Menacing Manor

 

Menacing Manor is the fourth book in a new middle grade series by Kiersten White. Released 2nd May, 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Delacorte Press imprint, it's 272 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats (paperback also out in May 2023 from the same publisher). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The fifth book in the series is due out in 2024. 

It's not derivative; the author is capable and talented, but to describe the series as Scooby Doo written by Lemony Snicket feels appropriate and accurate. The three Sinister-Winterbottom siblings, the eldest is 16 and permanently looking at her smartphone, and fraternal brother and sister twins aged 12 are on their way to summer camp. Not just any summer camp... they're hoping to find clues to solve the disappearances and odd mysteries cropping up with unnerving frequency (including their parents!). They're still hot on the trail of evil archnemesis Edgaren't, and trying to figure out the rules of their new reality, where people are actually disappearing, and it's left to the siblings to get to the bottom of the weirdness.  At camp, they've added some allies to their team and they hope they're ready for a showdown with Edgaren't, but nobody's planned for all the twists and turns.

This is a fun summertime mystery for middle grade readers (Lexile measure is 750L). It's well written and edgy, but not inappropriate. The plotting struck me as a trifle meandering and the pacing was odd (clearly intentional on the author's part), but it's a fun and fast paced ride.

Four stars. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gifting to a young mystery fan. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.