Alice Jones: The Ghost Light

Alice Jones

by Sarah Rubin

Old refurbished theatre, the Beryl, is re-opening. Days before opening night, the ghost light - left on at night to appease the ghosts of actors - is extinguished. Alice digs into the Beryl's past, sleuthing in a network of dark backstage corridors and cobwebby storage rooms. Gradually, she starts to uncover the hundred-year-old secret of the theatre: a stolen diamond. Is the Beryl haunted by a ghost - or a living thief?

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

Paperback

Published January 5, 2017

Reviews

[Sondra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oikein hauska ja vetävä moderni Neiti Etsivä -seikkailu. Alice tutkii outoja sattumuksia Beryl-teatterissa, jossa kaksoissisar Dellalla on rooli ensi-iltaan tulevassa näytelmässä Casterfieldin kirous. Taikauskoiset teatterilaiset laittavat oudot onnettomuudet ja ilkityöt aaveiden piikkiin, mutta Alicella on omat epäilyksensä asiasta.

Ei ole järin pelottava, joten tarinan puolesta menisi varmaan jo kolmosluokkalaisille, mutta sivuja yli kolmesataa joten ennemmin 4.-6. luokkalaisille. Ei ole liika lälly. Kaakao ja talviset Philadelphian kadut luovat kotoisaa tunnelmaa.

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see very little buzz around the Alice Jones mysteries online, but I`ve thoroughly enjoyed both instalments so far. This book tells the story of Alice, who lives in Philadelphia, as she becomes in another mystery, this time involving sabotage and scary accidents at a local theatre. I love what a clever, independent heroine Alice is, and the colourful characters who surround her from her lovely journalist dad to arrogant film stars starring in the seemingly cursed, haunted play. I also thought the conclusion to the mystery was interesting as I only partially guessed the culprit, and there were several surprises. I did, however miss the presence of Sammy from the Impossible Clue, and thought the book felt quite different in tone too, but overall I think these are definetely underrated and I’d like a few more in the series. 4/5

[Sharni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice is fast becoming one of my favourite MG sleuths. This was exciting all the way through - and I'm hopeful that this series will continue (and soon).

[Linnea]

Väitin luettuani Alice Jones koodaa ja ratkoo -sarjan ensimmäisen osan, että en usko lukevani seuraavaa osaa. En kuitenkaan voinut vastustaa teatteriin sijoittuvaa kakkososaa ja se miellyttikin ykkösosaa enemmän.

Alice tuntuu edelleen hieman liian nohevalta 12-vuotiaaksi eikä tässäkään kirjassa mitään koodattu (sarjan nimen suomennos lienee hieman harhaanjohtava), mutta noin muuten tarina rullasi mukavasti ja arvasin mistä kadonnut koru löytyy vaikken syyllistä keksinytkään. Leppoisa luettava.

[Katherine]

Accidentally picked up this middle grade book at the op shop without my glasses on because of the cute cover. Started reading and realized it was a MG book. Finished it anyway because it gave me modern Trixie Belden vibes and I wasn’t mad at it.

[Seawood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little theatre-based mystery I think my upper junior library users are going to really enjoy.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story set in a theatre with a missing diamond. Intelligent too. My kind of book.

[Durrah Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a bit boring at first but then in the muddle it really started ti get interesting like it was si detailed i felt like i was in it for real its amazing i totally recommend 😫😫

[Chantelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, the middle of the story did drag but it did have a okay ending.

[Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Well-written, tightly plotted, suspenseful classic theatre mystery with well-drawn characters and a good sense of community. Good messages re STEM and arts careers, gender expression, empty spectacle, corporate greed, and doing what you love. There's a great line in there, too, where Della wants to be home-schooled so she can do theatre full time, and their mother says, basically, Sure, if you get a job that will pay for a tutor because HELL NO AM I DOING IT. All while we get to see her at work, doing exactly what she loves.

Could have used some (by which I mean "any") fatherly concern for A&D's physical safety, but he does more for Alice than Nancy Drew's dad ever did. And I suppose this series wouldn't exist if the protagonist had too much adult supervision.

I haven't read the previous book in the series yet so I don't know how well it works as a sequel.