Beyond the grave

Gr 3-6-In this leg of the worldwide scavenger hunt, Amy and Dan Cahill, accompanied by their au pair Nellie, are off to Egypt to find the next clue left by Ekaterina branch founder Katherine Cahill. Once there, they learn about the rivalry between the Tomas and Ekaterina branches of the Cahill family, discover a secret Ekaterina stronghold at an Egyptian hotel, and explore tombs of ancient Egyptians. They meet their grandmother Grace's friend Hilary, who gives them several items from Grace. While Hilary and her grandson Theo seem eager to help, looks can be deceiving. Run-ins with Irina Spasky, Jonah Wizard, and Alistair Oh add to the excitement and drama of the adventure. Amy and Dan discover Cahill connections to Napoleon, Thomas Edison, and Marie Curie along with paintings and hieroglyphs that will lead them on their dangerous hunt that's fraught with betrayals and reversals. Like the previous books, historical information is woven into the fast-paced adventure.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Three different authors contribute volumes to the high-octane series about a treacherous, globe-circling scavenger hunt. Dan and Amy are still the principle underdogs in the search for the clues (a Mozart manuscript, a Japanese sword, ancient hieroglyphs) that will allow them to claim their family's historical power. The (stock) characters are energetically rendered; the action never abates. [Review covers these 39 Clues titles: One False Note, The Sword Thief, and Beyond the Grave.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.