Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's too bad only this small book is available., April 18, 1999
In 1979, British artist Kit Williams published a children's book with a great hook--if you solve the puzzle inside, you could find a buried treasure. The book sold in droves on both sides of the Atlantic, and treasure hunters flocked to England. Eventually, someone discovered the treasure without solving the main puzzle. Williams later published this version, which reproduces the original book, but also explains the answer to the main puzzle. But without a treasure to find, interest in the original book declined and it is now out of print. Which is too bad, because Williams' lush paintings deserve to be seen in a large hardcover version, not the tiny paperback available now. Not only are the illustrations beautiful to look at, but they are filled with details that invite the eye to search for clues. The text is also filled with riddles that are fun to solve too. This is a book you'll want to read again and again, even if you can't solve the main riddle. One last point--the recent book "The Merlin Mystery" tries to duplicate Masquerade's feat, but the illustrator is no Kit Williams. If you want to read other puzzle books like "Masquerade", I recommend "The Egyptian Jukebox" by Nick Bartcock and "The Eleventh Hour" by Graeme Base. Neither of these books, I should warn, hide any treasure however.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not just for kids!, December 20, 2000
By A Customer
Ever since first reading this book in my local library in 1980, I'd been itching to discover the location of the buried Masquerade jewel--not for the prize itself, which was found long ago, but for the sport of deciphering Kit Williams' paintings, which contained clues. Driven mad by the author's early assertion that it was "so simple, a ten year old could solve it," I worked at it periodically in the years that followed and finally caved in when I saw that amazon.com sold a version that contained the solution. I purchased the book merely to end my twenty years of suffering.How close did I come to solving it? Not nearly as close as I would have liked--as an American, I have very little knowledge of England's geography (mandatory to solving the puzzle, despite the previous disclaimers). I did have part of the solution correct; I knew the letters that bordered each painting spelled out locations, but the method was not as simple as the author pretended. Needless to say, I feel much better now that I know this. That having been said, let me conclude by stating that the story of Jack Hare's journey is enjoyable, the paintings are absolutely exquisite and the mystery is still intriguing, whether the jewel is still in the ground or not. I recommend it to anyone who loves puzzles--just be prepared to work hard at the solution; it's not easy!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
kit williams and the golden hare........., October 17, 2001
masquerade caused a frenzy when first published in england. kit williams book was the first ever 'real' treasure hunt, with a 'real' prize buried somewhere in england. masquerade is no longer available, which is a shame, but, this little book not only covers the orignal story, but explains the answers to the puzzle of masquerade. this is a wonderful book for all ages to love and enjoy. buy it!!
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