Reviewed by: Kate, Age 13 from California

Rating:

The Mysterious Benedict Society Series is about four unusually talented kids who take up a mission to save the world from their mentor’s long-lost genius, Mr. Curtain. Over the course of the 3 books, they have to overcome tricky circumstances with Kate’s agility, Sticky’s genius, Reyine’s cleverness, and Constance’s mind power.
I am an avid reader, and have read Percy Jackson, Fablehavan, Children of the Lamp, Ranger’s Apprentice, Septimus Heap, Pellinor, The Ink Trilogy, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and millions of other book series. This series is by far my favorite one.

A boy detective, a cat detective… and Karen as detective? In celebration of Mystery Month, we’ve assembled a line-up of brilliantly baffling books for our latest podcast. So the only mystery left here is: why haven’t you clicked “play” yet?

Part 1: We reveal our Mystery Book Theater mystery book (plus, Nancy makes a little rhyme)
  (5:29)
Download the MP3 (5.1 MB)

Part 2: Our favorite mysteries — and two of YOUR recommendations
  (6:41)
Download the MP3 (6.2 MB)

And when you’re done listening, don’t forget: our next theme is books with road trips! So watch our latest Mystery Book Theater video and check out these  road trip books to get you through your next long car ride.)

— Nancy and Karen

Reviewed by: Maddy, age 10

Rating:

Featured in "Get A Clue!”

The Mysterious Benedict Society is a great book about 4 whiz-kids who go on an amazing adventure together to save humanity. A must-read! There’s also a second book that continues the story— The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey.

Reviewed by: Helen, age 10, from California

Rating:

okay, have you read Nancy drew?well me too
and I have read this book series and it is also about a girl detective but I think
it is WAY better

Featured in "Get A Clue!”

its full of:cranky police officers,criminals,high tops,spunk,macaroni and salsa,and AWESOMENESS
S A M M Y K E Y E S!!!

No, we didn’t mess up in the title for this post — our new theme is mystery books, so get ready for an EXTRA mysterious Mystery Book Theater!

How could Mystery Book Theater possibly get even more mysterious? It’s a mystery! And how many times can we use some form of the word “mystery” in this post? Hmm, that’s a mysteriously mysterious mystery that will require some time to ponder… No, not really — the answer is 12 so far.

Getting bored of this? Well, what are you waiting for? Watch the video, already! Then send in your guess of what mystery book series it’s from. We’ll reveal the first person to solve the mystery in our next podcast!

PS – Count now at 14. Could we possibly be more annoying? That’s no mystery — the answer is: YES! Just wait until the podcast!

PPS – Total count: 15.

UPDATE 10/19/09: Wanna know the book? Listen for the answer in our “Get a Clue” Podcast, all about our favorite mysteries. Or, you know, we guess you could hire a private eye to hunt down the solution…

Hey, gumshoe, listen up. We’ve got a real interesting case for ya, see. We were sitting at our desks, working on Kidsmomo when this blonde dame wandered into our office. She’d obviously been crying, and she was clutching an old photo in her hand. She sat down, gathered her thoughts, and then said —

Okay, she didn’t say anything, because this never really happened. We’re making it all up. I mean, come on, you think our lives are that exciting? If they were, we wouldn’t need to read these mystery books (in no particular order):

1. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Karen’s pick)
2. Sam the Cat, Detective by Linda Stewart (Nancy’s pick)
3. Chasing Vermeer, The Wright 3, and The Calder Game by Blue Balliett
4. The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
5. Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen
6. Locked in Time by Lois Duncan
7. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
8. Goody Hall by Natalie Babbitt
9. Room One: a Mystery or Two by Andrew Clements
10. Mysterious Benedict Society books by Trenton Lee Stewart
11. Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright
12. Search for the Shadowman by Joan Lowery Nixon
13. Scat by Carl Hiaasen
14. Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money by Christopher Paul Curtis
15. The Man Who Was Poe by Avi

Also, if you’ve read any of these, send in your book review and we may read it our podcast. Or send in a review of your favorite mystery book!

UPDATE 10/19/09: We revealed the answer to our mystery edition of Mystery Book Theater in the “Get a Clue” Podcast, so take a listen. You’ll get the scoop on a mystery series we both loved as kids, plus get two additional book recommendations from kids like you!