Beyond the Grave
The 39 Clues #4
by Jude Watson

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Children’s mystery, adventure

Looking for a clue in Egypt involves a lot of sand and a lot of mistrust. Though that’s to be expected when you’re trying to outsmart some of the smartest people in the world, who also happen to be related to you. Amy and Dan Cahill have been attacked by fellow clue hunters and betrayed by false allies. But when a message from their dead grandmother, whose death started off the clue hunt, leaves them wondering if they can even trust her now, will they succumb to becoming like their nasty relatives themselves?

This was my favorite book in the series so far. It was still filled with some of the same zany antics and cheesy dialog from the previous books, but I really liked the way the story unfolded. Dan and Amy had some serious sibling things to work out between them, and Nellie, their au pair, really took a step up in my estimation too. I appreciate more and more the scenes shown now and then from the perspectives of various opponent Cahills, as we get to see that they’re more than just evil villains. And frankly, I’m glad the Holts weren’t in this one, because so far, they’re just an annoying family of meatheads. Maybe some future book will give me a different view of them though.

You know what I would love? A recap of what clues have already been found, because when I think back on the previous books, I’m not sure I can accurately remember which things they found were official Clues and which things were clues to the clues. But while I’m not sure that the mystery and clue part of these books actually make any kind of logical sense and would really work out in real life at all, I’m still enjoying the ride and look forward to continuing the series.

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