Customer Reviews

Harriet Bean and the League of Cheats

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In his last Harriet Bean book, McCall Smith reveals that Harriet has twin Aunts who are detectives. With Smith's bent toward detective stories it is little wonder he wasted no time creating one for Harriet. That is how the book starts off.

The aunts have found that there is something wrong with the horseracing business and the races seem to be fixed in some way. They need more information in order to figure out how it is being done. It must be done by the jockeys considering the high level security around the horses. And Harriet is just the right size to pose as a jockey.

Harriet has her moments of doubt and dread, but in the end, she does solve the mystery. Readers will find Smith using his familiar style and ethics. He notes that cheating is a bad thing and that people should not do it. The book is recommended for readers from 7 to 12 years of age.

We really like Alexander McCall Smith books, and this is no exception. My 6 yr old son loves detective and mystery stories and these are really well written and interesting, fun to read aloud for the whole family.

In 2010,to our youngest grandchild, Lucy, we sent a Harriet Bean story. She enjoyed it and requested H.B.and the League of Cheats. Her wish will be granted in 2011. She is an avid reader at 9 almost 10 years old. She doesn't read what she doesn't like. She likes McCall Smith's stories.