The Mystery of the Haunted Hospital ¦ The Mystery of the Smuggler's Treasure
Digital version – browse, print or download
Books for Keeps is packed with articles, interviews comment and, of course, reviews.
You can read the whole issue online here, for free!
How to print the digital edition of Books for Keeps: click on this PDF file link - click on the printer icon in the top right of the screen to print.
BfK Newsletter
Receive the latest news & reviews direct to your inbox!
Cover Story
The illustration on the cover of this issue of Books for Keeps shows the arrival of King Sahure's funeral procession at the pyramid at Abusir around 2473 BC. Reconstructed from archaeological evidence, this illustration by David Salariya and Shirley Willis is taken from Ancient Egypt by Rosalie and Antony E. David, published by Kingfisher in the History as Evidence series (0 86272 091 5, £3.95). We are grateful to Kingfisher for help in using this illustration. (See Information Please, pages 20-21)
The Mystery of the Haunted Hospital
Valerie Littlewood
The Mystery of the Smuggler's Treasure
Valerie Littlewood
Fast moving plots in these two which brim over with action and events. Mr Dicks' experience as a TV writer means that he knows about giving a tale its twists and turns. But even the eights and nines I read this with (boys, whose teacher said they 'needed encouragement') felt that after quite enjoying The Haunted Hospital, The Smuggler's Treasure was rather more of the same.
Cramped print and pictures is off-putting for independent readers, which is a pity as there's some decent detective work, some scope for readers to get involved in the tales and (now and again) some sparks of contemporary-sounding humour.