January 20, 2014
What if The Secret were evil? That’s what 13-year-old Darkus Knightley and his father seem to be up against in Gavin’s debut, in which a self-help book called The Code appears to be tied to a rash of criminal activity. Darkus adores his father, private investigator Alan Knightley, though it isn’t always easy: Alan never betrays much emotion, and that’s when he’s conscious (he’s been in a comalike trance for four years). Darkus has memorized his father’s case files, which comes in handy after Alan suddenly awakens, ready to take on the Combination, a criminal organization he believes is “responsible for almost every unexplained crime, both great and small, in towns and cities across the country... and possibly even the world.” Cerebral and humorless “disciples of reason,” Darkus and Alan aren’t the most engaging team, and the supporting cast is underutilized, especially the women, whether it’s Darkus’s mother, his revenge-driven stepsister, or his father’s Polish housekeeper, who’s the center of too many “jokes” about her stilted English. The action picks up toward the end, but it’s a long haul to get there. Ages 10–12.
Starred review from February 15, 2014
Heaps of mystery, dry humor and tweed abound in this exemplar of crime fiction a la Doyle. Since 13-year-old Darkus Knightley's parents split, he sees his father, Alan--a detective of obsessive professional dedication--once a week. Darkus' sponge of a brain has absorbed the details of every former case of his father's, which fuel conversation during their visits. The conversations tend to be one-sided, though, as Alan has been comatose for four years. One evening, Alan miraculously wakes from his coma, ready to investigate a series of bizarre crimes. Alan is convinced that a powerful organization called the Combination is behind these and subsequent sprees. His records destroyed, Alan's only chance to prove his case is to tap the brain of his son. And Darkus' only chance to heal the relationship with his father (whose paternal nurturing was absent long before his hospitalization) is to solve a mammoth mystery. Even if Gavin didn't disclaim his affinity for Sherlock Holmes, it would be abundantly evident; Darkus' skill at deduction, perpetual observation and sang-froid are spot-on Holmes-ian. Don't expect a puttering Watson, though. Darkus' sidekick and stepsister, Tilly, is wrought with sass, intelligence and a never-ending supply of hair dye. Heroes, villains and settings are all fully realized through proficient description, and contemporary technology gives way to sheer brainpower. A rousing page-turner with one fault: It ends. (Mystery. 10-14)
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Starred review from April 1, 2014
Gr 7 Up-Darkus Knightley's father has been in a coma for four years. During that time, Darkus went through his detective dad's files and began trying to solve unfinished cases. His father suddenly wakes up and strangely enough, his recovery coincides with an uptick in crime. The crimes seem to be related to people reading a book called The Code. The elder Knightley is worried about including his son in his investigations; he is convinced that all of the little schemes and crimes are linked into a nefarious network he calls The Combination. Darkus becomes essential, however, when his father's data drive is stolen, thereby leaving Darkus as the only person who remembers and knows all of the case file information. Joining father and son is Tilly, Darkus's gadget-savvy stepsister. Can they figure out the connection between all of the seemingly random crimes? Is there a Combination? Gavin has created a fun "Sherlock Holmes"-style adventure, with modern twists and a bit of humor. The combination is skillfully done. This is a quick and fun read; a great choice for choice looking for a new mystery to dive into.-Saleena L. Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ
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