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In the thrilling and exciting conclusion to the middle grade adventure that is the Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall trilogy, Arthur travels to the Lakes, a place more mysterious than the enchanting Baskerville Hall itself, and must do the unthinkable: betray his friends and Sherlock Holmes or pay the ultimate price. Perfect for fans of the Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor series and the Mysterious Benedict Society series.
Arthur should be happier than ever. Professor Sherlock Holmes has accepted him into the esteemed Circle of Light, and his friendships are stronger than ever. However, Dinah Grey's ominous letter and her dangerous hold over his little sister, Mary, have left Arthur riddled with anxiety. After the annual first-year retreat to the storied Lake District is announced, another letter arrives and makes the key to Mary's salvation clear: Arthur needs to insert himself in Sherlock's upcoming investigation...as Dinah's spy.
While sticking close to Holmes on the trip, Arthur meets George Rankin, one in a long line of protectors of the Brazen Head, a powerful relic whose wearer can ask any question and have it answered. But there are more eyes on Sherlock and the relic than just Grey's. Arthur will have to walk the thin line between truth and deception in order to save his sister, but it might cost him more than he realizes.
A satisfying conclusion: a moody mystery with new layers that keep its concept fresh.
Grades 4-7. Welcome back to Baskerville Hall, where the young Arthur Conan Doyle has developed strong friendships with a select group of his classmates and earned the respect of his professors, including the one whose opinion he values most: Sherlock Holmes. In this episodic story, a stranger has enlisted Arthur’s help in finding one or more magical objects. Failure will result in the death of his youngest sister. In book 3 of the Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall series, Standish does so many things right, including filling in readers new to the series on what they need to know while the keeping explanations brief for the sake of loyal fans. More broadly, Standish patiently builds the basic story while incorporating elements of Arthur’s previous adventures and introducing many interesting characters seen earlier in the series. Gradually, she brings the story’s suspenseful tone to a dramatic climax. Whether the reader is familiar with the "actual" Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes or not, this very readable novel will appeal to many fans of mystery and historical fiction books.