3 out of 4 stars
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The Lord Peter Sluggly Chronicles is the second installment of the Jamie Ballard books. In this work of fiction, author Simon A. Gallimore captures the reader's attention with a compelling adventure set in high society England.
Peter invites Jamie, H, and Vinny to the annual Sluggly manor summer ball. The weekend takes an unexpected turn when a treasure hunt begins after Peter discovers a two-hundred-year-old cylinder lodged inside an oak tree. While brainstorming and following a series of clues, the friends make a few enemies because someone else is after the alleged treasure. The quartet must work fast because Peter Sluggly risks losing his birthright.
The book has well-developed characters with distinct personalities that shine through the madness. Jamie, Vinny, and H's practical jokes though entertaining were a little out of hand. Their actions will leave readers pondering about appropriate behavior, especially what's befitting of guests. The author also highlights classism as some of the upper-class individuals were entitled and deemed themselves superior. The extent to which people will go to acquire wealth and power is shocking and reflects the rot within society. The author wove these themes to create a cohesive work with unfolding mysteries at every turn.
I was surprised that some of the high society women acted unladylike behind closed doors but put on a facade for public approval. Their actions were astonishing, but the drama kept me flipping the pages. Through them, the author tackled sexuality in an open and non-judgmental manner without diverting attention from the main plot. At the heart of the story is the strong friendship between Jamie, Vinny, Peter, and H. The good times bring joy and laughter but the trying times draw them closer. Their friendship will instill in readers the value of loyalty. It's worth mentioning that most of the story takes place throughout three days. I applaud the author for piecing together enough material to fill an entire book while leaving the reader yearning for more.
The slow pace at which the story moved is what I didn't like about the book. It was disheartening, but I felt relief when the pace picked up as the story progressed. Since this is the second book in a series, I can attest that it reads as a stand-alone and those who haven't read the first installment need not shy away. Because I spotted multiple errors, mostly misplaced commas and misspelled words, I'll award this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars and recommend that it undergo a round of editing to eliminate the typos. The Lord Peter Sluggly Chronicles is an entertaining read that I will recommend to lovers of treasure hunts, fans of puzzles, and lovers of fiction stories. I will, however, not recommend it to underage readers because it contains mature content.
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the lord peter sluggly chronicles
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