Ivy found *Minerva Keen's Detective Club* to be a fast-paced mystery full of plot twists, humor, and red herrings, but ultimately gave it 3 out of 5 stars, feeling it fell short on character development and a meaningful takeaway. While she holds James Patterson's other work in high regard, this one didn't quite meet her expectations — though she still recommends mystery fans check it out for themselves.
Ivy's Review
Minerva Keen's Detective Club by James Patterson and Keir Graff follows Minerva Keen, don't you dare call her Minnie, as she, her accident-prone brother, Hector "Heck" Keen, and her friend Santos "Silent Santos" Salgado investigate the poisonings of the people in Minerva's apartment building. A detective interfering with her searching soon becomes her ally as she teams up with him after finding something he didn't know. As she learns more and as more people are poisoned, Minerva becomes increasingly suspicious of her landlady, Delores DeWitt, following her and eventually getting evidence. This book combines detective work, plot twists, and lots of action into this book.
This book got a 3 out of 5 because I feel there wasn't a lot of character arch for the main main character, Minerva, or the other supporting main characters, Santos and Heck. James Patterson writes some really good books, like his Treasure Hunters series is amazing, and I had high standards for this book based off his others and it just wasn't what I expected. The story, I mean, what was the takeaway? I got the plot, but not the story. The lesson. So Minerva Keen's Detective Club got a three.
If you like mystery, bits of humor, and suspects that turn out to be red herrings, you will like this book, even though I didn't. If this book sounds interesting to you, I recommend you pick it up from your local library, or if you really want it, a bookstore.
Until next time. Bye!
About This Book
Mystery, danger, intrigue—all in a day's work for MK's Detective Club! Don't miss the first book in this funny, smart, and action-packed new series from beloved #1 bestselling author James Patterson. Living in the luxurious Arcanum building—with its interior balconies perfect for playing tag, an elevator like an iron birdcage, and quirky neighbors behind every apartment door—has always been fun and games for twelve-year-old Minerva Keen … until her neighbors start getting poisoned. Anyone could be next, and everyone is a suspect, including Minerva herself. To clear her name and help the police crack the case, Minerva starts her own detective club. So what if it has only two other members, one being Minerva’s accident-prone daredevil brother and the other being the biggest and quietest kid in school, who happens to be afraid of his own shadow? Minerva knows that with her brainpower, the club’s sleuthing skills, and case files full of suspects, they can unmask the poisoner … hopefully before it’s too late. This page-turning new mystery series is packed with thrills, chills, laughs, and unforgettable characters and will leave kids eager to join the best club around. Published in hardcover as Minerva Keen’s Detective Club