Greenglass House Series, Book 1

Narrator Chris Henry Coffey brings an air of mystery and excitement to Greenglass House, a mysterious inn full of secrets. Milo is looking forward to winter break and some time off from visitors at his family's inn. So he's surprised when a small crowd of guests shows up at during a snowstorm. Each guest has his or her own reasons for visiting, and Milo is about to uncover secrets and treasures about Greenglass House. The production quality is hit or miss, and there are odd pauses and breaks in the narration. Listeners can often hear breaths from the narrator, which can be distracting. Looking past these flaws, the audiobook is a good listen for families and young readers. Coffey offers up a deep-voiced narration that is engaging and gives Milo an air of tentative excitement as he uncovers the adventures that await. S.B.T. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

May 26, 2014
Twelve-year-old Milo’s Christmas looks ruined when five eccentric guests arrive at his parents’ inn on the first day of vacation. But his new friend Meddy has other ideas, and soon the pair is investigating a series of thefts and creating alter egos based on the role-playing game Odd Trails. Milo’s new persona allows him to imagine his Chinese birth family without the guilt he usually feels toward his loving adoptive parents when he does so. The mysteries surrounding the guests and their connections to the inn unravel slowly, but Milo—with his resentment of the unexpected, his growing empathy, and his quick powers of deduction—is a well-drawn protagonist. Likewise, the fictional port of Nagspeake, whose daring smugglers face off against ruthless customs agents, makes for a unique and cozy setting, where Milo’s parents’ inn provides a refuge for “runners,” as the smugglers call themselves. The legends and folktales Milford (The Broken Lands) creates add to Nagspeake’s charm and gently prepare the ground for a fantasy twist. Ages 10–14. Author’s agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary.

June 1, 2015

Gr 5-8-This colorful, plot-driven adventure mystery tale is set at the start of winter vacation in an inn for smugglers. Milo, the adopted son of the inn's owners, looks forward to the normally quiet holiday time. But this year, guests arrive to disturb Milo's vacation, bringing with them a rash of petty thefts. Meddy, the cook's daughter, and Milo investigate, using a roleplaying game to uncover the truth. Stage and screen actor Chris Henry Coffey narrates this fun story with excitement and a steady pace. VERDICT Mystery fans and followers of Milford's works will enjoy this colorful coming-of-age whodunit.-Denise A. Garofalo, Mount Saint Mary College Library, Newburgh, NY

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