Mary’s Reviews > The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages > Status Update

The action moves at a snail’s pace.

I can’t believe that after waiting YEARS for an installment to this series, the book is a painful disintegration of the society.

I’m really hoping that the title riddle of the ages does not refer to the fact that we don’t know how old these kids are because that would be really irritating.

This book makes me feel sad and slightly ill. It captures that moment when kids lose their confidence and exuberance and belief in themselves and in life and start doubting themselves. Why on earth would you write a book about that?

“She reminded her self that it was OK to have secrets sometimes. After all, isn’t every unspoken thought a secret?”

I’m still waiting to enjoy this book. It’s very frustrating to read this because it still hasn’t said how old the kids are except that Constance is not a teenager or a tween ager. I think she was six last time so perhaps she’s somewhere between six and 11. And the rest of the kids are odd. They used to have such distinct personalities and now they don’t have any personality at all.

We pick up “years later” than the previous book with no mention of how old the kids are now. It’s very disorienting.

I wouldn’t recommend reading this book without first reading previous books in the series.