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Billionaire #2
The Emerald Casket
It has only been a month since Gerald Wilkins be-came the richest kid on earth. One month since he found out his great-aunt Geraldine had left him all her fortune and, with it, a murder mystery, clues to a diamond heist, and a target on his back. One month since Sir Mason Green made off with the contents of the diamond casket, an object of unspeakable power. And you thought your school vacation was eventful.
As book two of the Archer Legacy opens, Gerald, Ruby, and Sam come upon papers, drawings, and reams of research, all indicating that Gerald's family has been protecting a secret concerning nothing less than the fate of the world. Now Gerald and his friends are off to India to try to find out the truth. Friendships will be forged and broken. A city buried under the sea will be rediscovered. A whole mess of pigeons will be involved. And Gerald is going to have to make a choice between his love for his friends and the darkest desires of his heart.
It's entirely possible that this month might be even more eventful than the last.
As book two of the Archer Legacy opens, Gerald, Ruby, and Sam come upon papers, drawings, and reams of research, all indicating that Gerald's family has been protecting a secret concerning nothing less than the fate of the world. Now Gerald and his friends are off to India to try to find out the truth. Friendships will be forged and broken. A city buried under the sea will be rediscovered. A whole mess of pigeons will be involved. And Gerald is going to have to make a choice between his love for his friends and the darkest desires of his heart.
It's entirely possible that this month might be even more eventful than the last.
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2010
32 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Richard Newsome
13 books130 followersRichard Newsome lives in Australia and has worked as a journalist for daily newspapers, radio and TV; as a consultant with one of the world’s foremost strategy consultancies; and as communications director of a multinational media company. Richard’s debut novel, The Billionaire’s Curse, won the inaugural Text Prize for Children’s and Young Adult writing, as well as the Esther Glen medal, New Zealand's oldest literary award. The book is the first volume of a trilogy, and has been sold to publishers in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain and Turkey. The book started as a bedtime story for his children and it took Richard ten years to get around to finishing it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
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February 14, 20212/3 read. Did not finish. Apparently I really liked the first in this series. This one was OK - some adventurous parts, but the conflict between one or other of the children was getting on my nerves. Plus characters holding back important information is one of my least favorite things that happens in books. Probably won't pick up any others in this series.
June 22, 2011
The Emerald Casket is a great follow-up to the first in the series, The Billionaire's Curse. Gerald, Sam, and Ruby thought they had heard the last of Mr. Green. However, on a vacation trip to India, many more things than great monuments and exotic animals are revealed. Friendships and knowledge will be tested. Inner desires will come to light. All in a day of Gerald's life. Now that he is a billionaire, nothing in his life is normal. In the first book, burdened with the knowledge that he is a billionaire and that he must find a precious casket, Gerald faces many trials and tribulations. Along the way, friends and enemies are made. Similarly, in this book, Gerald is off on a whole new adventure. New secrets are divulged, more information about his strange family is discovered, and important details about the world as he knows it come to light. This adventure, like no other before it, will test Gerald in ways that will make him think about his life in a whole new way. What is he really going to do with all his money? What is the whole secret about the Archer family? What is it that Gerald really wants from life? What kind of adventures will he go on in the future?
May 3, 2011
This exciting, action-packed sequel to The Billionaire's Curse picks up immediately where the first story left off, making it necessary to have read the first book to have the important plot background. The action and danger are over-the-top and non-stop. The kids are threatened with...(click here for full review: http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)
April 28, 2011
LOVED IT! I want the next and final one now!!!!!!!!
May 3, 2012
This book was still really good, but at some points, there was so much going on that it was hard to understand what to focus on.
January 24, 2017
‘Between fortune-tellers and ninjas, cross-country train rides and lost cities, there is plenty of action. …young fans of this James Bond meets The Famous Five adventure will be left hanging out for the final instalment.’
Age
‘…lots of action, really good description…eight to twelve year- olds would love it.’
Herald Sun
‘…pure entertainment. The intrepid threesome is involved in an adventure to find the bad guys and locate the jewels in the style of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven series. It’s good to see books like this on the shelf as an alternative to stories of magic and fairies…I’m looking forward to the last one in the trilogy.’
Junior Bookseller & Publisher
‘Newsome is a master at dropping clues and red herrings that move the mystery along while leaving plenty of doubts about which characters are bad guys and which ones can be trusted. The action never flags, and descriptions of various Indian locales add historical and cultural interest. Humorous side plots (Gerald’s butler, the up-tight Mr. Fry, becomes enamored of Alisha’s stern chaperone, Miss Turner, and the hapless Constable Lethbridge makes several cameos with his pigeons) and resurrected villains (the albino man who smells of bleach, now described as a thin man in black) add to the intrigue…Highly Recommended’
Kay Weisman, CM Magazine
‘If your aim is to foster a love of reading, there are a billion good reasons to stock your library with Richard Newsome’s novels.’
Primary Focus Fiction 2011
Age
‘…lots of action, really good description…eight to twelve year- olds would love it.’
Herald Sun
‘…pure entertainment. The intrepid threesome is involved in an adventure to find the bad guys and locate the jewels in the style of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven series. It’s good to see books like this on the shelf as an alternative to stories of magic and fairies…I’m looking forward to the last one in the trilogy.’
Junior Bookseller & Publisher
‘Newsome is a master at dropping clues and red herrings that move the mystery along while leaving plenty of doubts about which characters are bad guys and which ones can be trusted. The action never flags, and descriptions of various Indian locales add historical and cultural interest. Humorous side plots (Gerald’s butler, the up-tight Mr. Fry, becomes enamored of Alisha’s stern chaperone, Miss Turner, and the hapless Constable Lethbridge makes several cameos with his pigeons) and resurrected villains (the albino man who smells of bleach, now described as a thin man in black) add to the intrigue…Highly Recommended’
Kay Weisman, CM Magazine
‘If your aim is to foster a love of reading, there are a billion good reasons to stock your library with Richard Newsome’s novels.’
Primary Focus Fiction 2011
July 11, 2017
I COULD NOT STOP READING!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love this series, you can put it in two words: Thrilling Mystery. It's cool how Gerald is a billionaire but he's a kid. I really like how the pieces all come together once they meet a certain person. And of course, no mystery book is a mystery book without romance. I think the author's pairing of love is a good match, with an annoying guy in the background. You should definitely read this book even if you don't like mystery
March 25, 2018
Middle school age detective story
Cute story for students. The detective story spans continents with the hero solving crimes. A hint of mysticism or magic lends a fun twist.
Cute story for students. The detective story spans continents with the hero solving crimes. A hint of mysticism or magic lends a fun twist.
June 19, 2011
4.5 stars
Picking up right where The Billionaire's Curse ends, Gerald and his friends, siblings Rudy and Sam, find themselves in the middle of more heart pounding action, deadly twists, and more mystery as they try and uncover more clues to his Great Aunt's death and his family secrets. This time their adventure takes them to India, and what a trip it is. You don't even need to leave the comforts of home to feel like you've just gone on a first class trip with Gerald and his friends.
India offers a lot of fun, and adventure for the characters and readers alike. The action is engaging and I felt realistic for the story. One of the things that I enjoyed about this sequel was getting to know the characters more indepth. I've come to love each of the teens in their own ways. Each character offers a lot to the story and together they make a fabulous team of detectives. Their friendship and trust in each other is not only well written but it's something I think readers will relate to. I also loved the humor and interactions between the three of them. I think it's something that young readers will enjoy reading about. I also love the way Richard has written his adult characters. I've come to love some of them and have my suspicions about others.
With many more twists, adventure and mystery, The Emerald Casket is a fabulous sequel that leaves me wondering what lies in store for Gerald and his friends in France. This is an exciting series and one I'd recommend picking up. It's the perfect summer read.
Picking up right where The Billionaire's Curse ends, Gerald and his friends, siblings Rudy and Sam, find themselves in the middle of more heart pounding action, deadly twists, and more mystery as they try and uncover more clues to his Great Aunt's death and his family secrets. This time their adventure takes them to India, and what a trip it is. You don't even need to leave the comforts of home to feel like you've just gone on a first class trip with Gerald and his friends.
India offers a lot of fun, and adventure for the characters and readers alike. The action is engaging and I felt realistic for the story. One of the things that I enjoyed about this sequel was getting to know the characters more indepth. I've come to love each of the teens in their own ways. Each character offers a lot to the story and together they make a fabulous team of detectives. Their friendship and trust in each other is not only well written but it's something I think readers will relate to. I also loved the humor and interactions between the three of them. I think it's something that young readers will enjoy reading about. I also love the way Richard has written his adult characters. I've come to love some of them and have my suspicions about others.
With many more twists, adventure and mystery, The Emerald Casket is a fabulous sequel that leaves me wondering what lies in store for Gerald and his friends in France. This is an exciting series and one I'd recommend picking up. It's the perfect summer read.
August 18, 2013
This is book #2 in the Archer Legacy series and I can't wait for Book #3! While I was reading it I kept thinking that it wasn't quite as good as book #1, and maybe that's true, but it's still fantastic and still rates 5 stars. And I think that reading book #1 first is a must.
Picking up where book #1, "The Billionaire's Curse", ends, Gerald Wilkins, the boy who became the richest kid on earth when his great aunt died and willed him her fortune, and his friends Ruby and Sam are off to India to visit the Gupta family and their friend Alisha Gupta. Gerald had just discovered papers indicating that his family from the time of the Romans were protecting a huge secret. As usual the kids manage to elude their adult companions and protectors and become embroiled with people who are ruthless in their quest to reach the secret and its riches first. Since this book involved a city that had been buried under the ocean and sands for eons, it really appealed to me. I'm a sucker for lost cities! This book and series is a wonderful adventure in an Indiana Jones kind of way.
Picking up where book #1, "The Billionaire's Curse", ends, Gerald Wilkins, the boy who became the richest kid on earth when his great aunt died and willed him her fortune, and his friends Ruby and Sam are off to India to visit the Gupta family and their friend Alisha Gupta. Gerald had just discovered papers indicating that his family from the time of the Romans were protecting a huge secret. As usual the kids manage to elude their adult companions and protectors and become embroiled with people who are ruthless in their quest to reach the secret and its riches first. Since this book involved a city that had been buried under the ocean and sands for eons, it really appealed to me. I'm a sucker for lost cities! This book and series is a wonderful adventure in an Indiana Jones kind of way.
July 19, 2010
I'm a sucker for a book set in India, and having read the first in this series with my children last year, we were all keen to see what new adventures Gerald and the twins Sam and Ruby would get up to.
I enjoyed The Emerald Casket even more than the first. The first book set things up so nicely, but it was good this time to get out of stuffy old-worlde England and into spicy, vibrant new territory in India.
The characters are explored in more depth in this book and all the teen leads are endearing in their own ways. There are many laugh out loud moments, and great interactions between the early teen main characters. Most importantly, the fast and imaginative pace of the action is spot on.
We are keen for the next book in the series and already have a wish list of countries for the world's youngest billionaire and his pals to travel to.
I enjoyed The Emerald Casket even more than the first. The first book set things up so nicely, but it was good this time to get out of stuffy old-worlde England and into spicy, vibrant new territory in India.
The characters are explored in more depth in this book and all the teen leads are endearing in their own ways. There are many laugh out loud moments, and great interactions between the early teen main characters. Most importantly, the fast and imaginative pace of the action is spot on.
We are keen for the next book in the series and already have a wish list of countries for the world's youngest billionaire and his pals to travel to.
May 22, 2011
Gerald wilkins brand new billionare boy is back with his two friends ruby and sam. they get invited to visit India to visit Alisha and her father as thanks for rescuing thier diamond. Gerald finds clues where mr. green might be headding. He is having wierd dreams about the caskets and mr. green threatning his friends lives if he doesnt help him find the emerald casket. While site seeing around India in a luxery train car they run into kidnappers that want Alisha. they have rescued her a few times from them. thier body guards chaperones have disappeared. Gerald finds out a little bit more of his family history with the caskets. Its a nice adventure book but liked the first book and cant wait for next one to see why the 3 caskets where hidden away and protected so far apart from each one.
November 19, 2013
Gerald, Sam and Ruby are back at it! This time they are traveling to India at the request of the Gupta family. While they are there, they end up in danger more than once. It seems that even though they didn't start their trip looking for another casket, they can't get away from it.
This was a great follow up to The Billionaire's Curse. There was a great adventure, and the dialogue between the kids and Mr. Fry was as amusing this time as it was in the last book.
I can't wait to read the next one!
This was a great follow up to The Billionaire's Curse. There was a great adventure, and the dialogue between the kids and Mr. Fry was as amusing this time as it was in the last book.
I can't wait to read the next one!
January 5, 2012
Is the story sometimes silly and unbelievable? Yes. But is it also a whole lot of fun to read? Double yes.
As expected, Gerald and the twins don't always know who to trust. Especially because every time they begin to trust one person, someone else casts doubts on the individual. This episode takes the three friends to India for a never-ending race with a lot of twists and a whole lot of adventure.
As expected, Gerald and the twins don't always know who to trust. Especially because every time they begin to trust one person, someone else casts doubts on the individual. This episode takes the three friends to India for a never-ending race with a lot of twists and a whole lot of adventure.
June 20, 2015
Very good book. It was full of plot twists and suspense, and i would definitely recommend it to all of ages of about 8, which is when they might start to understand the content, to 14. The emerald casket is the second book in the teenage billionaire series, so go read the first one, the diamond casket, if you haven't done so already. This follows onto the story of Gerald, Sam and Ruby as they try to uncover the next casket in India.
August 29, 2016
The story did not start until maybe the last 100 pages,because before that they were blindly searching and wondering with no forward movement. I got bored but the mystery kept me going because I just wanted to know. I seem to have fallen into my old habit when I used to read this time of story when I was younger of skimming a lot of dull description. Something about this book just didn't jazz with me. It felt flat.
October 22, 2011
Oh, how I do love a grand adventure! These kids see more action than Indiana Jones. Fantastic settings ... would love to create a Google Lit Trip showing off some of India (of course, the places in the book were made up but as the daughter of a National Geographic collector I'd swear there really are some places that might look pretty similar). Can't wait for the third book.
July 6, 2011
I received this book in a GoodReads First Read giveaway. This is the second in 3 books. This go around Gerald is up against many more obstacles and doesn't know who he can trust. I loved this book and can't wait to read the last book in the trilogy. I would recommend this book to any and all readers.
January 9, 2016
I feel like fangirling about this book and its book series. I don't know what exactly attracts me to it, but I absolutely love the story and its characters! Each book, including this one, is a great read. Though its intended Middle Grade readers, I think almost anyone can read it and enjoy the storyline. I plan to finish the entire series with my younger brother very soon!
October 17, 2016
I prefer this book than the first one in the series. I believe this to be because I found it more alive and more engaging probably because of the story line. The setting was probably why though because I love ancient Greece and the country's they visit making it a read in one sitting. It only took me any hour so it was a moderate read and over before you know it.
June 22, 2011
4.5 stars- It's a great sequel to the series and I'm looking forward to reviewing the next book on Mundie Kids. You can read my full review on Mundie Kids here
http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2011/0...
http://mundiekids.blogspot.com/2011/0...
July 2, 2011
B&N. the second in the Billionaire's Curse series. A few too many contrived kidnappings of Alisha, but otherwise enough twists and turns to keep readers interested. The end of the story alludes to where the third casket is hidden.
June 10, 2011
Another exciting adventure in this Thirty Nine Clues read-alike trilogy. Newly minted billionaire Gerald, along with his friends Sam & Ruby, goes to visit a friend in India & winds up searching for the second of three caskets containing secrets of his family's history.
Want to read
June 19, 2011i have already read Richard Newsome's first book the billionaires curse, which i loved! So i am now going to read his second book ( from the billionaires curse trillogy) and i am looking forward to reading it!
September 23, 2012
The second book in the series. Adventure genre--Gerald, Sam and Ruby are joined by Alyssa, in India, on the quest for the emerald casket. They meet up with Mr. Green and the Thin Man. Things could get dangerous.
May 19, 2011
An awsome book, full of excitement, intruge and mystery. A very good read for people who are looking for a catchy book which sucks you in until the last page and leaves you hungery for more.
July 10, 2011
This was a good action adventure sequel to the "Billionaires Curse". Lovers of Percy Jackson, Rangers Apprentice or Jaguar Stones series should enjoy this one.
January 7, 2015
AH-MA-ZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't think my dad will like it, because of the slight fantasy/sci-fi turn at the end (he hates fantasy) but I sure loved it!!!!!!!!
June 9, 2012
second of three in the archer legacy series. required that you read them in order.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews