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The Raven Mysteries #2
Ghosts and Gadgets
Second title in Marcus Sedgwick's brand new series of quirky tales of mystery featuring Edgar the raven and the strange Otherhand family.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
6 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Sedgwick
107 books1,582 followersMarcus Sedgwickwas a British writer and illustrator. He authored several young adult and children's books and picture books, a work of nonfiction and several novels for adults, and illustrated a collection of myths and a book of folk tales for adults.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 23, 2019
"For while it is a general rule among human kind that the best thing any child can do in a moment of difficulty is to tell their parents, Solstice had forgotten one thing; namely that her parents are not general human kind. They are demented, insane, idiotic lunatics with less grasp on reality than a sea slug."
4 stars.
If that doesn't make you laugh out loud like it did to me, then I have my work cut out trying to find a book with a funnier quote!
This book was just as pure enjoyment to read. I loved all the quirky ways of this family. It really is so funny.
The son of the family, Cudweed, sees a guh...guh...
(A ghost as we say but he's so shocked he's unable to say the word), in his family's home. Solstice, his older sister, and Edgar, the family's pet Raven, go exploring. Unable to find anything the mother, who's nickname is Minty, hires a ghost hunter named, wait for it, 'Spookini'.
Things don't go as planned and the guy has far too many teeth as Edgar points out. There were so many times this book made me smile. I absolutely love this series and wish it was longer than it is. Ohh and to hear Edgar say (in his head obviously as Ravens can't talk), "Bring it on" was just hysterical.
There were so many funny quotes bit I feel if I'd written them all down we would be here for a rather long time.
But here are a couple of my favourites.
"Sometimes Cudweed, I swear we are a totally stupid family"
I could not have put it better myself Solstice!
"...while Valevine muttered that the only spirit Spookini had been near came in a bottle and said 'twelve years old' on the side."
So yeah, if you want a fast and easy, light, middle grade read with humor. This is a good pick. The illustrations are great and add to the fun of reading this. I am really loving the gothic feel of these books in this series.
4 stars.
If that doesn't make you laugh out loud like it did to me, then I have my work cut out trying to find a book with a funnier quote!
This book was just as pure enjoyment to read. I loved all the quirky ways of this family. It really is so funny.
The son of the family, Cudweed, sees a guh...guh...
(A ghost as we say but he's so shocked he's unable to say the word), in his family's home. Solstice, his older sister, and Edgar, the family's pet Raven, go exploring. Unable to find anything the mother, who's nickname is Minty, hires a ghost hunter named, wait for it, 'Spookini'.
Things don't go as planned and the guy has far too many teeth as Edgar points out. There were so many times this book made me smile. I absolutely love this series and wish it was longer than it is. Ohh and to hear Edgar say (in his head obviously as Ravens can't talk), "Bring it on" was just hysterical.
There were so many funny quotes bit I feel if I'd written them all down we would be here for a rather long time.
But here are a couple of my favourites.
"Sometimes Cudweed, I swear we are a totally stupid family"
I could not have put it better myself Solstice!
"...while Valevine muttered that the only spirit Spookini had been near came in a bottle and said 'twelve years old' on the side."
So yeah, if you want a fast and easy, light, middle grade read with humor. This is a good pick. The illustrations are great and add to the fun of reading this. I am really loving the gothic feel of these books in this series.
May 7, 2013
Readers of Class War will get indignant when they read this book, because it is always the servants who die. Everyone else will be too busy chuckling at the antics of Edgar the Raven, Guardian of Castle Otherhand and the Otherhand Family itself.
In the second of the Raven mysteries, Edgar is pitted against a guh...guh...You Know What that is frightening people to death (see above.) It is not really as funny as the first Mystery, Flood and Fang, simply because the joke is now familiar, but it is still an amusing diversion and Edgar is a great character, so I have little doubt I shall end up reading the projected four more titles...
In the second of the Raven mysteries, Edgar is pitted against a guh...guh...You Know What that is frightening people to death (see above.) It is not really as funny as the first Mystery, Flood and Fang, simply because the joke is now familiar, but it is still an amusing diversion and Edgar is a great character, so I have little doubt I shall end up reading the projected four more titles...
December 25, 2009
Again, a very fun and quirky story, this time involving ghosts, with a gothic twist. I especially like the drawings, which compliment the story and add to the humour (especially the one of Edgar pretending to be a gargoyle haha). Also liked the toy Edgars (I'd buy one!) and the Ghost Hunting Machine :)
February 25, 2021
Un libro muy entretenido, me encantaron las ilustraciones.
Edgar y Solticio intentan atrapar a los fantasmas del castillo para que dejen de asustar a los sirvientes, pero sus planes fallan algunas veces y en el proceso compartirán varios momentos divertidos con los otros integrantes de la familia.
Edgar y Solticio intentan atrapar a los fantasmas del castillo para que dejen de asustar a los sirvientes, pero sus planes fallan algunas veces y en el proceso compartirán varios momentos divertidos con los otros integrantes de la familia.
November 3, 2019
I enjoyed the equal attention to each character ☺
April 9, 2010
This series is what all of those other 'humorous' children's novels are attempting to be (I name no names). If it gets any better, I'll run out of stars.
Is my beak wonky?
Is my beak wonky?
August 8, 2018
This is a great book in which is about people who at the castle are dying due to seeing ghosts and although the family are running out of money they make a machine which will detect gold in order to try and find the hidden treasure within the castle.
I loved that this book was told from the raven's point of view of the story and although the characters within the story were not able to understand him he was a valuable part of the story. I thought that the twist at the end of the story with the ghosts having had been accomplices of the ghost hunter who comes to the house was a great addition to the story as they tried to get the treasure for themselves. As well as having a real ghost which was an ancestor of the family and help to get rid of the man.
I was glad to see that this story was one that didn't mean you had to read the first book in order to understand what was happening and can be read as a stand alone book. I also thought that the artwork throughout the book was beautiful and I thought that having the visuals as part of the book was a brilliant addition and one that helped create the look of all of the characters.
I loved that this book was told from the raven's point of view of the story and although the characters within the story were not able to understand him he was a valuable part of the story. I thought that the twist at the end of the story with the ghosts having had been accomplices of the ghost hunter who comes to the house was a great addition to the story as they tried to get the treasure for themselves. As well as having a real ghost which was an ancestor of the family and help to get rid of the man.
I was glad to see that this story was one that didn't mean you had to read the first book in order to understand what was happening and can be read as a stand alone book. I also thought that the artwork throughout the book was beautiful and I thought that having the visuals as part of the book was a brilliant addition and one that helped create the look of all of the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2024
These are really fun books to read, very creative and easy to read, two children that like to explore and one with a raven and the other with a monkey as a pet, a great stories and this is the second book in the set.
June 12, 2017
More nightmarish nonsense from the idiotic inhabitants of Otherhand Castle. And Edgar and Solstice, obviously. Witty and warped.
March 11, 2019
I think my students will like the combination between the thriller and comedy story. The raven is very sarcastic, which I like
January 19, 2020
Tolle Buchreihe, schade dass nur die ersten beiden Bände in Deutschland erschienen sind. Wer auf eine Mischung aus Adams Family und Krimi steht sollte sich das Buch mal anschauen.
May 13, 2021
1 star because — raven. Another star because Liechtenstein!
A ghost was seen in an ancient castle and there were nonbelievers? Come on!
A ghost was seen in an ancient castle and there were nonbelievers? Come on!
January 15, 2022
Almost an Addams family spin off. 👍
July 31, 2022
4.5/5 - finished it in the train ride. it’s such a fun and easy read, i need to read the whole series. solstice is so pretty, i love how the drawings are so gothic 🫶
November 22, 2022
these are really fun books to read !! i had them when i was younger and its nice to revisit childhood favourites <3
January 28, 2014
In Kürze:
+ schöne, wunderbar unterhaltsame, lustige Geschichte
+ eine Abenteuergeschichte
+ erzählt vom Familienraben Edgar
+ das Buch ist sehr schön illustriert
+ lovely, entertaining, funny,
+ fun adventure story
+ narrated by the family's raven Edgar
+ the book is beautifully illustrated
Meinung:
Dieses Buch ist das zweite in der Raven Mysteries Reihe und ich habe es gelesen ohne den Vorgänger zu kennen. Ich wusste nicht genau welches zuerst kam, als ich dir Bücher in die Bibliothek gesehen habe und habe mir einfach dieses gegriffen. Es war auch keine Problem, da die Abenteuergeschichten allein stehen und für mich ohne Probleme zu lesen waren.
Der Rabe Edgar erzählt aus dem Leben seiner Besitzer und besteht mit den Kinder der Otherhands das ein oder andere Abenteuer. Nachdem Karlwin und sein Affe einen Geist gesehen habe und auch die Bediensteten einer nach dem anderen vor Schreck erstarren, geht auf Burg Otherhand der Schrecken um. Als ein Geisterjäger seine Dienste anbietet, sind die Kinder skeptisch und versuchen dem ominösen Geisterjäger sowie den Geistern auf die Spur zu kommen.
Das Buch ist eine lustige und unterhaltsame Abenteuergeschichte. Ich persönlich finde, dass die Perspektive des Raben die Geschichte aufwertet. Die Mischung aus Geistern, Abenteuern und schrulligen Familienmitgliedern verleiht der Reihe eine gewissen Charme. Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm und das Buch ist wunderbar und passend illustriert. Wirklich zu empfehlen.
Ghost and Gadgets is the second book in the Raven Mysteries series by Marcus Sedgwick. I read this story without knowing the first one. I did not know which one came first and when I saw this in the library I decided to take it home. I feel that the stories are self-contained and can be read in any particular order. I had no problems, whatsoever, to follow the story and so I assume it will be the same with the other books in the series.
The raven Edgar narrates the story and let's the reader know about the family life with the Otherhands. When a ghosts appear in the castle and servants are frozen in terror, a supposedly famous ghost hunter offers his help. The Otherhand children with help of their faithful raven Edgar are skeptical of the ghost hunter's capabilities and begin to solve the ghostly problems themselves.
This book is an entertaining and funny adventure story which is enhanced by the narrative perspective of Edgar. The mixture of ghosts, adventure, and quirky family members lend charme to the series. The writing is fluent and the book is as whimsically illustrated as the family members are quirky. I really really enjoyed them.
Fazit:
Eine unterhaltsame Abenteuergeschichte mit Geistern und skurrilen Familienmitgliedern. Definitiv zu empfehlen.
An entertaining adventure story with ghosts, quirky characters, and a loveable raven. I highly recommend it.
+ schöne, wunderbar unterhaltsame, lustige Geschichte
+ eine Abenteuergeschichte
+ erzählt vom Familienraben Edgar
+ das Buch ist sehr schön illustriert
+ lovely, entertaining, funny,
+ fun adventure story
+ narrated by the family's raven Edgar
+ the book is beautifully illustrated
Meinung:
Dieses Buch ist das zweite in der Raven Mysteries Reihe und ich habe es gelesen ohne den Vorgänger zu kennen. Ich wusste nicht genau welches zuerst kam, als ich dir Bücher in die Bibliothek gesehen habe und habe mir einfach dieses gegriffen. Es war auch keine Problem, da die Abenteuergeschichten allein stehen und für mich ohne Probleme zu lesen waren.
Der Rabe Edgar erzählt aus dem Leben seiner Besitzer und besteht mit den Kinder der Otherhands das ein oder andere Abenteuer. Nachdem Karlwin und sein Affe einen Geist gesehen habe und auch die Bediensteten einer nach dem anderen vor Schreck erstarren, geht auf Burg Otherhand der Schrecken um. Als ein Geisterjäger seine Dienste anbietet, sind die Kinder skeptisch und versuchen dem ominösen Geisterjäger sowie den Geistern auf die Spur zu kommen.
Das Buch ist eine lustige und unterhaltsame Abenteuergeschichte. Ich persönlich finde, dass die Perspektive des Raben die Geschichte aufwertet. Die Mischung aus Geistern, Abenteuern und schrulligen Familienmitgliedern verleiht der Reihe eine gewissen Charme. Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm und das Buch ist wunderbar und passend illustriert. Wirklich zu empfehlen.
Ghost and Gadgets is the second book in the Raven Mysteries series by Marcus Sedgwick. I read this story without knowing the first one. I did not know which one came first and when I saw this in the library I decided to take it home. I feel that the stories are self-contained and can be read in any particular order. I had no problems, whatsoever, to follow the story and so I assume it will be the same with the other books in the series.
The raven Edgar narrates the story and let's the reader know about the family life with the Otherhands. When a ghosts appear in the castle and servants are frozen in terror, a supposedly famous ghost hunter offers his help. The Otherhand children with help of their faithful raven Edgar are skeptical of the ghost hunter's capabilities and begin to solve the ghostly problems themselves.
This book is an entertaining and funny adventure story which is enhanced by the narrative perspective of Edgar. The mixture of ghosts, adventure, and quirky family members lend charme to the series. The writing is fluent and the book is as whimsically illustrated as the family members are quirky. I really really enjoyed them.
Fazit:
Eine unterhaltsame Abenteuergeschichte mit Geistern und skurrilen Familienmitgliedern. Definitiv zu empfehlen.
An entertaining adventure story with ghosts, quirky characters, and a loveable raven. I highly recommend it.
April 14, 2013
De oude raaf Edgar is Wachter van Kasteel Anderhand. En dat is nogal een taak, want er gebeurt altijd wel iets in het kasteel van de familie Anderhand. In het eerste deel van De Mysteries van de Raaf ging het om een griezelig kasteelbeest dat de boel op stelten zette en nu is de beurt aan een spuh-spuh-spook! De tienjarige Viltkruid is de eerste die hem ziet en hij weet nog net naar zijn grote zus Zonnewendy te rennen voordat hij met rechtovereind staand haar flauwvalt. Niet lang daarna vallen de eerste slachtoffers: verschillende bedienden in en rondom het kasteel schrikken zich letterlijk dood na het zien van het spook. Het is duidelijk dat Edgars hulp nodig is, maar wat kan een raaf doen tegen een vreselijk, verschrikkelijk, angstaanjagend spook?
Edgar is gelukkig niet de enige die zich geroepen voelt om Kasteel Anderhand te beschermen tegen het spook. Het duurt niet lang voordat er een echte spokenjager op de stoep van het kasteel staat: Spookini. Maar Spookini’s methodes zijn een beetje vreemd en Edgar vraagt zich af of die mysterieuze man met zijn enorme rij tanden wel te vertrouwen is. Ook graaf Daldruif heeft het niet zo op Spookini, maar hij is veel te druk bezig met het uitvinden van een machine waarmee hij de Verloren Schat van Anderhand kan vinden. Dat wil helaas nog niet zo lukken, want hij vindt met zijn Speurder naar Goud juist alles behalve goud. Het ziet er dus naar uit dat het lot van Kasteel Anderhand en al zijn inwoners in de handen ligt van Zonnewendy en Edgar. Zal het ze lukken het spook te vangen?
Een geestig verhaal
Spoken op de loer is een ontzettend leuke combinatie van humor en spanning. De oude raaf Edgar woont al eeuwenlang in Kasteel Anderhand en is daarom ook de ideale verteller van het verhaal. Hij ziet alles wat er in het kasteel gebeurt en houdt alles in de gaten. De manier waarop hij dat doet kan echter erg grappig zijn. Zo wordt hij regelmatig bekogeld met eten door de peutertweeling Gruis en Bruis, en belandt Edgar een keer met de punt van zijn snavel in een tafelblad. Maar ondanks alle grappige dingen ademt dit boek, net als zijn voorganger, een duister sfeertje. Het kasteel is groot en mysterieus en heeft vele stoffige, leegstaande kamers waar best wel eens een spook in rond zou kunnen dwalen. Dit verhaal is daarom ook met recht een ‘geestig’ verhaal te noemen.
Meer lezen? Klik hier voor de volledige recensie: http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...
Edgar is gelukkig niet de enige die zich geroepen voelt om Kasteel Anderhand te beschermen tegen het spook. Het duurt niet lang voordat er een echte spokenjager op de stoep van het kasteel staat: Spookini. Maar Spookini’s methodes zijn een beetje vreemd en Edgar vraagt zich af of die mysterieuze man met zijn enorme rij tanden wel te vertrouwen is. Ook graaf Daldruif heeft het niet zo op Spookini, maar hij is veel te druk bezig met het uitvinden van een machine waarmee hij de Verloren Schat van Anderhand kan vinden. Dat wil helaas nog niet zo lukken, want hij vindt met zijn Speurder naar Goud juist alles behalve goud. Het ziet er dus naar uit dat het lot van Kasteel Anderhand en al zijn inwoners in de handen ligt van Zonnewendy en Edgar. Zal het ze lukken het spook te vangen?
Een geestig verhaal
Spoken op de loer is een ontzettend leuke combinatie van humor en spanning. De oude raaf Edgar woont al eeuwenlang in Kasteel Anderhand en is daarom ook de ideale verteller van het verhaal. Hij ziet alles wat er in het kasteel gebeurt en houdt alles in de gaten. De manier waarop hij dat doet kan echter erg grappig zijn. Zo wordt hij regelmatig bekogeld met eten door de peutertweeling Gruis en Bruis, en belandt Edgar een keer met de punt van zijn snavel in een tafelblad. Maar ondanks alle grappige dingen ademt dit boek, net als zijn voorganger, een duister sfeertje. Het kasteel is groot en mysterieus en heeft vele stoffige, leegstaande kamers waar best wel eens een spook in rond zou kunnen dwalen. Dit verhaal is daarom ook met recht een ‘geestig’ verhaal te noemen.
Meer lezen? Klik hier voor de volledige recensie: http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...
February 18, 2017
Een super spannend boek dat half gaat over een familie een kwart over een raaf en een kwart over een spook.
Heel leuk geschreven en daarom verdient het 3 sterren!
Heel leuk geschreven en daarom verdient het 3 sterren!
June 9, 2015
Edgar is concerned his beak may be wonky. It’s a question that is vexing him more and more these days. It does not distract him from telling us one of the most frightful tales in Otherhand’s history, the one with the gah gah gah You-Know-What.
It’s been entirely too long since I’ve visited Otherland Castle. I’d forgotten how wonderfully bizarre and eccentric the place was. Edgar, well I never did forget him (how would that even be possible?) and Edgar remains just as brilliant a narrator as before.
What resides in the South Wing? Is it truly a You-Know-What or is there something else going on? After Cudweed’s initial hair-raising encounter with this apparition his sister Solstice is determined to find out, with Edgar’s help of course. It is a little concerning how quickly the Otherhand family ‘lose’ staff and how blasé they are about this matter.
Ghosts and Gadgets is a good sequel and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
It’s been entirely too long since I’ve visited Otherland Castle. I’d forgotten how wonderfully bizarre and eccentric the place was. Edgar, well I never did forget him (how would that even be possible?) and Edgar remains just as brilliant a narrator as before.
What resides in the South Wing? Is it truly a You-Know-What or is there something else going on? After Cudweed’s initial hair-raising encounter with this apparition his sister Solstice is determined to find out, with Edgar’s help of course. It is a little concerning how quickly the Otherhand family ‘lose’ staff and how blasé they are about this matter.
Ghosts and Gadgets is a good sequel and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
October 1, 2014
This is the second book in the Raven Mysteries series, and I am enjoying these Castle Otherhands mysteries.
" Whatever had become of Castle Otherhand? Ghosts! And gadgets! "
In this one the Otherhands Father Lord Valevine is searching for gold treasure to save their home, but Cudweed and Fellah (the son and monkey) see a ghost... Then many maids / house workers are dying of shock of seeing ghosts too... this results in Minty (the mother) bringing in a "Ghost Hunter" called Captin Spookini.
Nice fun read, and I have the other books in this series ready to be read.. can't wait to see what else happens..
" Whatever had become of Castle Otherhand? Ghosts! And gadgets! "
In this one the Otherhands Father Lord Valevine is searching for gold treasure to save their home, but Cudweed and Fellah (the son and monkey) see a ghost... Then many maids / house workers are dying of shock of seeing ghosts too... this results in Minty (the mother) bringing in a "Ghost Hunter" called Captin Spookini.
Nice fun read, and I have the other books in this series ready to be read.. can't wait to see what else happens..
March 3, 2011
Once again is the clever Solstice and the raven Edgar who saved the family from supernatural things. One thing I had some difficulties to understand is that why is it always the maidens and servents who die? They just got frightened to death by fake ghost while Cudweed got frightened by a real ghost and survived. How is it possible? That logic is a bit weird isn't it?
So I think this mystery in "Ghosts and Gadgets" were just average, but as alwyas I enjoyed the illustrtions by Pete Williamson.
So I think this mystery in "Ghosts and Gadgets" were just average, but as alwyas I enjoyed the illustrtions by Pete Williamson.
May 4, 2013
Meer van hetzelfde, maar ook meer verhaal en meer complexiteit: waar deel 1 nog een beetje abstract bleef met een mysterieus monster, is deel 2 wat spannender met een duidelijkere antagonist en meer intrige.
Raaf Edgar is nog even sarcastisch als in deel 1; de irritante aap Gozer is wat rustiger na een flink schrikmoment en bevindt zich wat meer op de achtergrond. Prima zo! ;-)
Raaf Edgar is nog even sarcastisch als in deel 1; de irritante aap Gozer is wat rustiger na een flink schrikmoment en bevindt zich wat meer op de achtergrond. Prima zo! ;-)
July 13, 2013
It's sad that such good narration, characters and setting are spoiled by a lame story!
July 6, 2015
I like this book less than I want to do...
Biggest issue: Where is the police?
Biggest issue: Where is the police?
April 17, 2023
this book was terrible i finished it in 2 hours and its so unentertaining. The plot makes no sense . Do not read this unless your a child. its not my type at all
May 28, 2014
Always witty and clever - fun to read and not dumbed down for kids.
August 10, 2014
The jokes were all a bit too overconscientious for my taste.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews