A Stairway to Danger by Ben Woodard - A Shakertown Mystery Series Book One

I took a break from my Great American Read challenge to read a mystery book I recently downloaded to my Kindle. A Stairway to Danger is written by children's book author Ben Woodard of Bubbles the Frog fame. 

In 1923, fourteen-year-old Tom Wallace and his fifteen-year-old cousin Will stumble on a decayed body in their small Kentucky town. The boys recognize the victim as a sheriff’s deputy and they immediately report it to the sheriff. Tom and Will are surprised by the sheriff’s rush to downplay the suspicious death and they realize there’s a mystery brewing.

This book was reminiscent of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn adventures and Franklin W. Dixon’s Hardy Boys series. There’s mention of Mark Twain’s books within this story, so I got a sense that this is what the author was going for.

There’s sufficient suspense and mystery for both children and adults to find here. I was fairly sure I knew where the mystery was going early on, but that didn’t take away from the story for me. The characters are likable and, for the most part, relatable and realistic.

I would have much preferred that the swear words were left out, and I’ve noticed that other reviewers mention this as well. While this might be considered genuine dialogue for characters in this age group (even in 1923), I honestly feel this might be a deal breaker for young readers. On the other hand, if this book is geared toward the YA crowd, those readers might find the story slightly juvenile. Just something to keep in mind.

I appreciated that the author included some background on the story at the end of the book. As an avid reader, I enjoy knowing how an author came up with the elements of a story. I found the author’s brief history of Shakertown interesting. Well worth the read!

4 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, DIY Mom Blog

The Mystery of Claw Mountain by Paul Moxham is an Excellent Old-Fashioned Mystery for Readers of Any Age

How'd you like a FREE mystery book that everyone in the family will appreciate? If you loved The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew as a kid like I did, you'll appreciate Paul Moxham's Mystery Kids series. The Mystery of Claw Mountain is FREE and it's a great way to get into the series. 

Joe Mitchell along with his two sisters Amy and Sarah and his friend Will go on vacation to visit Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell. They keep themselves busy sledding, ice skating and camping out in an unused hut, but they love a good mystery. When they hear an intriguing story about how Claw Mountain got its name, they know they’ve got a case on their hands. When they stumble on an old abandoned mine they decide to go inside, but soon find themselves in some very real danger.

I loved this story! Mr. Moxham includes all the necessary elements to keep readers interested. Mystery, suspense, action and several sticky situations abound for the Mystery Kids in this book. I especially love the fact that the author has the children working together as a team to figure things out. The situations aren’t just happening to the kids, they’re active participants in the plot. Through character dialogue and kid-friendly action, readers can get a real sense of how well the children manage to work their way through any number of predicaments. That definitely makes these characters excellent role models for children.

The Mystery of Claw Mountain is extremely reminiscent of The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew, which I absolutely loved as a kid. I would highly recommend this book (and the series) to readers of any age who want to lose themselves in a good old-fashioned mystery.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton