Author Kay DiBianca takes her middle grade readers on a detective adventure around Manhattan in New York City with Knights in Manhattan. (This is the second in DiBianca’s Reen and Joanie Detective Agency series). These are not really knights but a couple of brave friends who work to halt crime.
REVIEW
In this novel, Reen and her sidekick/cousin Joanie are on a week’s holiday with their aunt in New York City. Onboard the plane to the city, Reen reads a newspaper headline that reads “Central Park Jewel Thief Strikes Again.” Then, she makes a trip to the bathroom and uncovers a coded note that details a time and place for the thieves to meet up. The adventure begins as the sleuths unearth a clue trail leading to a dangerous jewelry heist. Along the way the two girls see the sights of New York including Grand Central Station, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Empire State Building.
Reen and Miles, her new friend from her aunt’s apartment complex, use the internet, their phones’ recording devices and earbuds, and Miles’ amazing ability to memorize places, to solve the case. A fun scene is when a local pet shop employee releases fast-moving hamsters whose crazy behavior distracts the thieves enough to seal their fate!
Knights in Manhattan contains the perfect blend of a classic detective tale and modern-day tech. Very often, some of the gems of the detective genre are hard to grasp for a young audience because the good stuff comes after a lot of complex dialogue or slow-moving scenes that take pages and pages to develop.
The book is sure to capture a young audience’s attention right off the bat and hold it until the very last page. And at the same time, like me, readers will be able to get to know New York City through the pages of this book. And by the way, doesn’t the book have such a cool cover?
This plot is fast enough to grab attention of 21st-century middle schoolers but still contain the thrill of the chase that is part of a good detective story. Will Reen, Joanie, and Miles nab the thieves in time to stop the heist?
GIVEAWAY
I have a copy of Knights in Manhattan for one fortunate reader. The characters are 9 and 10 so it would be a great gift for the young reader in your life. Leave a comment by November 26 and I’ll enter your name. This time, if you’re live in New York or have lived there at any time, you get two chances!
OUR GUEST REVIEWER
Kate Lundeen is a frequent contributor to my blog. She last shared her thoughts about Loon Cove. She writes, “The Lord’s hand of watchful care and protection blessed my life from my start as a tiny premature infant. Doctors diagnosed me with cerebral palsy from birth complications which mainly affected my legs and motor skills. I also have a learning disability that does not allow me to write down or process thoughts as fast as other people. I am a former homeschooler and obtained an Associate in Arts degree from a North Carolina community college after five years of hard work! I discovered and developed a love for writing in college. Now I pen articles for my local church newsletter and write book reviews. I enjoy my current job as a part-time library assistant in a Christian library in Matthews, NC. I have a servant’s heart and a willing attitude to grow in old skills and develop new ones along whatever path the Lord chooses to take me.”
.
I always love a good mystery! Sounds like a fun book.
You’re in, Kim!
I have a copy of this already, so you don’t need to put me in the drawing. But I’m looking forward to reading it and reviewing it for W2I!! I really enjoyed the first Reen and Joanie book!
Thanks, Pam!
Looking forward to your review, Pam!
This sounds like a terrific book for middle graders, who love mysteries! thank you for reviewing it! I haven’t lived in NYC, but we lived in New York state for many years and took trips into the city to visit friends and museums!
Living in the state of NY gives you two chances, Kathy!
I’m with Kate-beautiful cover that will catch readers’ eyes and may lead to a purchase/check out/read! Also like Kate, I appreciate getting a look at places I may never get to visit or have, and get to do it again through the pages of a good book!
Thank you, Melanie. You’re in!
Thank you for posting the review, Carol. And thanks to Kate for the wonderful review. (Reen and Joanie say “thanks” too. They would have commented, but they’re busy figuring out what nefarious crime they should solve next. 😊)
Thanks, Kay. ANd your fans will be happy to read about their next adventure!
This sounds like a great mystery story. I’m going to let someone win who has time to read it now.
Thanks for your comment, Natalie!
I love mysteries, and this sounds fantastic! And it has hamsters! Thanks for a wonderful review and for the giveaway!
Thanks, Jenni. You’re in!
Love the premise of this mystery. The main characters sound like ones middle graders would enjoy. Please let someone else win as my to be read stack just fell on my lap. Happy MMGM!
Thanks, Greg. I love your comment!
I do love a good mystery, and this sounds great. Thanks for the review, Kate! I used to live in Poughkeepsie, NY. Does That count?
Thanks for your comment, Rosi. Unfortunately, I’d already picked a winner by the time I received your comment. Next time! Happy thanksgiving.
I’m always on the lookout for good mysteries…and this one sounds like it fits that very well.
Thanks, Tonja, but I already picked a winner. Next time!