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The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing

(Mo & Dale Mysteries #2)

Sheila Turnage

4.16 · Rating details · 5,342 ratings · 678 reviews

The eagerly anticipated followup to the Newbery honor winner and New York Times bestseller, Three Times Lucky

Small towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are – no matter how many murders you solve.

When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn, she doesn't realize there's a ghost in the fine print. Nat ...more

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Hardcover, 368 pages

Published February 4th 2014 by Kathy Dawson Books (first published January 1st 2014)

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4.16 ·

Rating details

· 5,342 ratings · 678 reviews

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Mar 17, 2014 Meredith rated it really liked it

This was so much fun. Mo is one of those characters who just won't quit. Her use of language and unique perspective kept me chuckling and turning the pages. Small southern town, quirky characters, girl detective, humor, history remembered and secrets revealed. My heart is warmed.

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Jan 06, 2014 Mike rated it really liked it

Shelves: best-of-2014, reviewed

Three Times Lucky felt like a complete story. I’m always skeptical of follow-ups to successful books. Are they a story the author had in mind or a way to capitalize on a previous success? More often than not, these companions feel more like the latter.

Not the case with Sheila Turnage’s Ghosts of Tupelo Landing. Mo and Dale pick up right where they left off. Everything we loved about these quirky characters rooted in their remarkably unique setting shines in this second mystery. When the 6th gra ...more

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Mar 21, 2014 David rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, middle-grades, mystery, novel, owned-books

I've been doing a read-aloud book before school with my grandson for several years. He is in second grade, and enjoys a chapter or two of a book he has picked each weekday morning with his breakfast. This one has given me a chance to use my adopted Tarheel accent (I attended college in North Carolina many years ago), and the opportunity to introduce the lad to some interesting cultural tidbits like "Nabs", and some general knowledge like the concepts of analogy and rhetorical questions. We have ...more

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Feb 17, 2016 Pamela rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ghosts, north-carolina, southern-fiction, humor, young-adult, middle-grades, fiction

FIVE **** Hilariously Southern - Ghostly Good - Family Friendly ***** STARS

Mo LeBeau (of the Desperado Detective agency - always at your service) has forever capture my heart - and funny bone - with her southern-charm grit, quick-minded wit, and sixth grade embellishing candor. Listening to this quirky and endearing, family friendly audio book with my hubby, one disc per evening, was pure D laugh aloud delight! A couple times I laughed so hard the disc skipped.

Really,what better way is ther ...more

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Nov 12, 2018 Chelsea rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-star

As much as I adore this series, this one is without a doubt the weakest of the four, which surprises me considering my own personal interest in the paranormal. 3 1/2 stars

I do really applaud Sheila Turnage for being bold enough to explicitly put ghosts in this series without leaving it up for interpretation. Like, there are actual ghosts in this book. It’s pretty awesome.

Other than that, I just think that structurally this one is the weakest. I don’t really like the story being framed around the ...more

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Feb 08, 2016 Brenda Ayala rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: library

This is just really fun. The main character, Mo (full name Moses), is a crime detecting 12 year old with her best friend Dale in tow. They're an odd bunch--Mo has a strong command of vocabulary, and Dale takes things literally so much that Mo must always whisper, "rhetorical," when he starts to answer a rhetorical question.

The ghost plot in itself is just as sweet as the main characters. It isn't particularly creepy: this author is no Neil Gaiman or Tim Burton. There is no one trying to terrify ...more

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Aug 17, 2013 Monica Edinger rated it really liked it

Too early to review or star (as it isn't out till 2014), but I LOVED it.

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Nov 08, 2013 Brandy Painter rated it really liked it

Shelves: galleys, fantasy, favorites, 4-6-fantasy, contemporary-fiction, mystery, middle-grade

Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

When I read Newbery Honor book Three Times Lucky, I went in expecting not to like it due to my overwhelming dislike for quirky southern books, particularly ones that take place in the state I've lived the most years of my life. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and it overcame almost all my qualms. It was with no hesitation at all that I picked up a copy of the follow up, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, at ALA Midwinter. I Originally posted here at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

When I read Newbery Honor book Three Times Lucky, I went in expecting not to like it due to my overwhelming dislike for quirky southern books, particularly ones that take place in the state I've lived the most years of my life. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and it overcame almost all my qualms. It was with no hesitation at all that I picked up a copy of the follow up, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, at ALA Midwinter. It has all the charm of the first book and does it all even better.

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing has so many aspects I look for in a good story: mystery, an old house to explore, old secrets, family history, friendship, and strong characters. Mo's voice, already the greatest strength of Three Times Lucky, is even stronger and more assured in this book, as though Turngage grew completely comfortable with her character and let her take completely over as she was writing. I appreciate how true to their age Mo, Dale, and all their classmates are. I recognize the kids I know in them. I further appreciate the friendship between Mo and Dale and how solid it is. As they are dealing with the fall out of the events in the last book, particularly Dale's father being in jail, this is brought out fully. Mo and her big mouth make all sorts of mistakes, but Dale forgives her (eventually). Mo is learning too, which is always a wonderful aspect of characterization to see. She actually realizes when she has gone too far sometimes, and even manages to hold herself back at points. The kids relationships with the adults in the community are highlighted well too. They are working on a history project where they have to interview an older member of the community and this brings in history, but also demonstrates the importance of these generational relationships and knowing your own story. I like how Mo firmly feels a part of this community and family created around her. She still writes to her upstream mother, and she still has moments she wonders about where she comes from, but mostly she is living where she is. Harm is a new student and character introduced in this book. I throughly enjoyed the addition he made to the Mo/Dale dynamic, how he changed it. It was an interesting look at how jumping to conclusions about a person is an injustice, and how friendships can grow and change to incorporate new people and relationship dynamics.

The mystery aspect of this story fascinated more in than in the last too. As a kid, I loved stories that explored the past of a certain place and how it connected with current characters lives. I still love those stories as an adult, and this one is executed well. It focuses mostly on the kids and their immediate problems, and the mystery itself focuses on children. The ghost is the same age as the characters making it infinitely interesting to readers. As an adult reader, I would not have minded if the ghosts in the title had been completely metaphorical, but I know my students would not agree. If they are promised a ghost, they want a ghost. And Turnage delivers a wonderful ghost, complete with chilling disembodied laughter, freezing spells, flickering lights, slamming doors, and visions of scenes past. Yet the story isn't creepy so even sensitive readers can enjoy it. It is full of humor and the charm that is Mo herself. The imagery is perfect. Descriptions are short and snappy yet full of wonderful similes that readers will understand, be able to picture perfectly, and find amusing. The writing is jus top notch.

I can't wait to book talk it. I have so many pages marked with passages that I love and that will be sure to capture interest.

I read an ARC received from the publisher, Kathy Dawson Books, at ALA Midwinter. The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing will be in stores on February 4th. ...more

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Dec 12, 2014 Chelsea added it

March 2015 (Outdated Review!)
I am absolutely in love with the first book in this series, Three Times Lucky. It's actually my favorite book so far this year! I definitely had high hopes for The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing. I found this to be a very enjoyable read, although it did have slight second book syndrome.

Mo is a great main character. She's spunky, witty, and just leads the story in a great direction.

I was surprised that this book actually had ghosts in it. I thought the ghostly occurrences March 2015 (Outdated Review!)
I am absolutely in love with the first book in this series, Three Times Lucky. It's actually my favorite book so far this year! I definitely had high hopes for The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing. I found this to be a very enjoyable read, although it did have slight second book syndrome.

Mo is a great main character. She's spunky, witty, and just leads the story in a great direction.

I was surprised that this book actually had ghosts in it. I thought the ghostly occurrences would be chalked up to some prank. Usually, with straight up contemporary books, there aren't legit ghosts. I liked that element, it made it unique from other stories I've read.

I love how this series is mostly a light read, a book you can smile at and have run reading, but then, everyone once in a while, you'll see a sprinkle of heavier elements. It makes the story just so much more real and authentic.

I think this book has some of the best side characters. Lavender and Dale are just the sweetest, The Colonel and Miss Lana always make scenes interesting. Even Harm was kind of a cool character! (view spoiler)

I did feel like this book lacked a lot of the action and mystery that the first book had. This story's plot can really be chalked up to a couple of kids trying to interview a ghost for a school project. The first book had a much darker and, in my opinion, more interesting plot. I was on the edge of my seat with the hurricane and Joe Starr and the murder, and this one just lacked that same suspense. I also wasn't a fan of the fact that Mo constantly repeats herself. I get that they were trying to recap, but it just kind of annoyed me.

Overall, this book is just fun to read. The first book is pretty awesome, and this is a worthy enough sequel. I eagerly await the final(?) book! ...more

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Mar 09, 2014 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorite-settings, favorites-of-2014, mystery, sweet, ghosts

The story dragged a bit and seemed to lack a driving force, and (view spoiler), but Mo's voice, the characters, and the setting more than made up for it. I'd visit Tupelo Landing to hang out with Mo LoBeau any day!

Some thoughts from Mo herself:

"The problem with having a temper is you find out what you're going to say at the exact same minute everybody else does."

"Skeeter's little sister, Gray, a proven biter, slouched in a high ch ...more

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May 07, 2014 Alex (not a dude) Baugh rated it really liked it

Shelves: randomly-reading

In this sequel to Sheila Turnage's Newbury Honor novel Three Times Lucky, Mo and her best friend Dale find themselves embroiled in another mystery after Miss Lana, one of Mo's guardians, accidentally places a high bid on an old dilapidated inn, complete with a certified ghost.

Another mystery for Mo and Dale of the Desperado Detective Agency to solve? Maybe, after all, they have one successfully solved mystery under their belt. And when Sixth Grade begins the next day, their teacher, Miss Retzyl, ...more

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Mar 28, 2014 Anastasia Tuckness rated it really liked it

Shelves: c2014, adventure, bullies, friendship, mystery, future-staff-pick, juvenile-fiction, family, tween, supernatural

Mo Lobo, rising sixth-grader, made her debut in the Newbery Honor winning Three Times Lucky (which also happened to be my favorite book of 2012). In this book, she returns, as feisty and funny as ever, ready to make Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, a better and safer place. This time the Desperado Detectives again attempt to solve a murder--but this murder happened over a hundred years ago, and Mo is pretty sure the victim is trying to tell them something.

That's right, there's a ghost, and it's h ...more

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Apr 01, 2016 Nick rated it really liked it

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, juvenile-fantasy, mystery

I read this book straight through, other than time for sleeping. It was delightful, although the start may have had a few too many odd elements, like the Exum brothers, who appear to only be in the story to confuse the main plot threads. I didn't care for them as characters, since they were never really developed, and were just annoying pranksters with cardboard personalities. The rest of the characters were much better, even the ones who started out as un-likeable.
I was surprised to find that t ...more

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Jan 18, 2014 Joshua Whiting rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrens-and-middle-grade-fiction, childrens-mystery-fiction, nerdbery-plus-kidlit-classics

“Rising sixth graders” Mo LoBeau and Dale Earnhardt Johnson, III are back in this follow up to the Newbery Honor-winning Three Times Lucky. When Miss Lana (Mo’s adoptive mom) impulsively buys the decrepit Tupelo Inn at an auction, she doesn’t realize the place is haunted. Mo and Dale, now seasoned detectives since they solved a murder and helped find a couple of pets, of course open an investigation to discover the identity of the ghost and reveal the secrets of the abandoned inn, which turn out ...more

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Dec 09, 2018 Winnie Reilly rated it it was amazing

I just love Mo, Dale, and their Desperado Detective Agency! Harm is a great addition to their group of quirky friends. I want to live in Tupelo Landing!

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May 14, 2017 Giulio Di rated it really liked it

Ok In the haunted hotel Mo and her friends try to find the paranormal mysteries in the hotel. The book is called Ghost of tupelo landing and author is Sheila Turnage. The main characters of the book are Mo, Dale, Miss Lana, and Miss Lacy Thornton. The setting of the book is the haunted hotel. The main conflict of the book is trying to find the mysteries of the of haunted hotel. Mo and her friends stay at a hotel because there was problems with the house. So then they go to bed and see a lot of Ok In the haunted hotel Mo and her friends try to find the paranormal mysteries in the hotel. The book is called Ghost of tupelo landing and author is Sheila Turnage. The main characters of the book are Mo, Dale, Miss Lana, and Miss Lacy Thornton. The setting of the book is the haunted hotel. The main conflict of the book is trying to find the mysteries of the of haunted hotel. Mo and her friends stay at a hotel because there was problems with the house. So then they go to bed and see a lot of paranormal stuff in the hotel. Mo and her friends try to find mystery of the hotel before more people experience paranormal stuff in there hotel room.

The Ghost of tupelo landing fits in the mystery genre because it has hints like all of the other mystery books. Also my mystery book has a map of were Mo and her friends and family go to find mysteries. What's cool about my book is that it has an street address of where the mysteries and where they need to investigate. The book I have is probably one of the best mystery books. Because it has all of the mystery content. Based on my investigation about three time lucky, I noticed that it has the same content of Ghost of tupelo landing because sheila turnage wrote both of the books. “They found Mr. Jesse in a boat?" I asked. "I'm wondering if maybe he just up and died. Maybe there ain't no murder. Like the fish weren't biting and he died of boredom. It happens. Boredom kills. I've had close brushes myself, during math.” This quote shows the mystery content of the book and is related to Ghost Of Tupelo Landing.

I enjoyed this book because of how the author showed thrillers and cool mysteries in the book. I think people would enjoy mystery books would like this book because this book has the exact same content of Ghost of tupelo landing. Also if you read Mystery books it would be more exciting to read. So if you are looking for a great mystery book to read, pick up Ghost Of Tupelo Landing and go get the book now.

...more

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Mar 07, 2014 Rachel rated it really liked it

Shelves: fluff-in-the-best-way, kids-stuff

I really enjoyed this as both a fine bit of fluff and as an excellent sequel. I was surprised to find that Three Times Lucky had a sequel, to be honest. So there wasn't a lot of anticipation on my part, just a really funny good-time read. These are the sort of books that you have to be in the right mood for: if you are they are excellent and if you aren't, they'll drive you nuts. If you want to enjoy your grumpy day, look elsewhere. I would offer some great quotes, but I forgot to write them dow ...more

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Oct 14, 2013 Tasha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: childrens-books

Return to the world of the Newbery Honor book Three Times Lucky in this follow-up novel. Mo and Dale continue to run their Desperado Detective Agency but the mysteries have gotten smaller. Then an old inn goes up for sale and Miss Lana, Mo’s guardian, accidentally purchases it. That’s when it is discovered that that inn comes with a resident ghost. Now it is up to Dale and Mo to figure out why the ghost is haunting the inn, something they also manage to make into a homework assignment to do doub ...more

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Mar 01, 2017 Dolly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: middle grade readers

Shelves: 2017, childrens, middle-grade, mystery, other-usa, humor, scifi-fantasy-mythology, dance, poetry-song-music, audiobook

This is the second book in the Tupelo Landing series by Sheila Turnage. Mo and Dale team up again to solve another mystery (and finish their school project).

I enjoyed listening to Lauren Fortgang narrate the story on audiobook; she really adds character to the story with the southern drawls and the different voices for the myriad characters.

interesting quotes (page numbers from hardcover edition with ISBN13 9780803736719):

"Sal loves Dale like midnight loves stars. So far, he hasn't noticed." (p ...more

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Nov 12, 2013 Sara Grochowski rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-grade, family, friendship, mystery, ghosts, humor, reviewed, penguin, february-2014, best-of-2014-middle-grade

Sheila Turnage's second book starring Mo LoBeau and her best friend Dale is both a fantastic continuation of their story and perfect starting point for readers new to Tupelo Landing. This standalone companion to THREE TIMES LUCKY takes readers back to Tupelo Landing and lands them right in the middle of a new mystery with amateur sleuths Mo and Dale. The Desperado Detective Agency has a new case after Miss Lana accidentally purchases Tupelo's Landing's Inn... with a ghost in the fine print. With ...more

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Mar 18, 2014 Amy rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult

3.5 stars. The very things I loved about "Three Times Lucky" continue to shine brightly in "Ghosts"- The quick witted humor of Sheila Turnage as she pens the culture of Tupelo Landing with each character she creates. I also love the way Dale and Mo continue to rely on each other as they grow up in this eccentric place. At times, because there is no mention of any type of technology, I forget that this book is taking place right now. It seems almost to be of another time period when things seemed ...more

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Feb 04, 2014 Rillene rated it really liked it

Sometimes sequels fall flat. Fortunately, that is not the case with Turnage's Ghosts. Boy, can this lady created characters! It's hard for me to tell whether I was transported right into the book or if the characters jumped off the page and sat down next to me.

The text is full of interesting and unique turns of phrase--a boon for a 7th grade English teacher like me who's always on the look out for a great mentor sentence. Simile, metaphors, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia--great exa ...more

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Aug 26, 2015 Melinda rated it really liked it

Shelves: mysteries

It made all the difference for me to listen to this book - the narrator added so much personality, spunk and overall wonderfulness to the characters of this commendable read. I realized again how remarkably spirited Mo Lebeau is, Dale's quiet sensitivity, Miss Lana's fun-loving pizzazz, and the Colonel's serious yet at times, tender demeanor; all of which made these beloved characters truly accessible. The introduction of ghosts in a dilapidated historic hotel was a fun little diversion and I lo ...more

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Jan 13, 2016 Trish Evans rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2016

Sheila Turnage you have done it again. You have transported me back in time to my youth, growing up in south eastern North Carolina. This book may lead to a population boom in the state. Who wouldn't want to live in the place where these characters call home?
The dialog between these wonderful characters reminded me so much of home. This book is full of snicker moments and deep belly laugh out loud moments. You know a book has deeply touched you when the characters seem like old childhood friend ...more

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Apr 03, 2014 Mary Sanchez rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, humorous

Mo(ses) LoBeau and her best friend Dale Earnhardt Johnson II, cofounders of the Desperados Dectective Agency, are back with a new case to solve now that Miss Lana,one half of Mo's guardians, has purchased a bonafide haunted house in their small southern town with a ghost included. Can they take a picture of the ghost and include it in their 6th grade history project, along with an interview to satisfy their teacher and earn them extra credit?

The quirky team's adventures and colorful language, w ...more

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Jan 24, 2015 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: autumn-time, middle-grade, mystery, humor

This was an unusual read because in some ways I liked it even more than "Three Times Lucky". I usually love a first book and then it's downhill from there. I love ghosts and haunted houses and this book scored big time in those areas. My favorite thing about this author's writing is her characterizations. I was going to give some excerpts as examples of this but... ahhh, the book is upstairs and I'm feeling a bit lazy. The plot started to fall a little flat towards the end but nevertheless this ...more

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Sep 21, 2017 Astrid Lim rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: america, children, contemporary, lovely-heroine, middle-grade, puzzle, series

I love this series so much!!! Mo Le Bleau is one of my most fave heroines - sassy, clever but also funny, she's so easy to be liked.

This second mystery for Mo and Dale is still located in Tupelo Landing, their charming, small Southern America town. It involves a haunted inn, hidden treasures, ghost from the past and.. a newcomer who (maybe) will be recruited to Desperados Detective Agency :)

Can't wait to read the next book!!!

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Apr 20, 2015 Laura rated it really liked it

I think I would have liked this book more if I had read book one in the series because it took me a while to get to know the characters/keep everyone straight in my mind.
But, I liked the characters, especially Mo and Dale. The author did a great job creating that small-town feel with eccentric characters.
The plot was interesting--loved the ghost/school project angle that involved family secrets.
Overall, a great read.

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Mar 10, 2017 Mindy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: beat-the-backlist-2017

There should be a warning label on books: Could make you cry. The ending of Mo and Dale's second story moved me to tears.
The characters and their poignant stories swept me away to the small town of Tupelo Landing where the ghosts of the past have yet to reach the other side. Mo and Dale's second big case involves interviewing ghosts, finding an old redneck’s moonshine still, and writing a passing history report, all with as much sass as Mo can manage.

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Mar 04, 2016 Alireza rated it it was amazing

Another Mo and Dale fascinating story. To be honest I liked this one better than the last one because of all the drama. But I am now reading the last book and I think it might top this (don't read this part it might be spoiler) but when Maiken breaks out of jail where I am now it is very exciting!!!!

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