The Tattooed Potato and Other Cluese

 

***1/2

PG

{SM}

Could Recommend

I searched this book out because I wanted to something else written by the author of The Westing Game which I recently reread.

I really didn't know what to expect but after finishing it I can say I am neither disappointed nor have I had my mind blown.  It was definitely an interesting read and there was nothing offensive in the story.

There was more than one murder (though not graphically described) so that is why I gave it the PG and {Subject Matter} ratings.

The mystery has a similar feel to the one in The Westing Game (mainly surrounding characters not being solely who they claim to be and also many secrets being harbored)

And, as with The Westing Game, in the end, not all of the pieces had clicked together for me.  I'm sure they do come together but my brain does not do a good job of connecting fragments into a whole.

So, overall, I think I could recommend it and would if someone was looking for a quick, interesting, somewhat lighthearted and juvenile mystery.

The Westing Game

 

****

PG

tiny bit of {L}

Easily Recommend

I first read this book many years ago.  I stayed up super late to finish it and when I finally put it down I said, "What?" and went to sleep.  The next morning I woke up and started reading from page 1 again.  I was so baffled and fascinated that I had to try and understand how she had done what she did.

Recently I have been thinking about this book again and had a hankering to reread it.  With my memory being the way it is, I was able to go into it almost as if I had not read it before.  There was one facet that I remembered from the get go that helped me not be AS blown away at the end this time around.  It was still amazing though!  And to add to that, I read in the introduction that Raskin starts out writing without having a plan in mind...just comes up with the plot as she writes!  That is crazy and incredible to keep in mind when you read The Westing Game!

So, there is one instance of the Lord's name being taken in vain and that is it for {Language}...which, is quite a miracle in my eyes.  There are a few, juvenile type references to a dead man rotting away, alone in a house... that is mostly why I didn't feel like I could give it a G rating.

Such a well written, fascinating story with fun characters!

I recommend this to anyone who loves a mystery!