Customer Reviews

Murder At Midnight

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Ten-year-old Fabrizio is an orphan, entirely dependent on the goodwill of people like Mistress Sophia and her husband, Mangus the Magician. For the past month, Fabrizio has been doing his best to make himself indispensable to his new master, hoping against hope that Mangus will show him the secrets behind his most mind-boggling feats of magic.

Mangus, however, sees little value in Fabrizio's earnest but sometimes irritating enthusiasm, and he hopes that his young charge will redirect his zeal toward learning something useful --- like reading --- instead of magic tricks. For even though Mangus earns his livelihood by staging magic shows in the town of Pergamontio, the magician holds little stock in the supernatural, preferring to put his faith in reason instead: "Here is Plato. Aristotle. Petrarch. Boccacio. The sublime Dante sits before you," says Mangus to his young servant as they sit in the magician's library. "Fabrizio, these are the world's true magicians. Learn to read them and all mysteries shall be revealed."

Little does Fabrizio know that his powers of reason --- and his newly forged skills at reading --- will be put to the test just a few minutes later, when Mangus is accused of treason by Pergamontio's chief prosecutor. It turns out that a mysterious someone, maybe someone in league with the devil, has been plastering the walls of the city with messages maligning King Claudio and calling for a change. The spooky part? Every single broadsheet seems to be written in the same, imperfect hand, something that seems impossible without the aid of magic. Mangus is well known for being able to make many copies of something out of nothing. Could he have used sorcery to conjure up these treasonous sayings?

Soon Fabrizio finds himself caught up in a web of court intrigue, superstition and suspicion. Who could want to overthrow the king? His own son, the equally superstitious Prince Cosimo? Or the prince's rival, Count Scarazoni, who values rationality over magic? Fabrizio must summon his own powers of reason and his understanding of illusion, as well as the help of a new friend (and a key piece of technology), to get to the bottom of the mystery and help save Mangus's life --- and his own future.

MURDER AT MIDNIGHT marks award-winning author Avi's 70th published book. It's a prequel of sorts to 1999's MIDNIGHT MAGIC, which starred a 12-year-old Fabrizio and many of the same supporting characters. But MURDER AT MIDNIGHT can certainly be enjoyed on its own terms, as both a terrifically suspenseful, complicated mystery and an exploration of philosophical issues at the heart of medieval culture. Avi skillfully manages to incorporate the conflicts between rational, Renaissance philosophy and medieval superstition, between enlightenment and misunderstanding, between education and ignorance, into the very plot of the mystery. Like Fabrizio himself, readers will enjoy challenging themselves to see if their own powers of reason can stand up to illusion, intrigue and murder.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Avi's MURDER AT MIDNIGHT tells of a deadly plot to overthrow King Claudio in Italy, where a magician has been marked as a scapegoat for a traitor and a faithful new servant boy decides to prove his master's innocence. Murder blends with Renaissance history in this story of magic.

Fabrizio has finally made it off the streets. He is now the servant boy of the finest magician in Pergamontio, Italy--Mangus the Magician. Fabrizio has everything he's ever wanted: a home, food, and family. However, one thing can take it all away from him. King Claudio's fear of magic has made it difficult for Mangus to make a living.

One day, the king's guards show up at Mangus's door accusing him of producing treasonous pamphlets. All of Pergamontio is abuzz with news of exactly identical messages posted around the city. King Claudio believes only an evil, devil-dealing magician could have created such flyers. Has Mangus the Magician sold his soul to the devil? Or is he the unfortunate victim of court politics? Fabrizio, with his new friend Maria, must find out soon before Mangus is killed, and Fabrizio finds himself back on the streets again.

Avi's 70th book, Murder at Midnight, is set in the late 15th century, the time of the Renaissance. Although it is the sequel to Midnight Magic, Murder at Midnight is easy to understand and not filled with confusing references to the first book. Both mystery and historical fiction fans will rave about this exciting and enchanting novel.
-- Reviewed by Veronica L. Hernandez

Review:
I thought that "Murder at Midnight" was one of Avi best work ever. The title may sound like it's for older kids but no, it not just for old kids but it's for younger kids too.(11+)
This book was easy to read and it was a light-hearted mystery. Mangus, Fabrizio's master, is very smart but as for Fabrizio? He is definably not smart! He is a very, very ignorant boy, just listen to this one part.( and remember, he believe that magic is real.)

Fabrizio put a hand to his heart. "Thankyou for correcting me, master. From now on I shall only think untrue things."
"No! Always speak the truth."
"Even if it harms you?"
"Fabrizio, philosophy teaches that truth neither help nor hinders. What matters is the way you deal with it."
"Yes, master. From now on I'll only tell the truth when it help you."
"Fabrizio," Cried an exasperated Mangus, "only fools think themselves wise! A wise man know his ignorance."
"Then I must be the smartest person in the whole world because I'm the stupidest!"
"Fabrizio, get off your kness and stop your nonsense!

And so it goes on and on. Fabrizio keeps you laughing though the book, and he may be dumb but he is very loyal and that's the kind of friends that I would want.
The plot held my attention. I think that you would enjoy if you want a light-hearted book.

I give it 4 stars.

Enjoy! :D:D:D

I liked is book because it's one of the best creepy books I've ever read.It's an easy reader.It's a lot of creepy,and scary book. I hop you read this book because it's spectacular!

Mangus the Magician is in serious trouble. A plot to overthrow the king has surfaced, and Mangus is the perfect scapegoat for a traitor lurking inside the castle walls.

The whole city of Pergamontio is on edge, including poor Fabrizio, loyal servant to Mangus and his wife. Fabrizio foolishly believes that the magic Mangus creates is "real," but does not believe that his Master would try and kill the king.

Mangus' real passion is philosophy and the betterment of the mind. These concepts escape Fabrizio, a simple street boy, who uses his wits to keep himself safe. Fabrizio, with the help of a fellow misfit, must bring the true conspirator to light and save Mangus from certain death.

Readers are once again thrown into a story set within the confines of Renaissance Italy in MURDER AT MIDNIGHT. The story precedes the events that occur in Avi's novel MIDNIGHT MAGIC, which also features the young Fabrizio.

While the story remains a mystery at heart, one cannot help but chuckle at some of the dialogue that takes place between Fabrizio and his Master. It is a fun story that moves quickly and is easy to read. Lovers of all things Avi will enjoy this light-hearted mystery.

Reviewed by: LadyJay

Fabrizio is an orphan boy who has just been taken into the home of Mangus the Magician and his wife, Mistress Sophia. While Sophia has become attached to the boy, Mangus thinks ill of Fabrizio and wants him to go. When Mistress Sophia leaves to see her ill sister, she asks Fabrizio to try to win a place in the old magician's heart so that he can always live with them. Fabrizio prepares himself to perform the tasks needed and to do his best so his master will love him. Fabrizio goes to his master's next magic show; however, it is overshadowed by a man in a black cloak approaching him to warn him that his master is in danger. Knowing that real magic is outlawed in Pergamontio, Fabrizio is worried about his master's safety. However, when Pergamontio's Primo Magistrato comes to their door, accusing Mangus of publishing papers that spoke against the king, magically, Fabrizio's worry has only just begun.



I'm not impressed.
I'm not even a bit excited about this book. After about 175 pages, I began skimming, hoping it would end well.
I was quite disappointed.
Avi has always been a wonderful author. My favorite of his is The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, but he has written others such as Poppy, Ragweed, and The End of the Beginning. However, it was the mastery and cleverness of Midnight Magic that made me want to read this book. Midnight Magic is about Mangus and Fabrizio, but can be read as a prequal, sequal, or stand-alone book next to Muder at Midnight. Midnight Magic was full of complicated mysteries, great twists and believable characters. Murder at Midnight held a mystery that can easily be explained, nothing to look forward to, and flat characters. I was surprised and bummed that it wasn't better, especially after such great experiences with Avi's works of art.
But don't let this review stop you from reading Avi's other fantastic books. Enjoy them, relish them, and let them inspire you. Get caught up in the magic of his stories. I can only hope he hasn't lost his charm for the future...

Trouble is brewing in Pergamontio, Italy. The year is 1490 and a deadly plot to overthrow the king is unfolding. Papers demanding change have appeared all over the kingdom all magically the same. Magic is outlawed in Pergamontio, so surely Mangus the Magician must have something to do with this dangerous plot.

Except Mangus isn't that kind of magician, at least he says so. Mangus' new servant boy, Fabrizio, is certain his master really can do magic. But he's also certain Mangus would never commit treason.

If Fabrizio can unravel the mystery and reveal the true traitor he might be able to clear his master's name. And if Fabrizio can do that, maybe he can finally prove his worth to Mangus and earn the right to remain a part of the Magician's household in Murder at Midnight (2009) by Avi.

Murder at Midnight is the prequel to Avi's earlier novel Midnight Magic.

Avi is a widely known and beloved writer. He writes in just about every genre and, throughout his career, has earned a kind of legendary status as an author. He doesn't disappoint in this book that blends a clever mystery with humor and witty language.

This book is filled with amusing characters and clever language that is straightforward yet subtle enough to appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike. That said, the dynamic of Fabrizio as a servant--often genuflecting and apologizing to his betters--felt a little over the top, not in a bad way but just in an odd way.

Fabrizio might not be the quickest hero at the beginning of the story, but what he lacks in reasoning he more than makes up for in loyalty and ingenuity. Murder at Midnight is a quick, fun read. The period and setting are a good backdrop to the story but won't distract any readers put off by historical settings. At the same time, without getting into specifics, the time period also plays a very key role in the story.

Possible Pairings: The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd, Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief by Wendelin Van Draanen, We Are Not Eaten by Yaks by C. Alexander London, The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak