In Too Deep (The 39 Clues)

"The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand." -- Joshua 21:44 From the beginning of this exciting series, Amy and Dan Cahill have been warned to trust no one. That has been a hard lesson for them. And just as they learn it, it turns out that some seeming enemies are actually trying to help them. Will Amy and Dan learn to tell friend from foe? If you have been reading the earlier five books in the series (and if you haven't, shame on you . . . go back and get started!), you know that orphans Amy and Dan gave up a fortune to compete with some of their relatives to locate 39 clues that will provide immense power and influence. Even those who are wealthy beyond reason want what the clues can deliver. The earlier books in the series have been a combination of a scavenger hunt, The Amazing Race television show, and the kind of double-dealing that shows up in Treasure Island. In the background, readers can gain a lot of knowledge about different parts of the world. It's also great fun. In Too Deep is different from the last four books in that Amy and Dan start to learn more about their deceased parents and to suspect that some of their helpers (such as Nellie Gomez) aren't quite what they seem to be. As a result, this book contains a lot of character development for Amy and some for Dan. If you enjoy making this series less one-dimensional, you'll enjoy that aspect. Otherwise, you'll wonder why there isn't more action in places. The travelogue here covers Australia and a part of Indonesia. I felt a yen to visit both places after reading the story. It would be fun to imagine Amy and Dan on their search. Figuring out the clue this time isn't so tough. But that's all right. Some of the other clues are pretty simple to figure out also. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series!

I love this series. I stumbled upon this series when browsing the book store so I checked the audio books out of the library first before purchasing. I can't wait to find out the ending and what family branch the children belong too. I get sad as I approach the end of each book. Now I have to wait until 2010 for the next. Great children and adult reading as well.

When Grace Cahill passed away, relatives oozed out of the woodwork in hopes of getting their hands on her fortunes. But Grace wasn't your typical old lady, and she didn't leave this world in typical fashion either. Instead of a will and an inheritance, she left behind a quest involving 39 clues that lead to a vast wealth and the highest authority imaginable. Now, six teams of Cahill relatives are racing around the world, chasing after intricately placed clues left behind by other famous Cahills, including Ben Franklin and Mozart. Fourteen-year-old Amy and her 11-year-old brother, Dan, make up one of the teams. Orphaned and unwanted by everyone except their beloved (and now deceased) grandmother, the siblings don't have anything to lose and have decided to go for it. But unlike their opponents, they have no money, connections, or special training, not to mention the fact that they're just kids. Plus, Amy is shy and stutters when she's nervous, and Dan tends to be impulsive. This team has the odds seriously stacked against them. But they do have a few pieces of jewelry from their grandmother to sell for expenses, a very cool au pair (a sort of domestic servant) traveling with them, and, above all, a great deal of spunk, smarts and determination. The race is on, and there aren't any rules. IN TOO DEEP jumps right into action at the Sydney, Australia airport. Dan and Amy, along with their au pair, Nellie, have taken a detour --- not to follow another clue, but hopefully to discover some information about their deceased parents. But then everything seems to be tied in to the race for the 39 clues, including their parents' death --- which may not have been an accident after all. Once again, the siblings are reminded to trust no one, with one set of Cahill relatives saying one thing and another branch claiming the opposite. Old memories of the deadly fire begin to resurface, causing Amy to revisit that horrid night. And while some of the disturbing images help Amy and Dan to figure out the next part of the big hunt, others have Amy seriously doubting herself. While in Australia, Dan, Amy and Nellie hook up with an old friend/cousin of their parents, a surfer/pilot named Shep. His enthusiasm and resources (such as owning a plane) help propel the siblings onto the scent of another clue, one involving famous pilot Amelia Earhart. The team flies to the Outback and some opal mines to learn more. Another new character surfaces in Book Six: Ian and Natalie's mother, Isabel. If possible, Isabel is the most devious and cruelest of the Cahills thus far. She will stop at nothing --- including torture and murder --- to win the race. Her branch associate, the cunning Irina, doesn't agree with Isabel's methods, but dare she oppose direct orders? And if she does, she may have to offer up the greatest of sacrifices. And then there's the au pair, Nellie, whom Amy and Dan are beginning to realize is unusually gifted. Among many things, Nellie is able to speak other

My kids love them (ages 10 and 12) . I always pre-order this series, and get them on or a day after release.

This was a darn good read! This book took a bit of a different turn that the rest of the books in the series this far. The major turn was that this book really didn't have to do with a major Clue for Dan and Amy to solve, as in the other books, but there were some smaller ones for Amy and Dan to deal with. This book was character driven, and not Clue Driven. We learn a lot about what happened to Amy and Dan's parents. What really happened that night of the fire, and who felt it was "their fault" that it happened. I like the fact that we are able to learn somethings about Amy and Dan's parents. We're they on The 39 Clue hunt as well? You'll have to read to find out. In this book, Dan was likable character. In the past, Dan was kind of a jerk, but in this book, I really liked him and he made me laugh out loud. I was glad to see what Watson did with him. We find out a lot more about Nellie. Is she who we were lead to believe? Nellie has the chance to be a fantastic character. If the character is followed through (and I hope the next author does) she has the chance to be a great character, and a real addition to the series. Besides learning of Amy and Dan's parents, we learn more about Irina Spansky. We learn about her past, and why she turned into the KGB killer that she was. As a reader, we find out what heart breaks she had early in life. She's a *perfect* sympathetic character! I really liked how she turned out. Along the way, Watson put Amy and Dan in so many dangerous situations, that the reader will be glued to the page to see how Amy and Dan get out of them. Watson's writing style will have the reader hooked to find out what happens to them. Kuddo's to Watson! This is a great installment to the series. I had a ball reading it, and look forward to book 8. If you've read all of the books, then you'll want to read this one. If you haven't started the series, start with book one and en joy the ride. I know I am.