Customer Reviews

Gilda Joyce: The Dead Drop

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

**NOTE**
The star-rating should be 4/5, not 5/5
**


I said it in my reviews for the previous Gilda Joyce books, and I'll say it again. This series is easily the most well-written, captivating, and all around entertaining series of "children's books" since Harry Potter. I turned the last page of the latest Gilda book, "The Dead Drop," less than five minutes ago, and I am already eagerly awaiting the next installment. Hopefully, we don't have to wait another two years for it, but when it does roll around, you better believe I'll be reading it.

So I love the series as a whole. This book on its own was also very good, but it lacked a few of the key things that elevated the first three books to a higher level. Gilda's snarky charm is still there, though I was a bit let down to see that she is a bit less disarming here than she was previously. The real change, though, is in the overall telling of the story. There is a lot more emphasis on the mystery and less on Gilda's emotional journey. In all the prior books, the Gilda's feelings (and those of the major supporting characters) were woven into the mystery, taking the reader on an emotional ride even as the mystery unfolds and things get scary. That was oddly absent in this book. While there were a few "aww" moments and one particular moment where I suspect eyes will get momentarily misty, the focus of the book is way less on Gilda's relationships and even Gilda than it was in any of the other books, including "The Ghost Sonata," in which Gilda shared the spotlight with another protagonist. Another thing that left me wanting was the role Gilda played in the mystery. She had a lot of help in cracking the case here, and while she did play an essential role in cracking it, it somehow felt like a less triumphant victory than the mysteries she has solved before. There are some cool themes at work, such as Gilda's discovery that adult's secretive nature might not be a bad thing, but it seemed like those themes were wrapped up very quickly in order for the mystery to come to a neat climax.

Readers who loved Gilda before will certainly love her in "The Dead Drop," and most will be entertained by the story. Allison's prose is the strongest its been, and there are a lot of cool moments here that make this a solid read. For any other series, this would be an out-of-the-park homerun, so I have no doubts that all readers will cherish this book and want more. The mystery is exciting, and the history and setting that surrounds it is really cool. What was cool about this book, in a strange way, was that the series has sort of been building toward this. In each book, there seems to be paranormal activity... but it can also be written off or explained. Each book seemed to make the case for paranormal involvement more obvious, building up to this book where the appearance of ghosts is outright and undeniable.

Also, the cover art, as always, is fantastic. These books have such a good look. It really takes the whole reading experience to the next level.

Overall, I wasn't let down by the book, because it was a good read. I do expect more from a Gilda Joyce mystery, and I expect Gilda's character and emotional journey to take the forefront again in the next book. I can't wait until it comes out.

8/10

I am a big fan of Jennifer Allison's books. I have read almost all of the Gilda Joyce books. But I think that THE DEAD DROP is the best. THE DEAD DROP is a really good book for kids who love spies, a good mystery, and the paranormal. THE DEAD DROP is a good book for history on the Cold War. It has a twist to it that reminded me of Alfred Hichcock's movie REAR WINDOW. THE DEAD DROP is a good book for kids of both genders. This book has kept me up 'till twelve o'clock at night because it kept me hanging on every letter. Gilda's cooking experiences with her new roommate are absolutely hilarious. I think that THE DEAD DROP is one of Jennifer Allison's best piece of work EVER.

--Nathan T.

Another great Gilda Joyce book set at The International Spy Museum!!
In Jennifer Allison's 4th book you can tell Gilda's older with more responsibilities and her skills are sharper. In the Dead Drop, Gilda is a bit more serious than she has been in the last three books. There's less stuff going on with Gilda personally too. Probably having to do with the fact that she's away from home with no friends her age in Washington DC doing an internship at the spy musuem. There were still some interesting developments having to do with family and friends though...Wendy and Gilda's brother (hint hint). Although not as many as in the last three books, there were occasions were i had to burst out laughing (and got weird looks from the other people in the book store).See,this mystery is more focused on what's happening in the plot, not so much what gilda's thinking and feeling. Don't get me wrong though it's a great book and i practically devoured it!
Gilda gets to be very independent in this book.
Having a job, living in the city with an older roommate, being a Spy Camp counseler (i learned a lot about spying myself)...I would definatly recommend this book and hope Jennifer Allison comes out with her next book VERY soon!

Ps. Isn't the cover art awesome?

Once again Jennifer Allison has created a masterpiece! This specific Gilda Joyce book definitely caught my eye, and I couldn't keep my nose out of it. In this book Gilda goes to Washington DC to spend her summer working at a Spy Museum (just Gilda's thing.) While she's there she finds herself getting nosey, and the next thing you know she's found herself a mystery. This book has everything from a lipstick gun to top-secret messages left in graveyards. If you love mysteries you will not be able to put this one down!

Another great Gilda Joyce book set at The International Spy Museum!!
In Jennifer Allison's 4th book you can tell Gilda's older with more responsibilities and her skills are sharper. In the Dead Drop, Gilda is a bit more serious than she has been in the last three books. There's less stuff going on with Gilda personally too. Probably having to do with the fact that she's away from home with no friends her age in Washington DC doing an internship at the spy musuem. There were still some interesting developments having to do with family and friends though...Wendy and Gilda's brother (hint hint). Although not as many as in the last three books, there were occasions were i had to burst out laughing (and got weird looks from the other people in the book store).See,this mystery is more focused on what's happening in the plot, not so much what gilda's thinking and feeling. Don't get me wrong though it's a great book and i practically devoured it!
Gilda gets to be very independent in this book.
Having a job, living in the city with an older roommate, being a Spy Camp counseler (i learned a lot about spying myself)...I would definatly recommend this book and hope Jennifer Allison comes out with her next book VERY soon!

Ps. Isn't the cover art awesome?

I stumbled on this series by accident a few weeks ago, and I love it! It reminds me of the Georgia Nicholson books (Rennison), with a bit of mystery added in. The title character, Gilda Joyce, is funny, sarcastic, and smart and she calls herself a psychic investigator (she channels spirits through her typewriter and wears ridiculous wigs and costumes in order to solve cases!). Plus in this book in the series, Gilda gets to meet her idol, work in a spy museum, and solve a case of national importance. Can't wait to finish the series.

I LOVED Gilda in the first 3 books and this book was enjoyable, but Gilda has lost her wacky personality. I hope Jennifer Allison puts that personality back in the 5th Gilda book. I LOVED Gilda in the first 3 books, but her personality was just sort of bland in this book.

it should be for old people or young people should get smarter (just kidding). it is a good book, i really like it, it is very funny, i read all the books they are all really good. it has big words in it,

A delightful read for upper elementary and young teen readers. Thoroughly zany Gilda is off on another adventure; this time, she is spending the summer working as an intern at the Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. While there, she becomes involved in a mystery which seems to indicate that there is a ghost at the museum. Could it be the ghost of Abraham Lincoln? Or could it have something to do with the now-retired Soviet spy? Gilda learns a bit about the Cold War and much hilarity ensures. A good next book for readers who want something with a little more length and maturity than Linda Johns' Hannah West series.

This book is wonderful! My daughters and I read it taking turns and I actually read it twice, bumping my youngest impatient daughter from the take your turn list. The book is that good. Gilda Joyce is a delightful character and this mystery was excellent. I highly recommend it to all ages and levels of reading ability.