Gay Toltl Kinman Reviews

Page Two

Added February 19, 2004

The Secret of the Equestrian Park

An Alison Leigh Powers Mystery

Author: Gay Toltl Kinman
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Available At: www.amberquill.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Middle Reader: Mystery
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $5.50
ISBN: 1-59279-134-4
Author Email/Website: www.gaykinman.com/index.htm
Reviewer: Melissa Parcel

Eleven-year-old Alison Leigh Powers loves working at Mr. Dawson's stables. She has time to ride her own horse, Gypsy, and spend time with her friend Melissa. Then strange things start to happen around the property. A rope is strung between two trees, at just the right height to trip and hurt a horse. The horses are let out of the barn. Part of a girl's saddle is cut and the girl narrowly misses a dangerous fall.

Alison and Melissa decide to investigate the mystery. Paul Jeffries, the son of the owner of a nearby stable, is talking about opening an Equestrian Park that will cater to the needs of the people from the rich estates nearby. Is he somehow involved with the mischief at Dawson's Stables? Will Alison discover the culprit before someone is truly hurt?

The Secret of the Equestrian Park is another great mystery for kids from Gay Toltl Kinman. Alison is a character that most kids will relate to and readers will be excited to join in on her adventures. Alison is today's Nancy Drew, finding clues and putting together solutions to mysteries. This story is full of action and will appeal to kids aged seven to twelve. I highly recommend the Alison Leigh Powers series for both boys and girls.

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Added September 20, 2003

The Secret of the Strange Staircase

An Alison Leigh Powers Mystery

Author: Gay Toltl Kinman
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Available At: www.amberquill.com
Publishing Date: Available Now
Genre: Middle Reader Mystery
Format: Ebook download in PDF/HTML/LIT
Price: $3.50
ISBN: 1-59279-060-7
Author Email/Website: www.gaykinman.com/index.htm
Reviewer: Melissa Parcel

Eleven-year-old sleuth Alison Powers is excited her friend Mitty has returned from a year of living in Europe. Mitty has many interesting things to share, and among the most intriguing is a book called Secret Hiding Places in the Great Halls of England. The girls learn about homes built with secret rooms underneath for the hiding of Priests during the times when everyone was ordered to be Protestant. Alison's mom works in the library of the huge home of Mr. Otis Smith. When the girls compare the staircase in Mr. Smith's home to the picture in the book, they are delighted to discover that they are identical.

Alison and Mitty want to see if there is a secret room built into the Smith house. From a miniature book in the library, they read that the home was built by Mr. Smith's grandfather, Champion, who had immigrated to the United States from England. Mr. Smith's ninety-two year old mother, Mrs. Smith, still lives in the house. Although she is blind, her mind is sharp and she is willing to speak with the girls about the house. Workers start to renovate the room above the stairs to put in an elevator; will they find the secret room Alison and Mitty are searching for? And if they do, what will be inside? While spending time talking with Mrs. Smith the girls also uncover another mystery--what happened to Maeve Rothschild Smith, Champion's first wife?

Gay Kinman has a way of writing mysteries for children that speaks to them without being condescending. The Secret of the Strange Staircase is a satisfying and appealing suspense story for older children and even for adults, and both boys and girls should enjoy the adventures of Alison and Mitty. The reading level is appropriate for the middle reader set, and the concepts should be fascinating enough to inspire further exploration of the subject. Watch out for your house, your kids may want to see if there are any hidden rooms!

Alison is a delightful heroine, full of spunk but also respectful of the adults in her life. She is a good example for children to follow, because although she investigates mysteries, she does not go behind the backs of the adults to do so. There are other highly recommended Alison Powers mysteries by Ms. Kinman and they all stand alone and don't need to be read in any particular order. Parents will not be disappointed in this excellent series for their children.

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