The Curiosity Machine

Billionaire #6

by Richard Newsome

With the strange plans for an even stranger machine in his possession, along with a coded message from a long-dead castaway that could be the key to unlocking its secrets, Gerald finds himself at the centre of a web of mystery and danger.

Masked gunmen have taken over his luxury yacht. His parents have been kidnapped. And one of his closest friends has betrayed him.

His old enemy Sir Mason Green seems to be pulling all the strings.

Or is he?

Gerald, Ruby, Sam and Felicity take off on their final exciting adventure, from glaciers to jungles and the depths of the Pacific Ocean to an island teeming with the most bizarre creatures on earth.

Genres: Mystery, Adventure, Middle Grade

368 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2016

About the author

Richard 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.

Reviews

[Text Publishing · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘What do you get when you mix Tintin, James Bond, and The Famous Five together? You get Richard Newsome’s Billionaire series….The Crystal Code is Richard Newsome at his best!’
Christchurch Kids Blog

‘Filled with secret passageways and deadly booby traps, you’ll be on the edge of your seat!’
K-Zone

‘Weird dreams, kidnapping, attacks by bandits, hectic chases and eerie explorations in archaeological sites…slapstick humour, verbal wit and a pervasive spirit of youthful exuberance.’
Magpies

‘A rollicking good yarn.’
Weekend Herald

‘I loved this book. I really did. Ever since I got the first book in this series, I was on the lookout for more! The characters – Gerald getting tangled up in relationships – and the plots were just fantastic.’
YAAR-A reviews Corinna, age 13, Canberra, Australia

‘An irresistibly fun-tastic tale that’s virtually guaranteed to keep youngsters reading, chuckling and desperately waiting for the next book in the series.’
Independent Weekly

‘Plenty of plot twists to keep readers guessing and eager for Gerald’s next adventure.’
Magpies

‘Move over, Tomb Raider, and stand back Indiana Jones. Gerald and his friends are hot on the action and exotic adventure in this pacey final instalment of the Billionaire series.’
Reading Time

‘Ridiculously entertaining fun…A fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek romp.’
Magpies

[Keith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Since the third book or so in this series I have been convinced the author gets his characters into a situation then he makes a list, maybe gets friends to help, of the absolute stupidest things to say or do and goes with the worst. I'd have finished the book a couple of days ago if it weren't for all the eye rolling and exclamations of 'Seriously?' and 'Oh, please, no.' Each time I had to put my Kindle down and let my brain uncramp from the pain.
The writing isn't that bad for something truly aimed at tweens and younger teenagers, think Richie Rich comics in novel form. The reason I say that is the ending is crap. Pure, from the end of the cow, piles of ****. There's no way it could have happened how it was written. I'm not going to spoil the story, the author does that all on his own and I'll give him the privilege. But honestly, no. How he completely ends the series is one step above 'it was all a dream' and just as unsatisfactory.I
I enjoyed the first book of the series, liked the second and maybe the third. The last few I've made myself read because I'd become interested in the direction the series was going to go but they weren't very good. Although, with the exception of the ending, this book is by far better than the previous one.
Good for kids, frustrating for adults.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun for the young and "formerly young." Although this is the sixth (and final) volume of the Billionaire Series, sufficient information from the earlier volumes is smoothly integrated, so that it can stand on its own.

Gerald, Ruby, Sam and Felicia make an exuberant, differentiated group of friends who are swept up in exotic, dangerous, hilarious adventures while fighting an appropriately evil villain.

This book has many of the strengths of Lemony Snicket's A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. These six volumes would make a great television series.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth and last book in series

Best of the sixth this book has adventure, scares, fun moments, and a group of kids outwitting adults. There is even a little romance, but not too much for the boys.

[Kyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book series four years ago, and keep rereading it. Richard Newsome creates gripping environments and worlds, and has a great sense of mystery. The three main characters Gerald Wilkins, and twins, Ruby and Sam Valentine, are all funny and likeable. More characters are added to the story, such as Felicity Upham, Alecia Gupta and Oswald (Ox).They are great characters who are brilliant and funny.

[Elizabeth Fitzgerald]

This book is an entry in the Aurealis Awards for 2016, for which I am a judge. Any review will be withheld until the results of the awards are announced.