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The Black Circle

(The 39 Clues #5)

Patrick Carman (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 48,544 ratings · 773 reviews

A game of cat and mouse...
A strange telegram lures fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan, deep into Russia and away from the only trustworthy adult they know. Signed with the initials NRR, the telegram launches a race to uncover a treasure stolen by the Nazis and the truth behind the murder of the last Russian royal family. All too soon, the treasure hu ...more

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Hardcover, 168 pages

Published August 11th 2009 by Scholastic Inc. (first published January 1st 2009)

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really liked it 4.00 ·

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· 48,544 ratings · 773 reviews

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Feb 09, 2012 Exina rated it it was amazing

The best installment so far! The story is very exciting with much interesting information about the Romanovs. Amy and Dan finally managed to persuade one of their opponents to cooperate, and they also gained a powerful ally. Ian and Natalie failed badly, and Irina is weirder than ever.
I want the next book!

On the far end there stood a massive statue of a woman holding a sword over her head, rising like a skyscraper into the cloudy horizon. They'd seen it in the distance as they raced across th

...more

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Apr 21, 2019 Zenki the Hermit rated it liked it

Shelves: 2019, children-s-books

The Black Circle Pre-Reading Checklist

☐ My family has countless mysterious enemies
☐ I'm a Russian spy
☐ I value used guidebooks
☐ I have a sweet tooth
☐ Serendipity is my favorite word
☐ I sew my jewelry in my gowns
☐ Amber is my birthstone
☐ I like sleeping in coffins
☐ I'm related to an unkillable monk

Ratings of previous books:
Book 1: The Maze of Bones ★★★★★
Book 2: One False Note ★★★★☆
Book 3: The Sword Thief ★★★☆☆
Book 4: Beyond the Grave ★★★★☆

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Apr 22, 2010 Laura rated it really liked it

I am now halfway through this exciting series, which ends with Book Ten coming out August 2010. The Black Circle begins with a telegram that lures to Russia 11 year-old Dan Cahill and 14 year-old Amy Cahill—a brother and sister team who are in the race to uncover the 39 clues leading to great power. I must admit I had flashbacks of James Bond spy movies as I read this book.

What caught my interest this time is that Dan and Amy go through a whole risky adventure, even traveling from Cairo to Russi I am now halfway through this exciting series, which ends with Book Ten coming out August 2010. The Black Circle begins with a telegram that lures to Russia 11 year-old Dan Cahill and 14 year-old Amy Cahill—a brother and sister team who are in the race to uncover the 39 clues leading to great power. I must admit I had flashbacks of James Bond spy movies as I read this book.

What caught my interest this time is that Dan and Amy go through a whole risky adventure, even traveling from Cairo to Russia on their own without Nellie, their au pair. Instead, it is the Holts, particularly Hamilton, who assists them, working together with them to uncover the next clue. A camaraderie even forms between them by the end.

My maternal instincts, of course, rebelled against the fact that they were unchaperoned by an adult throughout their dangerous mission, but my reader and writer instincts tell me this was done for a reason. It emphasized the reality of their orphaned state and how they were unknowingly prepped by their grandmother Grace to take on this challenge. And adults who have been aware of the 39 clues for years assisted them in other ways. Throughout the whole book I wondered why Nellie was not involved, and then something occurs toward the end that leaves the reader wondering about her role in all of this.

The Lucian stronghold is the one we learn about this time and like all the other strongholds, there is always its powerful leader ready to strike their rivals. The force of the Madrigals, their enemy, is felt strongly too as Dan and Amy race with them close on their heels, along with the rest of the extended family who is taking part in the hunt. The man in black that makes a brief but sinister appearance in all the books does so again at a crucial moment (as usual), raising yet again the big question as to who he represents exactly. We also wonder more about Irina Spasky whose past loss cause an internal struggle for her and affect her actions.

Clearly, the clues that will answer all these questions are undoubtedly scattered throughout the books from the start, making me want to go back and reread them all. But for now I’ll just move on to Book Six.
...more

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Sep 07, 2009 Tori rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction

Maybe 3.5 stars......I have mixed feelings about this book in the series. There were two things I really liked about the book. First, I enjoyed the history part taking place in Russia. the details included would easily appeal to kids reading the book, I would imagine. And second, I thought the pace was good - lots of action and a few more details falling into place.
But - some items fell flat, in my opinion. I know the books aren't meant to be plausible, but I think there should be logical explan ...more

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Feb 06, 2011 Kristine Lopez rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Kristine by: yasmine

THIS BOOK IS AWESOME! :D it shows here that you can't trust everyone but you can always trust someone.That's what I've learned in this book when an alliance happened and a friendship began. This book also made me feel curious about who NRR is. And at the end...well, almost at the end, you'll know who HE is :) but sometime there, I doubt her because SOMEONE called her and it was ____! So there was a brief doubtfulness inside me. But then again, HE did help them and HE turned out to be good :) So ...more

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Mar 25, 2015 Mugdha Keskar added it

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Jan 19, 2010 cherryblossomjen rated it liked it

As far as I know, The Black Circle marks the halfway point for the 39 clues series. And while this was definitely one of the better books, I find myself able to list more things I *don't* like about the series, than I do. (Note: these comments are more about the books in general, rather than The Black Circle particularly).

The writing. On the plus side, having a bunch of different writers take a turn does add various dimensions of flavor, but it's also a bit disconcerting. Sometimes the transitio As far as I know, The Black Circle marks the halfway point for the 39 clues series. And while this was definitely one of the better books, I find myself able to list more things I *don't* like about the series, than I do. (Note: these comments are more about the books in general, rather than The Black Circle particularly).

The writing. On the plus side, having a bunch of different writers take a turn does add various dimensions of flavor, but it's also a bit disconcerting. Sometimes the transition is seamless, but more often you notice the shift and have to adjust accordingly.

The clues. I'll admit--I want to know the mysterious of what the clues add up to. It seems almost like alchemy. But I suspect it has some kind of sentimental moral laced in as part of the treasure too. And I'm fine with that. Honestly, I hope it's something big and not another let down. But I wish the clues were such that you could actually follow along with them logically. For the most part each book is a kind of roller coaster and you have to just sit and wait until the ride stops to see where you end up. I like puzzles you can participate in. But then I don't play the game online, if I did I might feel more like a player instead of a spectator.

The characters. Amy bores me. And Dan, while more interesting than his sister, and sometimes very amusing, can also come off as pretty annoying. Their relationship isn't terribly intriguing and maybe it's just me--but I haven't seen either of them grow much over the last few books. On the other hand, the supporting characters--Irina, Oh, Hamilton, and even the Kabras--have internal conflicts that make them complex and interesting. I think those characters are why I keep reading these books, despite my lack of enthusiasm for the protagonists.

Honestly, The Black Circle had great pacing, some nice interaction with Irina, Hamilton and featured a new cameo I won't spoil you for. I enjoyed it. There's still room for the series to grow though, and I'm hoping it does. ...more

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Sep 12, 2009 Sara rated it liked it

Shelves: 2009, middle-grade

Not the worst book in the 39 clues series so far, but also not the best. In this, Amy and Dan find themselves traveling to Russia (without their au pair) and following clues that a mysterious benefactor has left them, eventually having to work together with another team in the race to solve the puzzle in the time limit they're given.

I loved the fact that this took place in Russia and featured all sorts of Russian history. Anyone unfamiliar with Russian history will be floored at all the things ...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Heather rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, school-books-kid-books

I'm going to give a generic review of the series. Basically because I'm lazy and don't want to write 39 reviews. Okay, 11.

We finally read Book 1. And then because we liked it so well, the entire series. One son (age 12) has read them all, the second son (also age 12) is on Book 2. And son #3 (age 8) will be starting as soon as he finishes his current book.

I thought the premise of this book very interesting. I loved how they integrated history and geography along with problem-solving skills and c ...more

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Sep 26, 2009 Sandra Stiles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: middle-grades, mystery

I have enjoyed each and everyone of the books in this series. After the first one this one was probably my favorite. In the past Dan and Amy have been chased by other families but have not formed any alliances that lasted throughout the book. They were double crossed in each one. It was refreshing to see them make an alliance with the Holts that lasted all the way through the book. Irin played a bigger role in this book. She is probably the one character that I have loved to hate. That is changi ...more

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Jul 19, 2015 Erin rated it did not like it

I'm still trying to figure out how an eleven-year-old boy can trick people into believing that he is an adult by simply putting on a false goatee. Then I have another question about Amy: how was putting on a wig going to make her look any older than fourteen? Those disguises shouldn't have been able to fool anyone! I thought the other books were unrealistic, but this is just crazy!
Where did Amy learn how to drive a car? How was Dan able to handle that motorcycle he was driving?
Over all, this bo ...more

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Dec 29, 2018 Dessa Mae rated it really liked it

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

SO GOOD!

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May 30, 2017 Jeevan Nigam rated it really liked it

This book was mainly that sometimes the reward is worth the risk. In this book and series the reward is nothing short of the chance of world domination, the reward making you the most powerful person in the world. In this book they are in Russia, being hunted down by many Lucians as they are too close for comfort to uncovering many important Lucian secrets. But with the help of their secret helper, "NRR," they find what they came for and more. They go through many dangers and as usual dodge deat ...more

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Aug 17, 2018 Sean Harding rated it it was ok

Book five in the series and you guessed it - author number five as well. This one was similar in structural design as the others with more action and adventure than you can poke the proverbial stick at but it was all pretty soulless and dreary stuff. Not much to see here, move along to another place in the book shelf.

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Mar 06, 2014 Alix rated it it was amazing

I thought this book 39 Clues” The Black Circle” was the best out of the series so far because of how in depth it gets with the characters and how they face new challenges. A lot of the characters are starting to team up against Dan and Amy.

Dan and Amy get this telegram from an unknown source but there were no clues who it came from. Dan and Amy were then followed to an airport where a telegram told them to go. In the telegram it had an airport locker combination. This is where the next clue woul ...more

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Jun 25, 2010 Lady Knight rated it it was amazing

Shelves: contemporary, mystery, childrens, northern-europe

This one wow-ed me. I've always liked the series, but this one 'knocked it out of the park'. It seems that book three was just a hiccup for this great series. My only regret is that the books seems to be maintaining a riduculous price-to-number of pages ratio. I bought my copy in-store and paid almost $16 for a measly 168 pages.

This time Amy and Dan are off to Russia: the land of snow, the Kremlin, Tsars, and ... Irina. After being forced to leave their au-pair, Nellie, behind, Amy and Dan head ...more

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Dec 15, 2014 Jeremy Juarez rated it really liked it

Dan and Amy continue their search for the for the next clue.Dan and Amy leave their hotel to find the next clue and run into trouble with Ian and Natalie Kabra.Dan and Amy get tagged by Ian and Natalie Kabra to the airport but Dan and Amy manage to as escape and find a box that has disguises and a Visa gold card to get them to where they need to go.Once they get where they needed to go they meet Hamilton and make a deal with him and the deal was when they both found something leading to one of t ...more

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Aug 10, 2009 Katrina rated it liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of the Series and Reluctant Readers

Shelves: mystery, fiction, juvenile

Another great installment in the 39 Clues series though I do have a few complaints. I was sad to see Nellie's total lack of involvement in this book and felt Carman created a poor excuse for her absence (dead cell phone battery-lame!). I was also very disappointed in the inclusion of NRR. I always found it appealing that the kids were able to figure out the clues on their own based on each's particular interests and talents. But in The Black Circle the kids don't figure out a single clue but are ...more

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Jun 18, 2009 Cathy rated it liked it

Shelves: young-adult, juvenile, fiction, read-in-2009, mystery

Pretty good, but everything is way too easy. The pace is fast and furious and mysterious clues are flying all over the place. Some people are helping (or are they?) Dan and Amy, so things are moving more quickly. But they are also figuring out the hints sometimes in mere minutes, a very different case than in the past. It's just a bit discombobulating to have the different authors with different styles, I guess. I enjoyed the bits of Russian history, including a few I'd not known before. I'm sti ...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Craig Bell rated it really liked it

This has been my favourite book of the series so far. I like the Irina character because she has changed over the course of the series. The children moved around a bit more in this book than the others I think. I can't wait to finish the rest of the first series.

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Oct 05, 2009 Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: childrens, read-in-2009

I think the series is getting more interesting as it goes, but if the secret of the 39 Clues turns out to be something typical like the secret to making gold or lame like love, I am going to be so annoyed.

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Apr 15, 2015 Lady Flo rated it it was amazing

What a strange book series, whenever I think it gets complicated and meaningless, everything becomes clear ^_^. So, 5 books, 5 clues.

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Sep 29, 2015 Jerry rated it really liked it

A Quickie Review

More of what I've come to expect from the series...which, in this case, isn't a bad thing.

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May 06, 2018 Hope rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, childrens-fiction, middle-school-fiction, fiction, 39-clues, adventure

awesome. love it.

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Dec 09, 2012 Gio Gumban rated it really liked it

Could've been better if Queen Nellie was there but I'm so diggin' NRR! :D

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Sep 12, 2014 Evan added it

I thought this book was great because it was action packed and very intense. I would dedicated to kids 10 and up.

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Jan 31, 2016 Crystal Bensley rated it liked it

Another decent Cahill adventure

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Apr 26, 2018 Sarah rated it really liked it

This book definitely wasn't my least favourite of the series so far - that one would have to be The Sword Thief - but it wasn't great either. I didn't like how Amy and Dan were so completely on their own on this one, especially since they were being trailed by three other teams, and I would have liked it if Nellie had come along (at this point Saladin seems pretty useless to the plot). The reveal of NRR was far too quick and the last two or three chapters probably could have been stretched out a ...more

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Jun 26, 2017 Anoushka Ghosh rated it it was amazing

This book was literally finished with two hours...I couldn't put it down. (Although I have tons of work to do) One thing I have cherished in this amazing series is the relationship of Dan and Amy. They love each other and would do anything to protect each other. Dan being the protective younger brother touched my heart :)
"Let my sister go!" yelled Dan.
"I think she likes it when I hold her hand," said Ian. "Don't you Amy?"
Amy didn't say a word. She reeled back and kicked Ian in the shin harder t ...more

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Jul 09, 2019 Min rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

Now off to Russia to discover more of what sounds like an alchemical formula with each book. Every clue leads to a gem, or metal, thus far. I enjoyed the historical jaunt this time into areas I didn't know about Russian cultural history regarding the palaces of the tsars. The treasure that was the Amber Room is one that is fascinating. I thought Versailles was indulgent.
Bringing in the legends of Rasputin, and the survival of Princess Anastasia play an integral part in this tale. Listening to t ...more

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Books that take place in France or London for young adults and older children	4	8	Jan 25, 2015 08:00AM
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About Patrick Carman

Patrick Carman

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I have been a lifelong writer and storyteller. Salem, Oregon is where I spent my formative years and I graduated from Willamette University. After college, I spent a decade living in Portland, Oregon where I worked in advertising, game design, and technology.

I've written young adult and children's books for Scholastic, Little Brown Books For Young Readers and Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins P ...more