Young children
Iain lives in the Highlands where a movie is being filmed. He has been chosen to play a part alongside twin child stars Carol and Melody. Odd and unpleasant things start to happen. Wild animals are released from a nearby open-air zoo – wolves and a wild ape disrupt filming and threaten the children. When they join up with old friends of Iain, Raj and Raveena, they witness one of the film crew being attacked and injured, and discover jewel thieves are operating in the area.
The Laird’s manor (jokingly called Movie Manor by the locals), where all the actors are based, is burgled and personal items stolen. The Laird blames friends of Iain for everything, so the children investigate – a rather awkward investigation as they need to squeeze it in between filming scenes in the movie. Could their burglar be the same burglars who are stealing jewels? Are they releasing the wild animals?
Despite facing terrible danger, the children solve a puzzling double mystery – and discover an unexpected secret about the manor.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
This book has a fun title and premise. It has the flavour of a kind of Scooby-Doo-Mystery in that there are animals getting loose, a movie being filmed, and jewel thieves. One of the girls says, "Jumping giraffes!" The kids are called "brats" and "pesky kids" by the bad guys and the word "caper" is used. It's a fun and engaging story and I would recommend it for younger readers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. #MysteryatMovieManor #NetGalley
This book has an air of 'old fashioned' to it, like it could be a classic, and it has a really interesting plot. The characters and plot are a lot of fun, and it's a really good read.
An enjoyable mystery for middle grade readers with a good range of characters, a few original touches, and a decent plot. The cover is great and I enjoyed the dual mysteries involved. It moves along at a good pace and I felt that all the young protagonists worked really well together. I can definitely see children enjoying this one. (Review from NetGalley)
I’m going to date myself, but this fast-paced middle grade mystery is a cross between The Bobbsey Twins and Marykate & Ashley movies, making it accessible, fun, and engrossing for young readers. We start out with a trio of young people, twins Carol and Melody and village boy Iain, soon joined by two more village kids, Raj and Raveena. These five form an impenetrable and persistent quad of young investigators, each bringing their own talents to the investigation. And what an investigation! There are jewel thefts, a serious beating (handled with care), wildlife activists, and hidden passages all surrounding a core story of a movie being filmed in a gorgeous Scottish location. This is exactly the kind of mystery that got me hooked on the genre when I was 8 and reading Nancy Drew & the Phantom of Pine Hill. I envision a new generation of mystery readers growing out of this one. Highly recommended.
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