May's review: The Name of This Book is Secret

This book has a narrator telling the story, but since no-one should know what happens or to whom, the narrator uses fake names and places. So, “Cass” and “Max-Ernest” are two eleven-year-olds who become interested in a box labeled “The Symphony of Smells” left behind by a recently deceased magician. While investigating the magician’s house, the two kids stumble upon the magician’s notebook and a very intriguing mystery. Throw in some bad guys and the disappearance of a classmate, and the two kids have quite the adventure on their hands.

What I liked: the two main characters are unique and quirky; the mystery is quite intriguing; and, the plot has many unexpected twists. The story is also well-written.

What I did not like: the narrator. He constantly says he should not tell the reader this, or he can’t say what really happened. I understand this is the gimmick, but after about the first fifty pages, I was over it. I just wanted to read the story (which was interesting). There’s even an entire chapter toward the middle of the book where the narrator says he decided to end the book there and goes on a tangent about chocolate, and ends the chapter with why he must keep writing. I understand the narrator’s interruptions might be interesting to some (there are five books in the series), but it was just not my cup of tea.

3.5 out of 5 stars