Фараонова загонетка

Agatha Mistery #1

by Steve Stevenson

Agatha Mistery is a fanciful and fabulous new mystery series about a headstrong girl detective who jets off on exotic and international adventures with the help of her hulking bodyguard and loyal cat named, aptly, Watson. The first mystery in this series sees young detective Agatha Mistery traveling to Egypt. Rumors of a mysterious tablet unearthed in the Valley of the Kings may be just the clue that Agatha needs to unlock the secret curse of an ancient Pharaoh.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Childrens, Chapter Books, Fiction, Crime, Juvenile

129 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 2010

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Dana-Adriana B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce aventura draguta in Egipt! Si Agatha este o draguta, nu alta. Impreuna cu Larry, varul ei, au de rezolvat misterul tablitei cu hieroglife furata.

[ESRAA MOHAMED · Rating 2 out of 5]

أنا مهتمة بأدب الطفل و الروايات الموجهة للمراهقين وأجد فيها متعة خفية يمكن تذكرني بفترة مراهقتي و محاولاتي الساذجة المستمرة في قراءة الألغاز بدلا من المذاكرة.
لذلك أضعف أمام أي كتاب يخص هذه الفئة العمرية، بالصدفة وأنا أتصفح بعض المواقع لأتعرف على الإصدارات الجديدة وجدت هذه السلسلة، قررت استكشافها.

أغاثا ميستوري تنتمي إلى أسرة غنية وأفرادها غريبي الأطوار، لكل منهم هواية متفردة وموهبة أغاثا كانت حل الألغاز وحبها لكتابة قصص الجريمة والغموض، وقريبها داش المتمكن من التكنولوجيا ويدرس في معهد للمحققين.

أول جزء وقعت أحداثه في مصر وتحديدا وادي الملوك، المطلوب كان كشف لغز اختفاء لوح هيروغليفي حل طلاسمه يؤدي إلى اكتشاف مقبرة فرعونية جديدة.

لم أستمتع كثيرا للأسف.

استمتعوا...
دمتم قراء…❤❤❤

[Mehsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one in Dutch but I will be writing my review in English.

So, I spotted these at Library #3 and I was immediately interested. Egypt? Mystery/Mistery? Girl Detective? Fun illustrations? Um, yes please. Sign me up!
I also saw that the library had 2 more books in this series (book 2 and 3) so I took those with me as well.

And in the end I quite liked this book, otherwise I wouldn't have rated it a 3 stars. But there was also enough that I didn't like, and I will address those first.

Let's start with the fact this book doesn't feel like a first book. Rather it feels like a book 2 or later. Why? Because when we meet Agatha, we do get an introduction but it feels more like a standard one that they always put at the start of a book in a series.
Secondly there was no real explanation why Larry is asking his little niece's advice/help.
And then there is the fact that apparently it is just normal for a young kid like her to grab a plane, call an aunt in a far away country, and just travel. Whut?

Next up is Agatha and her magical memory. It just felt a bit too convenient to have her remember each and everything. It made the mystery seem too easily solvable. I know that there are people with such a memory, but I feel it would have been better if Agatha had to really think or consult books at the spot.

And lastly... Larry. Oh, Gosh, Larry. He was just terrible, horrible, lazy, a dunce, stupid, an idiot, and I could go on. I cannot imagine how he ever got to be a detective trainee in that fancy school of his. He needs his niece, and her butler to have the mystery solved. He doesn't do a poop thing in this book, just makes stupid remarks, spills all the details to everyone about his mission, acts like a complete idiot. He really ruined the book for me, and I would rather have him gone from the book, or at least get some balls and a brain. Now the ending just felt unfair. He didn't do a thing.

And now all the good!

The fact this one takes place in Egypt for most of the book. I just adore Egypt, still dreaming of going there one day (when it is calmer/less dangerous), so until then I will grab any book about Egypt and read about the pyramids, about mummies, mystery, and more. In this one we have a missing clay tablet that may lead to one of the biggest finds of the year. It was really fun to see Agatha travel across various favourite sights of mine.

The mystery. It was really well written, and I had fun trying to figure out who was the culprit, what happened to the tablet. Was it a thief? Or thieves? Was it done for the money? The fame?
The conclusion, the whodunnit revealed was great fun. That was a masterful plan, too bad they didn't get away with it (not a spoiler, you just know that happens).

The Mistery family. It seems to be quite a mysterious and big family. Everyone is all over the planet. Parents are travelling (and sending petrifying cacti to their kid). And everyone has a job that is a bit weird (though I found them awesome instead of weird). I can't wait to see what other jobs we will read about.

Mr. Kent. He was just so much fun + his body proportions made travelling an adventure. I had a laugh when he had to squeeze himself in the seat or when he had to travel by camel. I loved his dedication to the job and how sweet he was with Agatha.

Agatha was also pretty fun, and I loved her personality. Normal girls may not be so happy with a cactus for their 12th birthday, but she loved it (and already researched antidotes in case she got stabbed by it). Her being a bookworm? Of course that is another plus point for her. And even though she has a magical memory, I could also see that she could have easily solved the mystery without that magical memory. Her dreamjob? Loved it!

Lastly the illustrations. They are just so much fun and also those colours are lovely, though it seems to be a popular style of drawing in Italy (it is reminiscent of Thea Stilton and other Italian children books I read).

All in all, a pretty OK book, and I will give the series one more chance, but if the memory thing becomes too convenient, or if Larry just acts too dumb, I won't continue. Such a shame, I was hoping I had found a new series.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the firs book,it was good.I read this book fast because is very easy to read it andalso the book is very interesting.

[Georgiana-Laura Gheorghe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for "The Curse of the Pharaoh" by Sir Steve Stevenson:

It's the first book from the "Agatha: Girl of Mystery" through which author Sir Steve Stevenson introduces us in the mysterious and adventurous world of Agatha: Girl of Mystery and her cousin Larry, who along with their strong and polite butler, Chandler and their loyal as a dog tomcat, Watson travel in different corners of the world where along with a few relatives they solve cases that are more and more enigmatic and difficult.
The destination in this story is Egypt. Agatha and Larry receive news about a tablet which has been found in the Valley of Kings and they discover that they have to unlock the secret curse of an ancient Pharaoh.
Adventure, teamwork, friendship, courage, deserts, pyramids and mysteries awaits for the readers in this thrilling story.
Mr. Stevenson can be considered the founder of detective and murder mystery novels for children through his simple style which is easy to understand. While reading each of the five volumes, the reader will also find the style of Agatha Christie (creator of the famous detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple) mixed with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the Sherlock Holmes series), spy movies and Indiana Jones from which a masterpiece was born. Not only that his novels made us readers get out of touch of reality for a little, but they invite us to take a journey around the world too.
Adventure, trips, mysteries, bravery, cleverness and intelligence, humor are only some of the things that you’ll discover in the Agatha: Girl of Mystery series. I recommend these books not only to young readers, but to adults as well.

[Ifigenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rebuscando entre mis pendientes encontré esta novela corta que ha cumplido todas mis expectativas, ha sido fácil de leer y me ha despejado la cabeza.

Hoy en día, la criatura que tengo en el interior no para de dar por saco con ciertas preguntas, como por qué ha sido todo TAN FÁCIL para Agatha y por qué es ella tan perfecta, no solo sabe de todo y es buena detective, sino que además es modesta y madura para su edad, si casi se olvida uno de que es una niña de 12 años si no llega a ser por el recordatorio final de que vienen sus padres y no está en casa. No hay prueba que vea que necesite de búsqueda, se ha leído todos los libros y recordado (es famosa por sus cajones de memoria) todas y cada uno de los jeroglíficos (con más Agathas de esta no necesitaríamos ninguna piedra Rosetta), sabe donde están todas y cada una de las estatuas de Egipto y así con un largo etc, lo mismo te arregla un roto que un descosido. El resto son sus complementos, como quien lleva bolso, zapatos y joyas ella se lleva a su gato (Watson, otro recordatorio a un personaje de un famoso escritor británico), Larry y Mr. Kent.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agatha è una ragazza appassionata di misteri. Vive in una grande casa insieme al maggiordomo visto che i genitori sono sempre in viaggio, ed è legatissima al cugino Larry, che è iscritto alla scuola per investigatori.
Larry deve sostenere un esame a sorpresa per la scuola: scoprire che fine ha fatto una tavoletta egizia appena ritrovata e capire chi è il ladro. Insieme ad Agatha e al maggiordomo, parte verso Luxor dove risiede una zia. I tre si recano al campo di scavo e si mettono subito alla ricerca di indizi.
Ora bisogna capire chi tra i quattro archeologi sia il colpevole e che fine ha fatto la misteriosa tavoletta.
Devo dire che è stata una piacevole lettura, molto veloce, ma anche se è un libro per ragazzi io non avevo individuato il colpevole. Avevo puntato sul cavallo sbagliato e di certo non avevo capito che fine avesse fatto la tavoletta.
Scritto bene, molto scorrevole.
Una lettura consigliata ai giovani ma comunque in grado di intrattenere i più adulti.

[رومولا الن emmajain-book · Rating 4 out of 5]

اول جزء من سلسلة أغاثا فتاة الألغاز

ابطال هذه السلسله هم:

أغاثا ميستري:فتاة ذكية تحلم ان تكون كاتبة للروايات المثيره
داشييل ميستري او داش:وهو طالب في اكاديمية آي للتحقيق
تشاندلر:كبير الخدم وملاكم سابق
والقط واتسون الذي يتمتع بحاسة شم كالكلاب

يطلب من داش ان يكتشف المسؤول عت سرقة تحفه من موقع اثري بمصر ويطلب المساعده من ابنة عمه أغاثا

رواية شيقه ولا ملل فيها تعيش المغامره مع ابطالها الصغار رغم البساطه لكن تعتبر فاصل جميل بين كتب او روايات دسمه
ذكرتني هذه السلسلة بروايات مصريه للجيب كسلسلة ملف المستقبل وفانتازيا وغيرهم
لذلك انصح بهذه السلسلة الممتعه الذي ترجم منها خمسة اجزاء من قبل دار العربيه للعلوم ناشرون

[Labeba Salameh · Rating 3 out of 5]

نتعرف معا على فريق الصغيرة اجاثا ذات العقل الذكي القادمة من العائلة الثرية غريبة الأطوار و كانها عائلة لارا كرافت نفسها
ابن عمها العميل داش مغتص بالتقنية
كبير الخدم تشاندلر مساعدها في المهمات
ثم تاتي تركيبة اللغز
أعتقد ان هذه السلسلة مناسبة للصف الثالث و ربما حتى السادس الابتدائي ومسلية لتلك المرحلة
وقد تكون الأعداد القادمة أفضل
لكنها لم تكن مشوقة لي وأنا أقرأها في هذا السن ولا لفتاتي في سن 12 و 14
بدا فيها أضافات غير ضرورية عدا أن أن اهل مصر لا يستخدموا الجمال كوسيلة نقل من المطار الى اي مكان أخر !!!

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un breve racconto per ragazzi veramente molto carino e scorrevole... lo proporrò certamente ai miei alunni! E perché no... leggerò anche gli altri volumi della collana.

[Elsbeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this and I probably would have if it hadn't use my current pet peeve, kids lit cliché. The not so subtle inside joke character names. The name dropping had all the subtly of Madonna’s “Vogue.” Baker (as a street name), Dashiell, Mistery(changing the spelling doesn’t improve it), Ellery, Edgar Allan, Agatha, Chandler, Watson, Patricia, and that’s just chapter one. I guess I just don’t quite understand why authors are so keen to do this so much lately. It's a sort of winking "not-so" cleverness that I find distracting in a book for this age. Maybe once or twice, but when every proper name is a groaner, it interrupts the flow of what otherwise would have be a good b+ book. One other minor quibble is that a book that has a spunky girl protagonist on the cover and is for the younger chapter book set should open with said spunky girl, not a 7 page prologue about a 14 year old boy.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This translation is not what I expected. It has an old fashioned feel. When the back cover calls Agatha a modern Nancy Drew, it is right on target, as Agatha has many and varied expertise, brilliant detective intuition, and never makes a mistake. There is some action and some danger. A mix of traditional methods and high-tech are used throughout. While it is obviously a book for young readers, I still thought the cultural details and the scientific elements could have been either better researched or more convincing. Some issues with the characterization in my opinion. My favorite thing was definitely the gorgeous black-and-white illustrations.

[Selah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm disappointed. My son loves Hercule Poirot, Geronimo Stilton, and Encyclopedia Brown. I read this hoping to find a new series for him. While the mystery was decent enough, there were several things that bothered me. I don't like Agatha doing the majority of the work on her cousin's exam and lying to her parents. I also don't like the racist description of an Egyptian character. I will not be passing this along to my son.

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a new learner of Italian, I found the book to be sufficiently difficult and intriguing while introducing a lot of useful vocabulary and colloquialisms.

[Xavier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agatha has a very mysterious mind.

[Zaid Dakhqan · Rating 4 out of 5]

رواية ”لعنة الفرعون“ هو جزء من ”اغاثا فتاة الألغاز“ وهي مجموعة روايات مغامرة. الرواية كتبها السير ستيف ستيفنسون. الرواية ممتعة و مشوقة وفيها كثير من الاغاز و من يقرا الرواية يقدر ان يحل هذه الاغاز مع اغاثا.ابطال الرواية هم اغاثا وهي فتاة ذكية تحب حل الألغاز البوليسية و داش الطالب في (أي. التحقيق الدولية) وهو عنده مهمة ليتخرج واغاثا تريد ان تساعده. المهمة هي كشف من سرق لوح قديم من وقت الفراعنة مكتوب اللغة الهيروغليفية ، ومعهم في هذه الرحلة تشاندلر كبير الخدم في منزل اغاثا وقطها واتسون.المغامرة مكانها في الاقصر في مصر، في وادي الملوك التي فيها مقابر الفراعنة، البروفيسور مايغرت ومساعديه لحقوا قطعة في متحف الاثار المصري عن فرعون عليه لعنة وقبره رقم ٦٦ في وادي الملوك.وعندما وصلوا الي المقبرة وجدوا لوح طيني اثري مكتوب عليه بالهيروغليفية وفي اليوم التالي انسرق اللوح. من سرق اللوح؟ اغاثا وداش يقوموا بالبحث عن الدليل حتي يجدوا اللوح والسارق.


الرواية فيها قضايا مهمة ومنها حب العمل، فاغاثا تحب عملها البوليسي وتعمل جيدا، وكذلك عدم الخوف فاغاثا وداش لم يخافا من لعنة الفرعون التي موجودة في اللوح. الرواية طويلة ولكن مسلية لان من يقرا الرواية يفكر مع اغاثا بحل اللغز. لغة الكتاب سهلة وفيها الكثير من الكلمات الجديدة التي يتعلمها من يقرا الرواية. وكذلك الرواية ممتعة لان فيها عن التاريخ والفراعنة والآثار. لذا ارشحها الى من يحب التاريخ


خلال قراءة الرواية قمت بالبحث عن طريق الإنترنت على وادي الملوك حتى ارآ المكان ومقابر الفراعنة الموجودة هناك وبحثت عن الأقصرعلى خريطة مصر وبحثت عن لعنة توت عنخ أمون وكذلك الكتابات الهيروغليفية وكلها موجودة في الرواية. وكل هذا جعلني استمتع بقراءة الرواية اكثر .كذلك الرسومات الموجودة في الرواية يساعد في تصوير الشخصيات التي تقرأ عنها بشكل اوضح. لقد استمتعت بالقراءة وأنا انصح بقراءة الرواية وربما قراءة رواية اخرى من روايات أغاثا فتاة الألغاز، وخصوصاً من يحب المغامرات والالغاز .

[Lachiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro preso per la diecenne di casa che legge poco nulla anche quando obbligata.
L’ho letto ad alta voce al cinquenne di casa a cui piacciono i libri per i bimbi grandi, a detta sua.

È il primo libro di una serie di misteri da risolvere da parte dei due cugini Mistery.
Abbiamo Agatha che da grande vuol fare la scrittrice di gialli, curiosa, ha una memoria fotografica pazzesca.
Abbiamo Larry, suo cugino, che vuole fare l’investigatore e deve superare un test per essere promosso all’esame. Patito di tecnologia ne capisce sicuramente più di me.
Poi c’è il maggiordomo di Agatha che è un ex pugile, face totum della signorina.
C’è Watson, il gatto di Agatha che odia Larry.

Dei genitori sappiamo che sono in viaggio e hanno una passione per spostamenti scomodi.

A Luxor conosceremo la zia quarantenne che è rappresentata come una sessantenne. La 40 che sono si è sentita un po’ offesa 😂

Perché andremo a Luxor?
Perché i nostri protagonisti devono scoprire che fine ha fatto la tavoletta di argilla del faraone. C’è una nuova tomba da scoprire.

Libro ben scritto, con ritmo serrato che mette voglia di girare pagina e continuare per scoprire cosa accadrà.
Per nulla ansiogeno. Un pelino di photos in più sarebbe stato apprezzato.
Scrittura semplice ma non banale.

Ho apprezzato che le pagine fossero scritte sulla sagoma del cappello di Watson. Una caratteristica che detona attenzione al libro per quanto non indispensabile.

Continueremo la saga sicuramente dato che è stata apprezzata.

[Maria Loredana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally i wouldn t give this book 3 stars, because i didn t liked it as a mystery book. I expected something else. But as I was in a period when i needed to read something easy I didn t mind. I kinda feel sorry I already bought 2 books of this series. There are things that are weird in this book, regardless how goes it go that Agatha is such a good detective but Larry is the one that is the detective actually and all the story with she just calling a family member and going to another country without her parents to even find out. How does it go that the other 4 idiots didn t get that they were lying about LM14 identity??? I mean, Agatha was the one who was always talking but they still thought that guy was LM14. And than how did Larry managed to be in that school?? I also thought that Larry s toy he have from his school is way too much. They can never be in trouble because of that shit, they do never need to think longer about something because of Agatha s memory. And how the heck did they solved a case in 3 days? Isn t like many things were happening, not at all. How did they got who was the person that stole the shit. I got it, you ve found parts of candles and shits but what made you realise he was the person and where did he hide it? This book is giving us no information. Still, as i said, i needed this book and as it s a kid book we can try to accept it.

[Soobie is expired · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leggendo la serie come presentata dal Corriere, questo primo volume della serie originale l'ho letto come quattordicesimo. E la differenza tra il primo e Crimine a Vienna, pubblicato nel 2018, è abissale.

In questo volume Larry è molto più idiota degli altri volumi, ad esempio. E spesso Mr Kent si spaccia per l'agente LM14 per aiutare la credibilità dei ragazzi.

Come primo volume, però, non spiega nulla. Non dice perché Larry sta frequentando una scuola per detective, visto che è particolarmente negato per la materia. Non spiega neanche come mai ci sia sempre Agatha ad aiutarlo. La scuola non è un problema per lei? É sempre in giro.

Tra l'altro questo è il primo volume in cui hanno bisogno di un interprete per parlare con la gente. Anche in Giappone riuscivano a comunicare con tutti.

Insomma, non è male... Ma un minimo di introduzione di una serie che conta ormai trenta volumetti sarebbe stato necessario.

[Padmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bel librino per ragazzi. Forse un tantino ammiccante (c'è una bambina di dodici anni che ragiona come Miss Marple... e vabbe'), ma ai piccoletti dovrebbe piacere.
Risvolto
Il primo volume della serie Agatha Mistery racconta le avventure di Agatha, una londinese dodicenne appassionata di gialli, e di suo cugino Larry, che frequenta la Eye School, la più celebre scuola di detective al mondo. I due sono accompagnati nei loro avventurosi viaggi dal maggiordomo Mr Kent e da Watson, il gatto siberiano con il fiuto di un segugio. Questo primo mistero li conduce da zia Melania a Luxor, in Egitto, per recuperare un'antica tavoletta rubata che contiene le indicazioni per trovare la tomba di un faraone maledetto.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro es estupendo aunque se resuelve todo muy rápido. Tanto que sin darte cuenta ya te has acabado el libro.

No recuerdo la última vez que me leí un libro de características similares en una hora.

Le doy un 4 porque no da opción al lector de intentar averiguar la solución de lo rápido que va. Antes de que te des cuenta ya te lo han contado.

Estaba en mi biblioteca de aula y una alumna me dijo que le había encantado y preguntó si había más. Así que decidí leerlo. Es un muy buen libro para niños por su fácil lectura, aunque no sea muy verosímil que una niña de 12 años pueda viajar con tanta facilidad y a pesar del uso de algunas palabras poco habituales.

Por supuesto, he pedido que me compren los siguientes.

[Aily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
nella mia vita ho letto solo 3 libri di questa serie e questo non aveva mai fatto parte delle letture. come prima volta con il primo libro della serie, non ci sono stati intoppi! agatha è sempre la mia preferita e amo il suo cervellino arguto! è veramente in gamba e questi piccoli gialli sono veramente simpatici e ingegnosi! anche se, in un certo senso, scoprire il colpevole è leggermente più facile rispetto (credo) ai soliti gialli, ma si, ho amato seguire gli indizi e arrivare alla soluzione, ANZI! sono stata più che felice di scoprire che la soluzione era la stessa a cui ero arrivata io seguendo gli indizi ahah! ed ora.. si legge il secondo! owo

[Kata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho ripreso questo libro sotto mano quando stavo spulciando in biblioteca.
Lo lessi quasi quattordici anni fa quando facevo le elementari, ed è come ricordavo: semplice e godibile per una bambina.
Ovviamente i personaggi sono caratterizzato il minimo indispensabile e sembra che Agatha sia il detective più che Larry, e ci sta essendo libri incentrati su di lei ma praticamente Larry è più una macchiettina, perfino il maggiordomo è un po' più caratterizzato di lui.
Però per un bambino, come dovrebbe essere, non è un problema.
Libro leggibile come lettura molto leggera anche per i ragazzi fuori dal target e come lettura nostalgica ci sta.

[Kayla Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

El principio me hizo dudar un poco sobre la trama del libro, pero al final me ha encantado un poco.
Las veces que hay un momento de que me hace sentir un poco extraña, ya que hay veces que el primo de la protagonista se hace el bobo y eso me hace sentir muy frustrada.
Sobre el villano era algo obvio y muy poco camuflado entre la trama, pero la forma que lo capturaron me ha sorprendido un poco.
Pero el final no me pareció muy interesante, porque el final es que los padres de la protagonista ha llamado a la protagonista y han dicho que en unos días van a volver a casa.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this on the shelf and gave it to a student who said she liked mysteries. She reported back that she liked it and wanted the rest. We only have the first, alas. But I read this and think it's just the sort of thing I need more of in my collection. A good mystery, funny, not overly complicated and an interesting locale.

[Gaia Della · Rating 4 out of 5]

un bel mistery. personaggi molto belli che non vedo l'ora di approfondire. ha uno stile molto scorrevole e dei bei disegni che ti fanno entrare ancora di più nella storia. in più ha una bellissima ambientazione ( infatti io mi sono sentita come se camminassi nella Valle dei Re )

[Elif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Приятелката ми препоръча книгата и аз нямаше как да не я прочета, защото харесваме едни и същи неща. Може малко да е детска, но определено е интересна. Прочетох я за около 3 часа и ми хареса, че не е толкова дълга и е лека.

[MariaO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, an interesting book. I loved the eloquence and the extraordinary illustrations! It even made me want to visit Egypt 😍 However, I took off one star because the main character annoyed me a little 🙈

[LuLu27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi-a placut mult, mai ales finalul.

[Alexia Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agatha Mistery este un personaj foarte frumos creat