The God of Mischief [Paperback]

Paul Bajoria (Author), Bret Bertholf (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 3 and up

Sent to live with their nearest living relative, Sir Septimus Cloy, the eccentric widower of their late mother's cousin, Mog and Nick spend a lot of time on their own. They explore the Cloy mansion, with its towers and turrets, staircases leading nowhere, and forbidden rooms. Two elderly manservants, Melibee and Bonefinger, guard Cloy like malevolent ravens. Then sinister things begin to happen: a falling gargoyle misses them in the churchyard, a flagstone collapses beneath their feet, and their governess is found hanged in her room. References in old documents point to some dark secrets in the history of the house, and the village is rife with rumors. Is the mysterious Damyata, a villian from Mog's past, at large once again? And can the twins discover the truth behind the family mansion and its secrets, before their own lives become endangered?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–9—This sequel to The Printer's Devil (Little, Brown, 2005) continues the adventures of Mog (Imogen) and Nick, twin orphans in early-19th-century England. Having spent most of their childhood apart under difficult conditions, the now 13-year-old siblings have been reunited and are living with Sir Septimus, a distant relative of their mother, at his rural estate. The youngsters investigate the death of their governess, the whisperings of superstitious villagers, and the return of Damyata, a mysterious man from India who is somehow connected to their past. They soon discover that Sir Septimus has been involved in numerous misdeeds, stumble upon a murderous conspiracy, and end up unraveling many family secrets. Bajoria creates a readable mix of historical fiction, mystery, and adventure. A slow start eventually builds to an exciting climax in which the local ritual of making straw "guys" and burning them becomes a stage for murder. Although the pace lags in some places and races in others, the eerie setting and macabre characters provide enough chills to overcome some uneven plotting. While this novel does not stand alone, readers of the first book will want to know the protagonists' fate. These titles, though not essential purchases, would be good picks for those too young for Philip Pullman's "Sally Lockhart" mysteries (Knopf).—Caitlin Augusta, The Darien Library, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Intrepid twins Mog and Nick (The Printer's Devil, 2005) have been sent to live at Kniveacres Hall in the English countryside. Sir Septimus Cloy, their closest living relative, gives them free reign and rarely shows his face. The kids amuse themselves by exploring the mysterious old castle and grounds until they come upon one of Cloy's servants burying what appears to be a body in the garden. Soon after, the twins narrowly escape several dangerous "accidents," their governess is found hanged, and rumors of a curse make them unwelcome in the nearby village. Bajoria keeps his curious duo busy uncovering secrets, stringing together clues, and calling on their quick wits to sidestep danger. There's a lot happening, but the story never bogs down or becomes confusing, and the ending, when Mog and Nick learn the answers to questions about their past, is completely satisfying. This is a strong sequel, featuring a pair of likable, spirited protagonists and plenty of compelling mysteries for them to solve. Krista Hutley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316016284
• ISBN-13: 978-0316016285
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 1 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,648,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Set in the depths of the English countryside, May 12, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The God of Mischief (Hardcover)

Mog Winter and her long-lost brother Nick are sent to an isolated gothic mansion to live with a distant cousin, only to find themselves in the hands of danger in THE GOD OF MISCHIEF by Paul Bajoria a dramatic tale packed with exceptional twists and turns of plot and particularly recommended not only for prior fans of THE PRINTER'S DEVIL, but for any who relished the classic Aiken story WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE. The story of evil guardians, helpless twins, and family mysteries and treasure set in the depths of the English countryside comes to life in this sequel to THE PRINTER'S DEVIL.

4.0 out of 5 stars The God of Mischief, September 3, 2010

By 

Kiss - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The God of Mischief (Paperback)

It was the follow up of the first book and it is more for younger people. It was a fun book though about the two young children and their curiosity about the people around them and how their curiosity got them into trouble several times. A nice story.

4.0 out of 5 stars 2nd book in series, July 11, 2010

By 

efbee - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The God of Mischief (Hardcover)

Good reading ...
But not quite as good as the first book, "The Printer's Devil" ...