It's murder mysteries galore this week, and to start we have a fantastic review by site member Annabeth16_Sadie14 of The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. Siblings Carter and Sadie get stuck in the British Museum with their Dad after closing time, and they soon find themselves in the middle of a terrifying adventure!
"I've always liked clever, funny adventure stories like the Percy Jackson series. The Red Pyramid was just the thing for me. It belongs to a series called The Kane Chronicles. The other two books in it are Throne of Fire and Serpent's Shadow. I'd recommend this book to children and teenagers who like long, funny adventure books full of surprises."
A classic mystery with more than a hint of gothic was on the cards as Firebird wrote a terrific review of the chilling Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier. When her mother dies, Mary Yellan goes to live with her aunt and uncle in their remote inn on the Cornish moors. Unfortunately, they just so happen to live alongside a group of smugglers and thieves...
"Jamaica Inn is an odd book. The whole novel feels rather like some sort of surreal dream, and indeed Daphne Du Maurier is at her best when recounting the vivid nightmares experienced by the heroine … On the whole though, it cannot be denied that Jamaica Inn is still a true classic of gothic romance and adventure, even if it felt rather sketchy at some points – why let details of characterisation get in the way of a rollicking good yarn?"
Now to a more scientific mystery, we move to spruzie's review of The Nemesis Program by Scott Mariani. In this sci-fi thriller, Tesla, a historical scientist, and secret agent Ben Hope go on an adventure to uncover a murder.
"Tesla is a fantastic example of a historical scientist – he had a bizarre and incredibly dedicated character, but is overshadowed by the other scientists of the time in popular science culture. Therefore I was very pleased that the story partly centres on his work. The book made a career in science seem more interesting than lab coats … The Nemesis Program is truly Alex Rider for adults as he tells you what's going on instead of letting you picture it for yourself … Overall, despite my slight dislike of his writing style, I did enjoy this book and the plot was thrilling. On a scale, I would give it a 7 out of 10. So, I would recommend this book, especially if you are fascinated by physics and science as a whole!"
On to a game show with a twist, TheAngelGirl wrote a brilliant review of the e-book Money Burn by Jonah Wilson. When a girl called Marie is invited to go on a game show, a lot of strange things start to happen!
"I would strongly recommend it; I loved it because of the suspense and the action! It is also funny in parts and you can really relate to the characters. I don't know if Jonah Wilson has written any other books but I will keep looking because I would really like to read another one. I have now added him to my list of favourite authors!"
Elsewhere, MissAnonymous07 authored an outstanding review of The Convent by Maureen McCarthy. Following a recent breakup, nineteen year old Preach is "drawn into a world of prayers, strict religion and forbidden love" as she discovers the Convent, a place where several generations of her family grew up.
"I think to enjoy this book you have to like history or religious topics because there is quite a lot of detail on the Convent … Anyone interested in nuns or living in a convent with only God by your side should definitely read this realistic novel. It reveals that life isn't always straight forward and you need to take what is thrown at you with open arms and smile; because with the support of others you can push through it."
Finally, we conclude this week's roundup with an amazing review by young critic Soup10 of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney. In case you've been living on Mars and don't know, this side-splittingly funny, diary-style series follows the life of Greg as he muddles his way through middle school.
"When I started reading this book I realised that I could not take my eyes off it … This was a really good book by Jeff Kinney. It has lots of embarrassment. I would recommend this book for ages between 8 and 14."
Thank you for all sending in such great reviews. If your review has been included in our roundup, be sure to email the children's books team (childrens.books@theguardian.com) – and we will pick you out a bookish treat, perfectly in time for half term!
Happy reading!
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