There are so few mystery books out there that I’ve really
tucked into. I mean like real mystery, not just with ‘mysterious
undertones’. But this book…it’s my favourite mystery out there.
The plot is sort of similar to Macbeth, but don't
expect the thees and thous and wherefore art thou Romeos.
Although there are some references to the play cleverly built in (characters
Mac, his girlfriend Beth, and a dog called Spot that later is commanded to
leave...see what I'm getting at?) Anyhow, a fortune teller prophesizes that Mac
will one day rule the Scottish games. Beth, Mac's ambitious and gorgeous
girlfriend, is especially interested by this news. One night, the head of the
games, Duncan , is brutally
murdered. Horatio Wilkes, Mac’s friend and the awesome main character of this
story, has to solve the mystery.
If you haven't read Macbeth, you'll still enjoy this book, but you won't as much as if you had read the play. (Trust me, I speak from experience. I hadn't read Hamlet before I read the sequel to this book, Something Rotten, and I felt like I wasn't getting some of the references). If you've read the play, you'll snicker behind your hands at all the clever ways that Alan Gratz has adapted the storyline. Kind of like being in on an inside joke. That said, this is still a great stand alone book. It's super thrilling, and it had me doubting whether or not the book would follow the play.
If you haven't read Macbeth, you'll still enjoy this book, but you won't as much as if you had read the play. (Trust me, I speak from experience. I hadn't read Hamlet before I read the sequel to this book, Something Rotten, and I felt like I wasn't getting some of the references). If you've read the play, you'll snicker behind your hands at all the clever ways that Alan Gratz has adapted the storyline. Kind of like being in on an inside joke. That said, this is still a great stand alone book. It's super thrilling, and it had me doubting whether or not the book would follow the play.
The characters are all great, but I’ve gotta say, Megan is
one of my all-time favourite female protagonists. She’s super sassy and strong
and not about to let anyone walk all over her. She gets to do some serious
butt-kicking during the book, too- OH YEAH!!!!
Another thing I’d like to point out is that I loved how the
mystery was written. Not naming any names, but some mystery books don’t share
all the important details when they happen. Like at the very end the character
will suddenly remember a mysterious shadow lurking in the corner of the crime
scene, or that the murder victim has a divorced wife who has a criminal record.
Or they suddenly find a diary page with the killer’s intents on it. I feel SO
CHEATED when books do that. No, every single detail that is ever referenced in
this book did actually happen. I checked. I also like how every single end gets
tied up, even the whole ‘familiar music’ thing, but you’ll have to read to the
end of the book before you figure out what I mean. J
Loved this book? Then you’ll like:
Something Rotten by Alan Gratz
Getting the Girl by Susan Juby
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