The Dead of the Night by Peter Lerangis

The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers series, Book 3, Scholastic, 2012.
Recommended for ages 9-13. Dan and Amy are back in this third instalment of the follow on to The 39 Clues series. Written by different authors the books do not suffer from a lack of consistency and The Dead of the Night is just as readable, interesting and filled with intrigue as the first books of the original series. I cannot pinpoint exactly why I enjoy these books so much but it may be a combination of historical and geographical information, the warm and relatable characters and the fast-paced adventure. Totally original as a concept it is no surprise that these books have received the open-armed reception that they have from avid young readers. The reader is treated as intelligent but the series also encourages the asking of further questions and promotes interest in different countries, history and places.
In this title Dan and Amy are racing through Prague to Turkey and onto Uzbekistan collecting items for the Vespers who have kidnapped seven members of the Cahill family. Faced with the opton of meeting the tasks Vesper 1 sets or being responsible for the death of their family Amy and Dan have a lot to deal with. Throw into the mix Dan's best friend Atticus also being captured and the pressure is really on. Amy and Dan's characters continue to develop as they take on new responsibilities and face new truths. Are the messages from AJT really from their father? How will Amy deal with being thirteen and the head of the family? Why has Ian disappeared and can he be trusted?
Packed full of adventure, filled with suspense and twists and turns around every corner The Dead of the Night is certainly a book to recommend to those readers who need a fast-paced book to keep them interested and engaged, but it is more than that. This is a series that really can and will appeal to nearly every individual within its target age range.
Nicole Smith-Forrest