The Adventurers and the Cursed Castle

If you like Enid Blyton’s Famous Five, then you should love this book. Even if you didn’t read Blyton, the message remains the same. Author Jemma Hatt may find inspiration in long-admired children’s author Blyton, but she creates her own unique castle setting and character voices. For those who previously read Blyton as a child, this timeless tale feels like returning on holiday to the scenic coast of Cornwall, a fascinating place to make new friends and pursue unknown adventures, serving as a perfect summer read for families. The trio of Lara, Rufus, and Tom, attended to by insightful housekeeper Mrs. Burt and the mysterious Uncle Herb, display abundant strengths and a few weaknesses overcome when they work together, plus a thread of humor to keep readers amused. And loyal collie dog companion Barney is essential to the story. Clues to uncovering the castle’s curse reveal themselves in a well-paced plot, replete with action and a bit of helpful reflection. The author effectively weaves in backstory to deepen understanding of the characters, promising future development. This review may be late, but if it causes one more reader to start this series, it has served its purpose. I am grateful to have discovered the Adventurers now as a teacher, yet it would have been even more joyful to discover them at age eight or nine.

Although I'm well beyond the age bracket this book is targeted for, I thoroughly enjoyed the story! It kept me intrigued from chapter to chapter, wondering when, if, how they will find the treasure! The story unfolded with ease, as I never felt lost or was missing any detail. The kids are perfectly characterized and Barney, the dog...well you can't help but love him also! Great first book for this author! I'm looking forward to reading the next installment of "The Adventurers" series!

Rufus had come to stay at his cousin Lara’s house for the summer whilst his Grandparents (who he lived with) went on a cruise. However, Lara’s mum gets an important phone call and needs to travel to Egypt right away so she has to find someone to look after the children at short notice. The kids are packed off to stay with their Uncle Herb (their Grandad’s brother) who lives in a castle. They have never met, nor heard of Herb before. The children soon learn about their Uncle’s eccentric ways, hidden treasure, and a curse that is said to have haunted the family for generations after the owner of the castle, explorer Captain Jack Kexley brought Egyptian artefacts home with him that he shouldn’t have taken. The children meet up with local boy Tom whose parents work for their Uncle. Between the three of them, and Barney the dog, the kids decide to go in hunt of the treasure but they are not alone. Others want it too, supposedly historians from the British Museum who are ruthless and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. The Adventurers and the Cursed Castle is an action-packed, fun adventure featuring three children who want to help Uncle Herb find the treasure he has been looking for, for decades. The story reminded me of a modern-day The Famous Five by Enid Blyton books, in that children and a dog take it upon themselves to solve a puzzle and have an adventure along the way. However, I don’t believe this is a copy of her work. The three characters all had their own personalities which bounced off one another and worked well together making the three of them very likeable. The setting was intriguing and the plot fascinating. The secondary characters played their parts well, including Uncle Herb who wasn’t as daft as he first came across. Overall, it is a great adventure story which was exciting as I waited for the mystery to be solved and kept me turning the pages. This is the first in a series with two more books already released. Book Reviewed on Whispering Stories Book Blog *I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily reviewed

This is a lovely book for kids and even adults who are looking for a light read. The story never falls flat and it keeps you interested. I especially love the dog, Barney, who accompanies the children along on this marvelous adventure. You won’t regret this purchase and I can’t wait to read more books in The Adventurers series.

Even though I am over 65 years old, I very much enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the other 2 books I have purchased.

Bought this for my Granddaughter for Easter we knew Jemma when she was in the states for awhile so wanted to support her. My Granddaughter LOVES THE BOOK and could hardly put it down can't wait for the next one to come out!!

The books in this series are excellent! I always looking forward to reading the next in line and gifting them to the young readers in my life!

Good book

War ein Geschenk. Unser Kleiner liebt die Bücher.

Divertida para juveniles practicar inglés

This story will capture a child’s imagination and will have them excitedly reading page after page. It’s expertly written, with excitement, tension, humour and with great characters. Even as an adult reading this book I had to keep turning those pages and had several laugh-out-loud moments. There are hints of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Herge’s Tintin. The author has made this story captivating and entertaining, using language that is a fantastic balance of being easy enough to read for kids whilst also being educational. It’s perfect for children aged 8 and over and it’s bound to increase their enthusiasm for reading. Very highly recommended!

I enjoyed the book so much and was always exited to read the next chapter! Would totally recommend, FIVE STARS!