BOTM for JANUARY is The Mysterious Benedict Society

[Jemima]

This month The Mysterious Benedict Society won with 19.2% of the votes, from The Red Pyramid with 18.5%. There were more votes than many months, which suggests having longer to vote might help, and nearly all the books had support.

So, off you go with the first in The Mysterious Benedict Society series, and post your comments below!

Happy new year :)

[Cheryl]

We just read this in Children's Books... most readers enjoyed it quite a bit!

[Lori]

I read this to my daughter last year. She really loved it. I think the idea of a group of kids outwitting an evil adult mastermind always plays well with her as well as figuring out puzzles and mysteries along the way. As an adult reader I found the twists pretty easy to figure out and I felt it was a bit longer than it needed to be but I enjoyed the characters and the story overall.

[Danielle]

Would love to read it

[Rebecca]

Looking forward to it! The books have been catching my eye for several years now, just haven't followed through.

[Mrs.Capuano]

This is a great book! Since I have already read this one, I might read the next one in the series. The characters are really fun and, especially (in my mind) #2.

[M.G.]

Loved this whole series!

[Rebecca]

Started listening to this today. I think I'm about halfway through. Fascinating!

[[deleted user]]

Started reading today. Enjoying sense of humour already.

[Deanna]

adorable book!

[Rebecca]

I am having an odd reaction to this book. On the one hand, I'm finding it great reading. On the other, I periodically have to move away from it as it starts to irritate me. This may be due to the narration (I'm doing the audio book), which is not, IMO, very good. The guy's voice is just so flat. Not quite like the history teacher in
"The Wonder Years," but getting there.

[Lorelei]

We were gifted this book for Christmas, so we are going to read it in January along with this BOTM. I'm excited to read this book aloud!

[[deleted user]]

Very enjoyable but the middle section was long winded and some scenes could be cut.

[Rebecca]

Finished. I did enjoy it, but continued to have periodic desires to step away from the story. Maybe because this zombifying mind-control is about the most horrific thing I can think of?

[Justine]

I finally finished this book. Took me quite a while; I had to persevere with it. I agree with S.K. It was could have been shorter. I'm not sure I was on board at all with how the messages would make the world a better or worse place, so the book didn't enthral me as I thought it would. Anyone else felt this way?

[Rebecca]

I thought it was pretty clear that the messages were about giving up your self (autonomy, will, etc) to someone else (Mr. Curtain, as it turns out), so I had no problem buying into the huge need to prevent him. But I agree that it went on a bit too long.