written by Pseudonymous Bosch
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Everything having to do with magicians is a bit mysterious. So when one magician dies and two kids go looking for answers about his death, it's not surprising that mysterious things start to happen.
First there is a Symphony of Smells. Then the kids stop at the magician's underground home and have a run-in with a not-so-nice couple. Deciphering coded clues they find along the way leads the kids into more trouble. (The author helpfully includes an appendix filled with useful information, including how to figure out codes and perform magic tricks.)
The best part of this book is the narrator. The reader doesn't know who that all-knowing person is, but it seems that he (or she) is an important character, too. Part of the mystery is figuring out what role the narrator plays in the story.
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