The Curse of the Pharaoh

December 24, 2012
A 12-year-old aspiring mystery writer with a photographic memory is the globe-trotting eponymous heroine of the Agatha: Girl of Mystery series (originally published in Italy), which gets off to a running start with this lighthearted caper. Beyond the Christie reference for the title character, Stevenson (a pseudonym for Italian author Mario Pasqualotto) has fun name-checking other famous writers and characters of the genre. Agatha comes to the aid of her 14-year-old cousin, Dashiell, when he’s assigned a tricky mission at his prestigious London detective school: find a stolen ancient tablet that will disclose crucial information about an unknown Egyptian pharaoh’s tomb. Armed with Agatha’s superior sleuthing skills and Dash’s high-tech spyware, the two travel to the Valley of Kings (along with Agatha’s cat, Watson, and burly butler, Chandler), where they attempt to crack the case. Turconi’s cartoons (a mix of spot art and single- and double-page scenes) have lots of personality, and the plot’s over-the-top leaps only enhance the mix of comedy and adventure. Due simultaneously: The Pearl of Bengal. Ages 7–10.

December 15, 2012
Twelve-year-old Agatha Mistery journeys to Egypt's Valley of the Kings with her cousin, Dash, her butler, Chandler, her cat, Watson, and a handy petrifying cactus to find a stolen artifact. For his final exam in Investigation Techniques, hapless student detective Dash has to find the fragile tablet showing the location of an undiscovered tomb. Naturally, he enlists the help of his cousin Agatha, an aspiring mystery writer whose prodigious memory and attention to detail he needs. Chandler, posing as Agent DM14, provides an adult presence while the two work. Dash's school-issued EyeNet gadget does everything from track warm bodies to identify the chemical composition of bits of dust. Fast-paced action, plentiful dialogue, humor and intriguing technology combine in this promising launch for an original paperback series focused on Agatha's international adventures. Stevenson is the pseudonym of Italian writer Mario Pasqualotto. His text has been ably translated by Kelly and adapted by Gold. Turconi's illustrations, ranging from spot art to a full double-page spread, provide cartoony images of the characters and add to the exotic sense of place. A cast of characters and mission description appear just after the title page, and the book concludes with a hint of adventures to come--in Bengal. A lively and auspicious beginning. (Mystery. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2013

Gr 2-5-Precocious Agatha, 12, is an international detective. With the help of her cousin-in-training, her butler, her sleuthing cat, and a poisonous cactus, she takes Egypt by storm in pursuit of a stolen artifact. With the smarts of Nancy Drew and the charm of Eloise, Agatha is an exciting addition to the girl-detective canon. Action-packed black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout and range in size from small insets to full spreads. The story is fast-paced and contains enough surprises to keep readers engaged. The illustrations will entice those transitioning to chapter books, but the sometimes-challenging vocabulary make this a pick for those with a higher reading level. A fun, modern-day detective story with an international flair.-Sarah Townsend, Norfolk Public Library, VA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.