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A to Z Mysteries #4
The Deadly Dungeon
Dink's favorite mystery writer, Wallis Wallace, has invited Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose for a sleepover - in a haunted castle! But as soon as the young detectives arrive, they start hearing screams behind the walls. Will they discover who - or what - is haunting Moose Manor? From the Trade Paperback edition.
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
401 people are currently reading
1332 people want to read
About the author
Ron Roy
246 books384 followersRon Roy has been writing books for children since 1974. He is the author of dozens of books, including the popular A to Z Mysteries®, Calendar Mysteries, and Capital Mysteries. When not working on a new book, Ron likes to teach tricks to his dog Pal, play poker with friends, travel, and read thrilling mystery books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
January 18, 2023
Now, this part is the best. After all, these three kids get a chance to visit and stay at their favourite author's home. :D
Grab your copy here.
Grab your copy here.
August 26, 2015
Review by my 6 year old:
This was a fun book to read with my mom. I really liked it a lot. It was exciting to read. At first I was scared, but the end it wasn't scary any more.
This was a fun book to read with my mom. I really liked it a lot. It was exciting to read. At first I was scared, but the end it wasn't scary any more.
June 21, 2021
Rileggere le avventure di Dink, Josh e Rose dopo tutti questi anni è come tornare di nuovo bambini. È come se io fossi cresciuto mentre loro sono sempre lì ad aspettarmi, e amo davvero tanto questa sensazione.
February 24, 2017
Probably just me, but I didn't care. It was nice and short, but that's it.
March 13, 2014
The Deadly Dungeon : by Ron Roy
This is a good book talks about three guys and a adult the names of the guys are :Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose they go to a few holidays to the house of an uncle its that is close to the beach they are traveling in a bus together with an adult who takes care of them the name of its uncle is wallis they are anxious for coming and knowing how the beach is the place where they are going to live when they come to the place before they come to the house of its uncle he(she) waits for them in a jeep to take its baggage and to the boys when they come to the house Ruth Rose is surprised because it is a very big house and very close to the beach Danke this one said better that and acquaintance and Josh said this house it is never a mansion imajine that was going to live in place like this one, the boys were very satisfied for the house of its uncle when they looked at its uncle were very happy,Uncle Wallis gave them welcome and les showed their avitan when they looked at the rooms looked were very large had plenty of space to be able to play, skip, or what they wanted to do his uncle was a very good person. That same day the boys were with Wallis to the beach to take a bit of sun carried with them a little food-product shipments climbed , you must taste and water biscuits and some candies near the beach was a tunnel where the water ran and Danke asked to Wallis what it was that was beyond Wallis could not say much about the tunnel .When the Sun started to be night Wallis told the guys they had to return to house the boys because they were eager to return to the mansion of his uncle Wallis when did they come back home Wallis asked if they wanted to have something for dinner and they said that if Wallis prepared lobters when they stopped having dinner they went to sleep to the following day got up much early and Danke was sick with its stomach Wallis asked because it was sick? Danke was thinking that perhaps the dinner was not very delightful and that a little the feel bad .That same day when Danke went to the beach again and on the beach found a person that was in a boat which was fishing fish the guys asked him what I was doing ? And they also asked that if they showed how fish lodsters he said that if that could help them and how to fish lodsters When finished fishing lodsters returned home and showed the lodster to Wallis and said if they wanted go to explore the trees he had near the House in which Wallis makes the lodster, this time Danke said that he does not was very safe to eat lodsters.The next day the boys went to the beach to swim a while after a while of malfunction swam Josh said that he wanted to go to the tunnel that I look at the first day when they were about to enter the tunnel Danke was very scared he did not want to enter because it was too dark Ruth Rose was very determined to enter the tunnel Josh said "we're going do not be afraid When finally entered the tunnel Josh found a light I could then see that what was he had in the tunnel but found nothing at the beginning after walking for a while decided to return home and go back the next day but when they returned to the House they spoke nothing about what had passed in the tunnel with Wallis the next day they returned to the tunnel and walked by more time when more walked the water rose more on legs Ruth Rose said this is not a good idea, but Josh was very decided to enter and know that he had in there was what when they saw that there was a cage with parrots What they were looking at was like a secret because I did not say anything about the tunnel to Wallis but they wanted to rescue parrots of these cages because they knew that this was not a good idea they thought that Wallis had something to do with the parrots because when they asked to Wallis, which was what I had in that tunnel Wallis didn't say much about the tunnel then the guys thought that Wallis was responsible for that they were then liberated the parrots the led still place where were liberated and then the guys realized that Waliis was the one which had to those parrots in those cages after accusing his own uncle of having those parrots which was supposed to sell that was a very bad idea.
Honestly this book is good but the truth I was not much contact because I hardly gave me an idea of what was happening and therefore this good book and I liked it but it's a good story. Talks about how to treat people that surround us though it hurts we hurt them but we have to do the right things as Wallis that his own nephew discovered things that the toward.
This book talks about three guys who are visiting his uncle and his house is near the Beach House of his uncle is a mansion, the kids are on vacation but then found something strange on the beach is a tunnel that there are a few parrots that then help liberated them book gives to understand that you sometimes must save animals from something bad like for example do not mistreat animals.
Sometimes one does not believe that our friends or family can hurt us, but the truth is that they do not to hurt us they do this to try to help us and do good and as the guys did something bad to his uncle Wallis.
I would recommend this book all people and who like reading short stories and because they are good stories not to be boring we can read this type of book.
This is a good book talks about three guys and a adult the names of the guys are :Dink, Josh and Ruth Rose they go to a few holidays to the house of an uncle its that is close to the beach they are traveling in a bus together with an adult who takes care of them the name of its uncle is wallis they are anxious for coming and knowing how the beach is the place where they are going to live when they come to the place before they come to the house of its uncle he(she) waits for them in a jeep to take its baggage and to the boys when they come to the house Ruth Rose is surprised because it is a very big house and very close to the beach Danke this one said better that and acquaintance and Josh said this house it is never a mansion imajine that was going to live in place like this one, the boys were very satisfied for the house of its uncle when they looked at its uncle were very happy,Uncle Wallis gave them welcome and les showed their avitan when they looked at the rooms looked were very large had plenty of space to be able to play, skip, or what they wanted to do his uncle was a very good person. That same day the boys were with Wallis to the beach to take a bit of sun carried with them a little food-product shipments climbed , you must taste and water biscuits and some candies near the beach was a tunnel where the water ran and Danke asked to Wallis what it was that was beyond Wallis could not say much about the tunnel .When the Sun started to be night Wallis told the guys they had to return to house the boys because they were eager to return to the mansion of his uncle Wallis when did they come back home Wallis asked if they wanted to have something for dinner and they said that if Wallis prepared lobters when they stopped having dinner they went to sleep to the following day got up much early and Danke was sick with its stomach Wallis asked because it was sick? Danke was thinking that perhaps the dinner was not very delightful and that a little the feel bad .That same day when Danke went to the beach again and on the beach found a person that was in a boat which was fishing fish the guys asked him what I was doing ? And they also asked that if they showed how fish lodsters he said that if that could help them and how to fish lodsters When finished fishing lodsters returned home and showed the lodster to Wallis and said if they wanted go to explore the trees he had near the House in which Wallis makes the lodster, this time Danke said that he does not was very safe to eat lodsters.The next day the boys went to the beach to swim a while after a while of malfunction swam Josh said that he wanted to go to the tunnel that I look at the first day when they were about to enter the tunnel Danke was very scared he did not want to enter because it was too dark Ruth Rose was very determined to enter the tunnel Josh said "we're going do not be afraid When finally entered the tunnel Josh found a light I could then see that what was he had in the tunnel but found nothing at the beginning after walking for a while decided to return home and go back the next day but when they returned to the House they spoke nothing about what had passed in the tunnel with Wallis the next day they returned to the tunnel and walked by more time when more walked the water rose more on legs Ruth Rose said this is not a good idea, but Josh was very decided to enter and know that he had in there was what when they saw that there was a cage with parrots What they were looking at was like a secret because I did not say anything about the tunnel to Wallis but they wanted to rescue parrots of these cages because they knew that this was not a good idea they thought that Wallis had something to do with the parrots because when they asked to Wallis, which was what I had in that tunnel Wallis didn't say much about the tunnel then the guys thought that Wallis was responsible for that they were then liberated the parrots the led still place where were liberated and then the guys realized that Waliis was the one which had to those parrots in those cages after accusing his own uncle of having those parrots which was supposed to sell that was a very bad idea.
Honestly this book is good but the truth I was not much contact because I hardly gave me an idea of what was happening and therefore this good book and I liked it but it's a good story. Talks about how to treat people that surround us though it hurts we hurt them but we have to do the right things as Wallis that his own nephew discovered things that the toward.
This book talks about three guys who are visiting his uncle and his house is near the Beach House of his uncle is a mansion, the kids are on vacation but then found something strange on the beach is a tunnel that there are a few parrots that then help liberated them book gives to understand that you sometimes must save animals from something bad like for example do not mistreat animals.
Sometimes one does not believe that our friends or family can hurt us, but the truth is that they do not to hurt us they do this to try to help us and do good and as the guys did something bad to his uncle Wallis.
I would recommend this book all people and who like reading short stories and because they are good stories not to be boring we can read this type of book.
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November 9, 2022sometimes ya just need to listen to a wholesome kids book while walking around campus.
January 30, 2025
My higher reading group (grade 3) enjoyed this book!
October 29, 2024
Fun read with the kids.
February 27, 2013
“A-Z Mysteries: The Deadly Dungeon” is based on a group of friends who have a similar interest in an Author. They visit her house to find there is a dungeon in the basement and eventually want to explore it to find a ghost. This book was a good read and was easy to finish while keeping my attention. I rated this book three of five stars because I felt the book was too easy to read for my age of people. I recommend this book to all young readers who are interested in mystery books.
February 10, 2018
The sentence structure, writing, and/or narratioon was stilted at least in the beginning. The adults had some moments, in particular, where their dialogue was so off I could liken it only to someone inexperienced focused on getting the next part in and forgetting how to do so smoothly, or a placeholder never fixed to be reasonable. It was odd that the writer character was not more curious, although I could shrug that off; what I could not shrug off was
September 17, 2024
It was scary and interesting it was also very mysterious.
I finished it in one day and I enjoyed it.
I finished it in one day and I enjoyed it.
December 14, 2024
The book is about three investigators who solve mysteries. Their names are Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose, and they go on a journey to find out what is happening in the dungeon.
This was an amazing book. I think everybody who sees this review should read it sooner or later. I like the writing, especially the books written by Ron Roy. I also enjoy the mystery itself and how they solve it.
This was an amazing book. I think everybody who sees this review should read it sooner or later. I like the writing, especially the books written by Ron Roy. I also enjoy the mystery itself and how they solve it.
October 25, 2018
Not as well laid out or engaging as the previous three. But short and entertaining enough.
August 6, 2025
these are starting to bore me lol
January 10, 2014
“The Deadly Dungeon” is a book written about three kids Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose who are going to visit their friend Wallis Wallace. The journey starts off with the three riding in a bus on the way to Belfast, Maine where they would be picked up by Wallis. To their surprise Wallis does not pick them up ,but her brother Walker does. Walker takes them to Wallis’ castle and they settle in and eat. The next day they go lobstering with Walker. They come back and eat in this playhouse at Wallis’ castle. They discover a door that leads to a dungeon, and then they find these parrots that are making these noises that Wallis thought was a ghost the whole time. The parrots were poached and they find out who took them.
The main characters in “The Deadly Dungeon” are Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. Other characters who are talked about are Wallis Wallace, Wallis' brother Walker Wallace, and Ripley Pearce.
The story is taken place in Maine, at Wallis Wallace’s castle by the water. I think it’s written in modern times because the boat that Walker Wallace drives has a motor on it, and there are other things that make me think that, like how the three kids are riding on a bus to Belfast, Maine. ALso, when they go to the super-market it sounds like it is store designed like today's stores.
The main theme in this book is friendship. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose went to the Moose Manor; Wallis’ Castle and stayed over there. I think they became much closer with Wallis when they went over to her castle and stayed a couple of nights. Wallis and her brother Walker really accepted the three kids. Also, Dink, Josh, and Ruth accepted Wallis and Walker.
Overall this book was pretty good it always kept me interested in what was going to happen next. I would recommend it to people who are seventeen and under, and if they like to read about mysteries.
The main characters in “The Deadly Dungeon” are Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. Other characters who are talked about are Wallis Wallace, Wallis' brother Walker Wallace, and Ripley Pearce.
The story is taken place in Maine, at Wallis Wallace’s castle by the water. I think it’s written in modern times because the boat that Walker Wallace drives has a motor on it, and there are other things that make me think that, like how the three kids are riding on a bus to Belfast, Maine. ALso, when they go to the super-market it sounds like it is store designed like today's stores.
The main theme in this book is friendship. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose went to the Moose Manor; Wallis’ Castle and stayed over there. I think they became much closer with Wallis when they went over to her castle and stayed a couple of nights. Wallis and her brother Walker really accepted the three kids. Also, Dink, Josh, and Ruth accepted Wallis and Walker.
Overall this book was pretty good it always kept me interested in what was going to happen next. I would recommend it to people who are seventeen and under, and if they like to read about mysteries.
November 17, 2015
"The Deadly Dungeon" by Ron Roy is a mystery novel for young children grades 2 to 4. The book begins with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose riding in a van on the way to Belfast, Maine to have a sleepover in a castle. Wallis Wallace, Dink's favorite writer, had invited them. All of the kids heard screams behind the walls as soon as they arrived and they were calmly told that every castle is haunted- it is no big deal. The book continues on with the children trying to figure out who or what is haunting Moose Manor. I enjoyed this book and I think it is appropriate for young children to read. It isn't too scary for a young reader and it remains captivating throughout the book. This is a popular series among young readers and I would use this as an introductory text into various genres of books. A to Z mysteries is a wonderful way to peak children's interest into mystery novels. I would create a vocabulary extension with this book in regards to descriptive words. For example, "the children CROUCHED by the window..." and "At the top of the stairs was a DIM hallway"... I would use this to teach children how to enhance their use of descriptive words in their writing. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I can see why many children are captivated by this series.
August 17, 2009
I had never read an A to Z Mystery, and I'm trying to sample all of the major kids' mystery series. This series is just right for the after Junie B. Jones set--just a little harder, but the chapters are fairly short and there are still some pictures. Three friends, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose, are visiting an author that they saved in one of the previous books in the series. The author lives in a castle that is believed to be haunted, and there are strange sounding shrieks from time to time, but no one can ever be found. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve the mystery behind the odd noises. My favorite detail: Ruth Rose likes to dress all in one color from head to toe. The clues are easy enough that an astute reader will solve it, and I like mysteries that I think kids may be able to solve.
May 17, 2013
"The Deadly Dungeon" by Ron Roy is a book where Josh, Dink, and Ruth Rose go to the Moose Manor in Pennsylvania to visit their good friends, Wallis Wallace and Walker Wallace. While they're there, there is a screech within the walls of the manor. The screech is thought to be the Ghost of Emory Scott. The manor is located on a hill and at the base of the hill is a cave. The group decides to explore the cave. Within the cave they find a dungeon that holds two endangered, caged parrots. Later that night they set a trap to find out who would do such a terrible thing. Read the book to find out the exciting ending. I would recommend this book to chilren 8-12 or anyone who likes a good mystery.
November 15, 2011
Funny!
September 15, 2024
The Deadly Dungeon is an early chapter book with suspense and excitement. In this fourth book of the A to Z Mysteries series, the characters Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose visit a castle in Maine and find a hidden dungeon within. I love a good mystery book so this one was right up my alley. I like that it was full of twists to keep me engaged, which lets me know that it will keep young readers engaged, too. I enjoyed how the characters worked together to solve the mystery through teamwork and problem-solving. Illustrations in this book are minimal and black and white but, they are placed in great areas to give visual support. The illustrations do a great job at showcasing the setting of the story. I think they will help build students' imagination.
I would use this book in maybe a 2nd grade classroom if students are ready but, primarily 3rd or 4th grade. In these grades, the mystery genre will help readers to think about the plot, make predictions, and problem-solve. I think that a fun classroom activity to go along with this book would be to create a mock mystery for students to solve using clues hidden around the room. This would help build vocabulary, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
I would use this book in maybe a 2nd grade classroom if students are ready but, primarily 3rd or 4th grade. In these grades, the mystery genre will help readers to think about the plot, make predictions, and problem-solve. I think that a fun classroom activity to go along with this book would be to create a mock mystery for students to solve using clues hidden around the room. This would help build vocabulary, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
January 31, 2025
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are off to visit their author friend Wallis Wallace, and it promises to be a good time. But during their tour of the castle, they hear a bloodcurdling screech that their host claims is the ghost of a former owner. Intrigued but unsure what it could be, the three children go about their day. That night, they make an astonishing discovery that might bring them face to face with the ghost of the castle. Can our three resourceful friends figure out just what is going on?
This is another delightful adventure with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose as they solve a haunting mystery with a shocking twist. It was so nice to see Wallis Wallace and her brother again, and to actually be at the castle was such a treat. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. If you enjoyed any of the other books in the A to Z Mysteries Series, this is one you can’t miss. Or if you just want a quick mystery.
This is another delightful adventure with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose as they solve a haunting mystery with a shocking twist. It was so nice to see Wallis Wallace and her brother again, and to actually be at the castle was such a treat. The ending was perfect and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. If you enjoyed any of the other books in the A to Z Mysteries Series, this is one you can’t miss. Or if you just want a quick mystery.
June 5, 2024
My 6yo loves this series. I'm not a fan.
The writing was bland. It's possible to write a kids book without making it look like it's written by a kid. The only thing that is well-described is the mansion (which is admittedly cool). The rest of the setting and characters are not well described at all. The characters were utterly indistinguishable- they had absolutely no personality.
The mystery was fine, but the final reveal was so terribly done. It would have been so easy to do it better! But it completely undermined the mystery plot. The reveal was only half-done. My kids had lots of follow-up questions that were obvious questions and never answered. How did the green feather on the boat get there? That clue was never explained and a kid would want to know. Several examples like that.
I really need a better mystery series for my kiddo.
The writing was bland. It's possible to write a kids book without making it look like it's written by a kid. The only thing that is well-described is the mansion (which is admittedly cool). The rest of the setting and characters are not well described at all. The characters were utterly indistinguishable- they had absolutely no personality.
The mystery was fine, but the final reveal was so terribly done. It would have been so easy to do it better! But it completely undermined the mystery plot. The reveal was only half-done. My kids had lots of follow-up questions that were obvious questions and never answered. How did the green feather on the boat get there? That clue was never explained and a kid would want to know. Several examples like that.
I really need a better mystery series for my kiddo.
September 12, 2024
This book is a story about three best friends who travel to Maine to visit another mutual friend who happens to live in a castle! Throughout their stay at the castle, they continue to hear mysterious sounds, so of course they decide they need to find out if the sounds are the ghost of Emory Scott who had mysteriously died in the castle. After deciding to investigate, the group finds that the noises are a bunch of green parrots that have been smuggled and stored under a trap door! I thought that this story would be a good independent reading book because it seems like a story that would keep students engaged and anticipating what is going to happen next.
March 12, 2020
D is for Deadly.
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are in a castle, the castle of Emory Scott. With them is Wallis. She's a famous mystery writer.
One day, Dink finds a feather in Josh's shoe. Then they find another one.
Remember when I told you about Emory Scott? Wallis believes that there's a ghost in the house because there is screaming coming from a cave, and all over the castle.
When Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose go into the playhouse, they find a trap door that leads them to a dungeon. The tide is coming in, and they find what's making the sound in the dungeon.
Uh-oh!
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are in a castle, the castle of Emory Scott. With them is Wallis. She's a famous mystery writer.
One day, Dink finds a feather in Josh's shoe. Then they find another one.
Remember when I told you about Emory Scott? Wallis believes that there's a ghost in the house because there is screaming coming from a cave, and all over the castle.
When Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose go into the playhouse, they find a trap door that leads them to a dungeon. The tide is coming in, and they find what's making the sound in the dungeon.
Uh-oh!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2017
What I learned from the book was that the three children are trying to find about the deadly dungeon and after that they went out for a picnic. And after they had a picnic they saw a cave and they went inside and they found some cages in the water they went in the water and got the cages. And they went out and then they went inside a castle and it was humungous. And after they
Looked inside the castle they went back home and they had syrup and pancakes for dinner.
Looked inside the castle they went back home and they had syrup and pancakes for dinner.
March 23, 2019
Read these books when I was a kid and greatly enjoyed them, figured I'd give them a second read for kicks.
I certainly recommend any young mysteries fan devote time to this series, it's certainly a grand adventure for a young mind, the imagery of Ron Roy's words and his settings and unique character descriptions and personalities really help kids imagine a whole movie in their heads as they read each exciting page.
I certainly recommend any young mysteries fan devote time to this series, it's certainly a grand adventure for a young mind, the imagery of Ron Roy's words and his settings and unique character descriptions and personalities really help kids imagine a whole movie in their heads as they read each exciting page.
December 30, 2017
This is a great mystery book for kids. My main complaint is the lack of background characters. It is very obvious who the perpetrator is in this story because besides Wallis Wallace, there are two background characters and even for kids, it would be easy to "solve the crime". Nonetheless, these are great books.
June 23, 2018
My six-year-old daughter says:
I liked it because it was more of a mystery.
My four-year-old son says:
They go get water in their pants to float. 4 stars!!
Mom says:
This was much more of a Nancy Drew-feeling mystery for me compared with the earlier A-Z books. This one had some more scary moments but it all works out. As an adult, this one was one of the more fun for me.
I liked it because it was more of a mystery.
My four-year-old son says:
They go get water in their pants to float. 4 stars!!
Mom says:
This was much more of a Nancy Drew-feeling mystery for me compared with the earlier A-Z books. This one had some more scary moments but it all works out. As an adult, this one was one of the more fun for me.
October 17, 2019
Josh, Dink, and Ruth Rose go to the Moose Manor in Pennsylvania to visit their good friends, Wallis Wallace and Walker Wallace. While they're there, there is a screech within the walls of the manor. The screech is thought to be the Ghost of Emory Scott. The manor is located on a hill and at the base of the hill is a cave. The group decides to explore the cave. Within the cave they find a dungeon that holds two endangered, caged parrots. Later that night they set a trap to find out who would do such a terrible thing. Read the book to find out the exciting ending. I would recommend this book to children 8-12 or anyone who likes a good mystery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2021
Josh, Dunk and Ruth Rose visit their favorite mystery writer in her castle/house for a week vacation. While there they follow clues to solve the mysterious sounds that haunt the castle. Who or what is making the sounds...? It's been fun to read these books at night with hubby and son. Our discussions get pretty funny sometimes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews