very clear and easy to read. Most of the story wasn't that surprising but it was a good journey.
August 16, 2022
An hundred-year-old feud, two cousins trying to bond and missing jewels makes this an adventure that keeps moving along. I thought this was a bit of a departure from this authors previous novels but no less welcome.
July 24, 2023
This was a fun read, good for YA readers with perhaps a little bit more depth. Some parts seemed a bit contrived for my liking but not to the point that it took away from the pace or the overall readability of the book.
June 10, 2022
A fast paced mix of vulnerability, bravery, comedy and the utterly serious. Wonderful.
February 22, 2023
I enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book and the zoo scene was great but the ending was a bit of a letdown for me.
August 17, 2023
But different from her other books. Feels slightly younger. Main character is a little too big on heavy fact-dumping. Interest picks up in last 50 pages or so.
November 21, 2025
I give this book a 2.5/5. The start to the middle was extremely boring and things only started getting interesting at the near end of the book. There was such a plot twist in the end though!
April 25, 2022
Ben had hoped that these holidays would be different, that he would be able to spend time with his father. When a work crisis arises, Ben is sent to stay with his uncle, aunt and cousin Josh in the small town of Manibee. When an old journal is found, Ben is keen to uncover the mystery surrounding his great-grandfather. Will he be able to solve the mystery of the missing jewellery before the family's bitter rivals get to it? The clock is ticking …
Fast-paced and full of action, adventure and mystery; Seven Days by Fleur Ferris is sure to keep you reading until the end. Set in Australia, it is always wonderful to read a story to incorporates iconic Australian qualities, flora and fauna and landmarks. The characters take on uniquely Australian qualities and who doesn't want to secretly have a kangaroo for a pet!
Read this book if you love stories which include:
-unsolved mystery
-mateship
-discovering your true abilities
-learning to look beyond the surface
-difficult families
-Australian setting
-twist at the end
Ferris has delivered a quick, easy and engaging read for teenagers.
Thank you to Penguin/Random House for the ARC.
Fast-paced and full of action, adventure and mystery; Seven Days by Fleur Ferris is sure to keep you reading until the end. Set in Australia, it is always wonderful to read a story to incorporates iconic Australian qualities, flora and fauna and landmarks. The characters take on uniquely Australian qualities and who doesn't want to secretly have a kangaroo for a pet!
Read this book if you love stories which include:
-unsolved mystery
-mateship
-discovering your true abilities
-learning to look beyond the surface
-difficult families
-Australian setting
-twist at the end
Ferris has delivered a quick, easy and engaging read for teenagers.
Thank you to Penguin/Random House for the ARC.
November 30, 2022
Ok, I feel like its important to know BEFORE you read this that it is targeted at 8-11 year olds. I was not expecting that, and I was looking forward to the twisted, fast pacedness that normally comes with Fleur Ferris books.
Certainly still a pretty good read, and I would have absolutely loved it when I was younger.
Certainly still a pretty good read, and I would have absolutely loved it when I was younger.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews