The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond

by Christyne Morrell

In this middle-grade mystery, eleven year old Charlie moves from NYC to Florida only to find herself in the haunted Winklevoss Manor. To her surprise, she's not alone—she's joined by three mischievous ghosts cursed for snatching a dead man's diamond.

After twelve-year-old Charlie moves from New York City to sweaty, sticky Florida, she’ll do anything to get back home. Even if it involves ghosts. Winklevoss Manor, Charlie’s new house, is a towering Victorian mansion famous for one thing—it’s haunted. Three ghosts—Ada, Arthur, and Guff—live there, and not by choice. They’re trapped, cursed for stealing a dead man’s diamond. A diamond that, just like the ghosts, is still in the house. And this gets Charlie thinking. . . Maybe if she can find the diamond and sell it, Charlie’s family could have enough money to move back to the city. But lifting the curse isn’t that simple, especially when she’s pitted against the school bully and three unruly spirits. It’s frightening to think about, but what if the only way to get rid of the ghosts and curses is by doing what Charlie fears the most—confronting the past that haunts her?

Genres: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Ghosts, Audiobook, Paranormal, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Hess is not happy that her dad moved them to small town Casaluna, Florida, their new home a decrepit Victorian mansion called Winklevoss Manor. To make things worse, their house is haunted, and there is a curse related to a long-lost diamond. Charlie is very homesick for New York City and doesn’t fit in with the local kids. Her goal is to convince her dad to move back, and if she can find that diamond, she’d have the money to achieve her goals. Maybe the three resident ghosts, Ada, Arthur and Gus, can lend a hand.

This is a fun ghost story with a heart. Charlie isn’t always sympathetic, with her single-minded goal to get out of Florida, but as the story unfolds, layers get peeled back and the reader gets to understand her motivations. Charlie starts to make friends with two other kids who are nicely quirky and who respect and like her for her uniqueness, and faces a peer with their own motivations to view Charlie as an enemy. While on the surface, this feels like a lighthearted ghost story, this book deals with heavy topics of grief, loss and regret, but in a very positive way. The author does a great job establishing atmosphere and setting. The reader will almost feel like they are in the hot, sticky environs of swampy Florida, or living in a worse for wear house that has resident ghosts. Music plays a huge role in the story, and ties in beautifully, as Charlie was very close to her grandmother who was an accomplished musician, and Charlie has to navigate her complicated emotions and rediscover her love of playing the piano over the course of this book. Packing a punch with a multi-layered storyline and plenty of insights into familial relationships, The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond has a lot to offer readers.

Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

• 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐍’𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐒

1. If you love a good ghost story, you’ll enjoy this middle grade novel!
2. Ever had to move to a new place as a kid? Then you’ll relate well to Charlie!
3. Each ghost has a story to tell, so if you enjoy books with strong character development, then check this one out!
4. Trying to get your 12 year old to read more? Introduce this one to them! They’re sure to love it!
5. Lastly, if you love books with different POVs and differing time periods, read The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamonds!

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

After twelve-year-old Charlie moves from New York City to sweaty, sticky Florida, she’ll do anything to get back home.

Even if it involves ghosts.

Winklevoss Manor, Charlie’s new house, is a towering Victorian mansion famous for one thing—it’s haunted. Three ghosts—Ada, Arthur, and Guff—live there, and not by choice. They’re trapped, cursed for stealing a dead man’s diamond. A diamond that, just like the ghosts, is still in the house. And this gets Charlie thinking. . .

Maybe if she can find the diamond and sell it, Charlie’s family could have enough money to move back to the city. But lifting the curse isn’t that simple, especially when she’s pitted against the school bully and three unruly spirits. It’s frightening to think about, but what if the only way to get rid of the ghosts and curses is by doing what Charlie fears the most—confronting the past that haunts her?

[Megyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

This book is a middle grade book about a young girl who moves down to Florida. She is not happy that her dad uprooted her life in New York. She moved into a house that has a curse that has trapped ghosts there. She wants to try and find the cursed diamond to get back to New York.

I enjoyed this book! I liked all of the characters and the ghosts. I really enjoyed having the ghosts point of view sprinkled in throughout. We have some nice mystery as well. I don’t think it was too scary or creepy either.

This book will be perfect for children, especially those who like ghosts!

[Veros · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle-grade mystery/fantasy charmed me from the very beginning because it felt like a cross between two of my favourite childhood movies: Casper (1995) and The Rescuers (1977). Okay so the references might be a tad outdated but I promise this book is not! We have a creepy haunted house, ghosts, tales of curses, making friends, and school bullies: all topics that a middle schooler (and adults) will find engaging or relatable.

The story is told in alternating POVs: one for Charlie and one for the three ghosts where we follow them before they were ghosts and how they cope with being ghosts in Charlie’s time. I enjoyed how the narrative mixed light and mysterious moments with heavier story beats as we got to know our characters better. We learn about the ghosts’ tragic past, and about Charlie’s grief and feelings of guilt—there’s a touching moment about midway through that made me tear up. But don’t worry, the dialogue also made me laugh several times, especially when the town’s medium, Madame Rayna was on the page. She and Cinco, an Argentinian boy with a satisfying character arc, are my favourite characters!

I loved how this book discusses what being a true friend means, especially because it’s aimed at an age group where kids might want to spend more time with friends than with family. It’s a natural part of growing up and finding independence and it doesn’t mean they don’t love their family but it can be tough to navigate. Charlie sometimes acts unkindly toward a new friend or behaves in a way her father doesn’t understand but I loved how the story allows her to process those things, and take ownership of her mistakes. The bullies in the story are not depicted as black-and-white and while it is clear that there is no excuse for bullying, it’s also equally clear that everyone deserves compassion.

[Karen (BaronessBookTrove) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


The Curse of the Dead Man Diamond by Christyne Morrell has Charlie thinking that she could quickly return to New York by finding the diamond that has cursed the original family of the house.

Will Charlie take the diamond for her own means? Or will she do the right thing by confronting her past?

Charlie Hess
Steve, Charlie's dad, moved her down to Florida so she wouldn't have to travel around New York City alone anymore. Charlie, though, does want that and will go to any means necessary to move them back, even if that means putting a curse on her own family. She is stubborn at twelve and doesn't want to give Florida a chance.

I like that Charlie knows what she wants, even if she doesn't see the big picture of why her dad moved them to a small town in Florida. The one thing I dislike is that Charlie doesn't try to like Florida or even give it a chance, especially with the other middle schoolers.

The Ghosts
Winklevoss Manor has three ghosts in residence. Ada and Arthur Winklevoss were the owners of the house and the ones who put a curse on themselves by not throwing back the diamond that they found on the beach into the ocean. The other ghost is Guff, who died because he was trying to find the diamond.

I enjoyed reading the chapters dedicated to the ghosts, as it was fun to see what they did.

Five Stars
My rating for The Curse of the Dead Man Diamond by Christyne Morrell is five stars, and I recommend it. Ms. Morrell did an excellent job, as I felt that I was over in Florida with Charlie, trying to find the diamond while learning about the house's original owners.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Curse of the Dead Man Diamond by Christyne Morrell.

Until the next time,



Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Kiley Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond is exactly the kind of book I would have loved to read as a kid. In this story you follow Charlie who has moved from NewYork City to Florida with her dad into what the local declare a haunted house. This Florida town is very superstitious and you are treated to their local legends. This story is told in a dual perspective one of them being Charlie's as she searches for this cursed diamond and what it might mean to her family if she finds it. The other perspective is the ghosts that haunt the house; how they deal with being cursed to live in the house and how they might one day be free. Dead Man's Diamond is fast-paced and the alternating points of view really pull the reader along - making you see the different sides to the story. I was equally interested in Charlie's story as she handles moving to this new town and the people she meets there, as I was learning about the ghost and the curse. It was the right balance of scary, adventure, and heart. This story, while is a mystery/treasure hunt at its core also handles topics of grief, bullying, toxic friendships, true friendship, and single parent homes.

CW: on page deaths (drowning and falling), physic medium/seance

Thank you Net Galley and Radom House Children for the ebook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Nancy Duhaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though this book was intended for ages 10 - 12, I still wanted to read it because of the plot. This book brought me back to when I was that age. How mean kids can be at the age. How true friends want to stay by your side and help you and also forgive you. How parents embarrass us. It was a fun read.

Also, the story was creative. I enjoyed the way the author alternated chapters between Charlie and the ghosts.

[Stephanie Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a Middle Grade Haunted House book - I really enjoyed this.

Charlie's whole world gets flipped upside down when her Grandma passes away and her father moves them from New York City to Florida. But not just any house - a house that is notorious for being cursed. At the age of 12, being new is hard enough, but now Charlie has to be the new girl in town who lives in a haunted house.

This book is told in two parts - from Charlie's point of view and then from the ghosts point of view (mostly Ada's). I thought this was clever and added a little extra to the book. If it was told from just Charlie's point of view, the other side of this story would have been missing. It breaks it up in a great way that keeps the reader's attention.

The house is haunted because the Winklevoss' kept a diamond that was supposed to belong to the sea but they were tempted by the fortune it could bring. Charlie was also determined to find this diamond so she could present it to her dad and have them move back to New York City. But along the way, Charlie makes some friends and learns more about the ghost's past. But will it be enough to convince Charlie to stay in Florida?

Charlie's character grows exactly as I expected her too and I think the readers can appreciate it. As someone who has moved across the country at that same age, I can understand Charlie's anger and resentment to her Father and I think her reactions are very realistic. This book will give the audience a deeper look into what a move can do but also, the good it can bring as well.

Overall, The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne Morrell was a fun, spooky middle grade read. I definitely think the spookiness is at a minimum which is perfect for this book. Definitely not on the same level as Goosebumps so it provides a happy medium for readers that want a little bit of a darker book without it being too scary. It also provides a great insight into the life of Charlie who is dealing with loss and a move all at the same time. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone in the age group who might be interested in it.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 Stars

One Liner: A quick read

Twelve-year-old Charlie (Charlotte) moves to Florida with her dad and hates that she has to leave their little New York home. The Winklevoss Manor might be huge but is filled with dirt, unwanted items, and ghosts. Soon, Charlie finds out the house is cursed as well.

Ada, Arthur, and Gruff are three ghosts living in the Manor (and not by choice). They are stuck inside for stealing a dead man’s diamond which is still somewhere in the house.

Charlie, struggling to settle in a place and dealing with bullies, tries to find the diamond. Selling it would allow them to move back to NY. However, things are hardly that simple.

The story comes from Charlie’s first-person POV and third-person POVs of the ghosts (Ada, Arthur, and Guff).

My Thoughts:

This is a fast-paced book that combines many elements like ghosts, greed, bullying, loss, regret, mourning, etc. I think it would have benefitted from some illustrations of the interiors of the house, the diamond, Charlie, and a couple of important scenes.

Charlie is a flawed character with typical thoughts and actions of a pre-teen. She is not easy to like but we also cannot help but feel sad for her. Her arc is quite decent and realistic.

The father is present but doesn’t really make an impact (this seems to be a common element in MG books). Surprisingly, another older character does better despite having only four scenes or so.

The chapters alternate between the MC’s POV (present) and the ghosts’ POVs (present and past) which provide the backstory and their thoughts about the current developments.

While Ada and Arthur are easy enough to read, Guff is exactly the kind of ghost you want to avoid. His antics induce laughs and frowns. An annoying ghost but very much true to the character.

The mystery isn’t that well-developed but should work for the kids. A few reveals come together in the climax. I’d have it if these were spaced out a little more.

The difficulties of relocating to a new place, making new friends, being guilty, etc., are well done.

The bullying track is decent too but we don’t have a definite ending. In fact, the ending is not neatly tied up and leaves space for interpretation or a sequel (not sure we need one but let’s see).

Florida is known for being a vibrant setting. However, since the MC hates the place, we don’t get much of the good stuff.

The ghostly aspects and the explanations are well done. I enjoyed these details (and would have liked to know more about the whys and hows of the curse).

To summarize, The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond is a quick entertainer with ghosts, a secret diamond, and a girl determined to go back to her home no matter what. It’s a decent read but doesn’t exactly stand out (the cover and title are fab though).

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Children's (Delacorte Press), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley #TheCurseOfTheDeadMansDiamond

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While ghost stories don’t usually pique my interest, I couldn’t resist diving into this #gifted book. I was told it contains a little humor, family struggles, a treasure hunt, and ghosts roaming around in an interesting old house. The combination of these elements promised a delightful reading experience, and I couldn’t wait to get started.

Setting the Scene
The story begins with Charlotte Hess and her dad relocating from bustling New York City to the quaint town of Casaluna, Florida. Their new home, Winklevoss Manor, is not just another eerie estate; it’s a labyrinth of secrets and spectral residents. Torn apart by treasure hunters, the manor holds the legend of a cursed diamond, allegedly hidden by the original homeowners, who continue to haunt the premises. To say Charlotte is disappointed with this new home would be putting it mildly.

The Ghostly Residents
Arthur and Ada Winklevoss, the original owners, are indeed lingering spirits within the manor’s walls. However, they are not alone. A more sinister ghost, Leopold Guffman, also haunts the house. His demise was as mysterious as the diamond itself, having fallen down the stairs to his death while in pursuit of the gem.

Charlie’s Quest
Charlie, determined to escape the clutches of Casaluna and return to a life of good pizza and non-flying cockroaches, sees the diamond as her ticket to have the money to return to New York. She’s miserable in Florida and doesn’t hesitate to let her dad know her feelings. She enlists the help of her new friend, Sarah, a ghost enthusiast with plenty of knowledge about the house, and Madame Rayna, a local medium. Together, they embark on a quest to uncover the secrets of the Winklevosses, hoping to locate the elusive diamond. However, Charlie doesn’t share that she plans to sell the diamond and skedaddle home with her dad. She’s pretty sure that wouldn’t go over well with her new friends.

Humor and Heart
Despite the ghostly premise, the novel is peppered with humor. These amusing moments provide a lighthearted balance to the story’s deeper themes.

Emotional Depth
Emotion is the driving force of the narrative. I could feel Charlie’s heartache as she mourns her grandmother and struggles with new friendships. However, at times, her all-about-me attitude makes her quite unlikable. The alternating chapters between Charlie’s perspective and that of the ghosts offer a layered understanding of the characters and their motivations.

Conclusion
This novel is a wonderful blend of humor, mystery, family, and emotion. Even if you’re not a big fan of ghost stories like me, I suggest you try this book and then consider it as a gift for someone 10-12 years old. These ghosts were unlike any that I’ve read about. Both the humans and ghosts will touch your heart. And as a plus, there is a fun twist toward the end.

My thanks to Delacorte Press and Publicity Pros(e) for a #gifted copy. I was under no obligation to review the book or post a positive review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie’s beloved gran has recently passed, and now Charlie and her father have moved across the country to the small town of Casaluna, Florida. Not only does Charlie miss her grandmother, but Casaluna is about as different from New York City as a place can be. Soon after the move, Charlie discovers that the creepy old house they have moved into is haunted in a frightening and tangible way, and there is only one thing that can set the ghosts free. With the help of a new friend and an open mind, Charlie must find a way to soothe the spirits in order to find her own sense of peace.

This engaging middle grade novel is a superb blend of a coming of age story and a ghost story, just in time for the Halloween season. Told from the alternating perspectives of Charlie and the posthumous Ada Winklevoss, the story provides readers with a wealth of information that helps support the narrative as Charlie experiences it. Charlie speaks in the first person, so readers are able to see into her mind and understand her thoughts and behaviors on a deeper level. Because Ada’s segments are in the third person, they stand out from the primary narrative while feeling like a ghost story to the reader. Together, these elements provide a robust foundation to the tale, including several motivations for the characters involved in it.

The spookiness of the ghost story will appeal to readers who appreciate the adrenaline rush that comes from not knowing what is coming next, and it is well balanced with the contemporary exploration of Charlie’s identity and experiences. Short chapters and excellent storytelling maintain the momentum of the plot, and fans of Morrell’s other works will find this to be an entertaining addition to the collection. Themes of friendship, bravery, grief, and hope emerge throughout the novel, and all readers will find something to connect with as the narrative unfolds. This is a high quality addition to library collections for middle grade readers, especially those who relish stories with strong characters and a spooky undercurrent.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful middle-grade book featuring a haunted house, humor, and finding out home is where the heart is.

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell is a delightful new middle-grade haunted house story featuring an engaging 12-year-old protagonist and the surprise inhabitants of her new home in Florida. There’s so much to enjoy: a mystery, a search for a fabulous but cursed diamond, and a young girl’s discovery that home is where the heart is.

Charlotte “Charlie” Hess is such a delightful character. While grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, her father buys a fixer-upper home in a small coastal Florida town, uprooting her from her friends’ group and all that was familiar. The story unfolds from Charlie’s first-person point of view, and her voice is relatable and delivered with wit. I was on board and behind this character from page one and completely engaged with her feelings. The same goes for Charlie’s dad, who is trying to fit in in his new town. I laughed out loud at his Pig Latin! The three spirits are as well-developed, and their tragic backstories are sad and preventable. While they are ghosts and do ghostly things, as a parent, I was more frightened by the idea of an unsupervised 12-year-old with a box of hair dye. (So, not too scary for sensitive young readers.)

The plot moves quickly, with convenient-length chapters creating good logical stopping points for reading aloud or on one’s own. Chapters relating how the curse came to be are interspersed with Charlie’s narrative of the present. Young readers should have no trouble following the shift in perspective or time frame. The descriptions of the house, the town, and the landscape are vivid, and I felt as if I was experiencing the scenes firsthand.

I recommend THE CURSE OF THE DEAD MAN’S DIAMOND to readers of middle-grade fiction who enjoy a paranormal aspect in their stories.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.

[Haleigh Gravgaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond by Christyne E. Morrell is a delightful blend of mystery, adventure, and the supernatural, making it an excellent pick for middle-grade readers who enjoy a good ghost story. The book follows twelve-year-old Charlie as she navigates the challenges of moving from New York City to a small town in Florida, where her new home—a grand Victorian mansion—comes with a spooky surprise: it's haunted!

Morrell excels at creating an intriguing atmosphere in Winklevoss Manor. The ghosts—Ada, Arthur, and Guff—are both endearing and mysterious, each with their distinct personalities and reasons for being trapped in the house. The curse involving the dead man’s diamond adds a clever twist to the traditional haunted house narrative, giving the story a fresh angle that keeps readers engaged.

Charlie is a relatable and determined protagonist. Her quest to find the diamond and break the curse is driven by her desire to return to the familiar streets of New York, making her journey not just about solving a mystery but also about finding a place where she belongs. Her challenges, including dealing with the school bully and overcoming her fears, are well-handled and contribute to her growth throughout the story.

While the pacing is steady, the book effectively balances moments of tension and humor, making it an enjoyable read from start to finish. The resolution is satisfying, tying up the story’s key elements while leaving room for readers to imagine what might come next for Charlie and her ghostly companions.

Overall, The Curse of the Dead Man's Diamond is a charming and engaging tale combining a spooky mystery and heartfelt moments. It will entertain young readers and leave them with a smile. 3.5 stars.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond with my 7-year-old, and we both really enjoyed it! We laughed multiple times and enjoys the story's multiple twists.

The story follows Charlie, a middle schooler grieving the loss of her grandmother and reluctantly relocating from New York to a small town in Florida with her dad. She quickly feels like an outcast at school, struggling to fit in with the tight-knit, small-town kids. Things take an even stranger turn when she discovers that her new home is haunted—by three ghosts bound to a cursed diamond.

Determined to find the missing diamond, Charlie sees the quest as her chance to return to New York with her dad, the place where she believes she truly belongs.

Told through two perspectives—Charlie’s and Ada’s (one of the ghosts)—the book gives readers a fuller view of the mystery. Since the ghosts can’t always communicate directly with the living, the dual perspective works beautifully to bridge the gap.

This book does a wonderful job of addressing grief and loss for young readers while weaving in mystery, adventure, and friendship. Charlie must navigate her own pain while deciding what’s right not just for herself and her dad, but for the ghosts and the town as well.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This middle grade novel was an interesting and quick read. It dealt with issues of real vs. superficial friendships, bullying, grief and loss, starting over, single parent homes, and other themes. I enjoyed the storyline - a family moves to a home in a superstitious small-town in Florida that happens to be haunted by three ghosts cursed by their greed over a diamond. The 6th grade protagonist, Charlie, decides that finding the cursed diamond will be her ticket back to NYC, where she grew up. One of the ghosts, Ada, finds a way to communicate to assist her on her quest. However, if Charlie succeeds, it may mean that the three ghosts disappear and aren’t going to be able to break the curse and move on from the home. Overall, I enjoyed the book and think that middle grade students would as well. There are brief references to the use of an Ouija Board and speaking to a local medium. There was no bad language, no substance or alcohol use, and no romantic interests (other than the father having a crush on one of Charlie’s teachers). Overall, it was an enjoyable read with good lessons.

[Hope Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her beloved grandmother, Charlie's father moves her from her beloved New York City to the humid "outback" in the wilds of Florida. Unwilling to accept this is her new home and life, Charlie wishes, hopes, and schemes to force her father into moving back to NYC. Especially when she is forced into a new school and immediately becomes the target of the school bully and the talk of the town since she lives in the haunted house. Even more furious with her father for this bit of information he neglected to tell her, she is determined to find the cursed diamonds and use the money to move back to the city. But the diamonds are supposed to be given back to the sea or the ghosts will be forever cursed - or worse - cease being altogether.

Wonderful ghost story addition for upper elementary/middle grade students! In line with titles from Mary Downing Hahn and Lindsay Currie, this title is a true, age-appropriate creepy level and not-too-graphic ghost story. It will satisfy the need to be a little spooked, without the nightmares. This is a great title for a state reading award list and I hope to see more from this author!

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highlights:
✨Paranormal: Morrell creates a world of a haunted house, ghosts, legends, and a medium in a spooktacular yet kid-friendly way. With a touch of humor, this book strikes the perfect balance to captivate middle-grade readers.
✨Dual POVs: Ghosts Ada, Arthur, and Guff unveil the backstory behind the curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond. Meanwhile, Charlie (our other POV) is on a quest to find the diamond, purportedly to lift the curse, but in truth, she plans to sell it to move back to NYC.
✨Narration: Alexandra Ryan's talent for using different voices for each character truly brings the audiobook to life! I especially love the voices of the adults and the ghosts. I can imagine tweens absolutely loving this!

The Curse of Dead Man’s Diamonds is a thrilling, mysterious adventure that includes important themes like grief, bullying, and the complexities of friendship and single-parent families. It's a perfect read for tweens looking for spooky fun this season!

[BooksThrillJessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie just recently moved into Winklevoss Manor which is brimming with secrets. Charlie had no desire to move but when she meets a girl named Sarah she learns that there might be a way to return home. Sarah tells Charlie the mysteries that lie in Winklevoss Manor and about a mystifying diamond that has magical powers. Charlie decides the diamond is her ticket back to her hometown. But when she meets the three ghosts who are trapped in her house, will she use the diamond to help the ghosts or herself?
Rating: 4/5
The relationships between the characters in this book were well developed and riveting to younger readers. Reading this with my daughter she loved how Charlie was able to overcome her fears. The plot was intriguing and age appropriate.

*Thank you to Christyne Morrell, Random House Children's | Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

[Cristy (Quinnbook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a perfect book to kickstart spooky season. It has so many amazing tropes that are great for middle grade books. Haunted mansions, mischievous ghosts, new found family and of course curses.

Our protagonist Charlie moves from New York to hot and sunny Florida with her lawyer dad. He is excited to leave rush hour behind and enjoy the low key life their new house promises. Unfortunately for Charlie, her new home is a towering Victorian mansion called The Winklevoss Manor. It is presumably to be very, very haunted and cursed. Charlie didn’t care much for the mansion at first but slowly becomes curious about what happened to the previous owners and starts her own investigation with a very unique set of locals.

I was just so invested from page one, I loved that we get to know the ghosts very well and they definitely are the stars of the book in my opinion. That ending was incredible, loved all the characters and their backstories and I highly recommend if you love mystery and new found family.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version of this as part of the selection committee for the Minnesota Youth Reading Awards. I really enjoyed both the story and the narrator's telling of it. The story follows a seventh grade student when she moves from New York to Florida. She finds herself living in a haunted house in a city full of ghost lore. At first, I wondered if it would be too spooky for a younger audience, but found that the story quickly became one of humor and mystery more than horror or suspense. I chuckled quite a bit and wanted to keep listening so I could figure out what would happen next. The MYRA Awards are divided into two age ranges (3-5 and 6-8). I think this book easily could be in either of the levels. The story had very appropriate language and content for students in those grades.

[Kayla Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This was a fun little read. Charlie is from New York and has recently experienced a grievous loss that has sent her world into a spiral. She’s moved to Florida to a seemingly haunted house with a legend surrounding it involving a cursed diamond. This book had a good plot, the ghost chapters were extremely engaging. The trouble I ran into was the characters. None of the characters were really likable and it was hard to relate to any of them because of their thoughts and actions. That was definitely a hurdle in finishing this. The writing was good, the grammar good and the plot was engaging. Those characters could’ve been much more likeable.

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a fun book. It looks at grief and loss through the lens of Charlie being forced to move from New York to Florida. Charlie feels loss and guilt for her actions before leaving New York, and she thinks that by finding the Diamond allegedly lost in the house that she can get back home. Ada and Arther are also super strong characters who are dealing with their own guilt. Can they find a way to communicate and help each other out?
I think this book beautifully handles the loss of a loved one and guilt that we might carry once they are gone. Thank you so much to Random House Children and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Hail to another wonderful curse, ghost story, haunted house middle-grade to enrich our spooky season with a main character who has a very serious choice ahead of her: Find the gigantic diamond hidden in her house to save the ghosts or find it to get her life back in NY. I felt I was living in that peculiar fun town and loved to see the main character's struggle.

Father and daughter moved from NY to a strange town in Florida where they take their ghosts and curses quite seriously, but all Charlie wants is to go back to NY and doesn't try to understand what is around her. The ghosts living in her house need her help. If she finds the cursed demons hidden in her house and throws the diamond into the ocean, they'll be free. But a Dimond can be the money they need to return to NY. A tale of ghosts but also grief, of losing a grandparent, of moving away from all that is known, of forgiveness, new friendships, and doing what is right.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

👧🏻reviews: It has been a crazy week for me, with after school activities, crazy amount of homework, quizzes and other stuff I was looking for something to de-stress my weekend. Well this one is a perfect book to read on this rainy, gloomy weather. The story is wholesome, a perfect for the upcoming spooky season ahead. The mysterious, changes, bullying and chasing around moments made this book interesting to read. It is an easy read with plenty of good realistic scenarios. Charlie is such a smart yet brave boy to fight off every circumstances that he encountered. I like this book especially after such a crazy week. I recommend this to the kids who are looking for a great read.

[Tara Kat (MagnoliaPigeonBookBlurbs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨💎✨ The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond ✨💎✨

Oh my gosh - this was absolutely spooktacular! Casper & The Goonies were basically my personality as a child and The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond is jam packed with all of their vibes! A father daughter duo starting over in a new town, moving into a haunted house with ghosts who have unfinished business?! A quest to help find a stolen diamond?? Immediately yes! Dealing with topics of grief, moving, honesty and friendship, this ghostly tale is perfect for spooky season and a great story for readers of all ages!

Thank you Random House Children's | Delacorte Press & TBR & Beyond Tours for sending a copy my way!

[Jade Lawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️
This was such a fun middle grade book. It definitely hit the vibes of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. I loved reading this book, but know the intended audience will love it too. The narration felt reminiscent to Percy Jackson, like she really was her intended age and real and not like a puppet being voiced by the author (this is a problem I’ve run into in the past). I loved the messaging of the story. I love the twist. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes a little bit of spooky but also a fun, yet heart warming story.
Thank you to the Publicity Press and Dellocorte Press for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a tough one for me to review. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this book. The plot is solid, if a bit standard for middle grade. The characters are fine. But style-wise, it just doesn't mesh with me. It's heavy on the similes and adjectives, and my taste runs to a cleaner, faster prose. The end result is that it felt padded to me, but I want to recognize that's a personal thing, not a universal one.

[Erin *BookDragon_Library* · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5a This was a pretty good middle grade mystery. There are ghosts but not creepy ghosts. There is a dual perspective of ghosts and the humans. The ghost storyline helps reveal important history information that helps flesh out the details of the present day storyline. Single dad. Grandmother died. I did think there were some parts that were a little off with “vibe” like the one bully kid whose dad has died and he’s the main instigator in going through the main characters grandmas things and being disrespectful with them.

[DJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great middle grade mystery and my students will love this one! Charlie moves from NYC to Florida into Winklevoss Manor and quickly realizes it's haunted! She meets three playful ghosts, Ada, Arthur and Guff, who got cursed for stealing a deadman's diamond. Charlie is desperate to go back to NYC so she decides to help them look for the diamond. This was such a fun MG read, the characters are strong and it's really funny too.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read and perfect for our young readers this time of year! Many of them will be able to relate to Charlie and find each ghost's background story interesting and then you have the mystery of lifting the Curse. The story has alternate points of view, fast paced and a nice blend of action, adventure, scary and heart! Hopefully we will get another adventure with Charlie! Thank you Tbr and Beyond Tours and Christyne Morrell for sharing this book with me!