_The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma_ book 3 of the
series
by Trenton Lee Stewart
For Reynie Muldoon, Kate Weatheral, George "Sticky" Washington, and Constance
Contraire, the past several months have been a new experience. Reynie and his
adoptive mother, his former tutor when he lived in the Stonetown Orphanage, and
her mother Pati have all been living in Mr. Benedict's house, along with Sticky
and his parents, Kate and Milligan, and Constance. Mr. Benedict wants to adopt
Constance, but her records have mysteriously vanished, and she cannot remember
her parents' names or what might have happened to them. All she remembers is
that she lived in a branch library in a back storage room until she noted the
advertisement inviting intelligent children who wanted the chance to do
something important to take a test, at which time she headed into the downtown
area and managed to pass Mr. Benedict's test, the youngest child to ever manage
such a feat.
They daren't leave the house, for they know that Mr. Benedict's evil twin,
Ledroptha Curtain, is searching for the means to capture them once more and to
retrieve his Whisperer, a chair he had adapted to give him mind control over
whole populations. Mr. Benedict managed to capture the chair while they were
looking for a plant it was said could heal people of narcolepsy, and has been
using it to help restore memories to those Mr. Curtain had captured and
mind-swept.
But Ledroptha Curtain has his own plans, and he intends to regain possession of
the Whisperer and the children, and to have his revenge. It's up to the four
members of the Mysterious Benedict Society to help manage things so that Mr.
Curtain and his Ten Men (so called because they can hurt people in ten most
efficient ways) are foiled, and so that they, Milligan, and Mr. Benedict can all
save one another!
I couldn't resist finishing the series early. Again, a fun book, full of puns
and word play, and lots of puzzles for the children to solve. I got it in
hardback from Costco, and it is available also in audio format from Audible.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large
"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very
wise cannot see all ends." LOTR
"Don't go where I can't follow."
We gave the Goblin King control of our nation!
