Published: May 20, 2011
Words: 55,793 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781458001030

Short description

In a time before cell phones, MP3 players, and the Internet, a girl could roll up her sleeves and solve a murder, especially before she becomes the next victim. PENELOPE AMOUR is thirteen and rebellious. Her controlling mother and eccentric father dominate her life. And she lives isolated in the Manor where such a murder has occurred.

Extended description

THE BIRTHDAY CURSE is set outside the town limits of Dillwood, in a strange old house called the Manor, with a detective who is bold, brassy and only thirteen. Her name is Penelope Amour.

Her parents invite family and friends to the Manor to celebrate Penelope’s birthday, assembling an odd mix of characters. Complications soon arise when a snowstorm knocks out the power, stranding them in the country, fourteen miles from town. Then on the morning of Penelope’s birthday, they find one of the guests dead. Another guest spins a tale of a triple curse, claiming that two more will die in the next two days. While the adults bumble along trying to find the killer, Penelope enlists the help of friends Ruthie, Wendell and Orson to find the murderer.

THE BIRTHDAY CURSE is a blend of humor, cozy mystery and suspense that is a fun read for adults as well as tweens.

Tags

thriller, crime, suspense, adventure, murder, mystery, humor, young adult, detective, tween

Available ebook reading formats

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Reviews

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Review by: Elizabeth Miller on April 06, 2012 :
Cute young adult mystery story. Penelope is having a party but she doesn't really know the guest but her mother makes her attend anyway. Once the first body is found it seems that Penelope and her new friends try to figure out what's going on before someone else gets killed. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon in the sun.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Joleene Naylor on Feb. 14, 2012 :
This was a fun read. Penelope is a strong character with a fun personality and at times reminded me of Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet stories. Lots of funny moments and enough chills to keep the reader hooked. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Rick Bylina on June 26, 2011 :
Agatha Christie perfected the locked-room murder. Nancy Drew stumbled into murders that mystified adults. However, PENELOPE AMOUR must solve a murder that confounds the adults in her world before she becomes the next victim. In Ron Voigts’ debut novel, we laugh and scratch our heads at the antics of the invitees to Penelope's 13th birthday party in an isolated mansion ruled by her strong-willed mother and eccentric father. Then, Ron takes us to the darker side. After the first murder, a gypsy foretells of two more. We shudder as the killer stalks Penelope, and the action gets too close to our heroine. Sometimes a young girl has to become a strong, levelheaded woman to prevent the murderer from killing her so she can get to the birthday presents she deserves. Though it is a Young Adult novel at heart, there is plenty of mystery and merriment to keep all ages laughing and scratching their heads, trying to figure out, "Who did it?” Five starts out of the gate.
(reviewed the day of purchase)

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