Praise for The Legend of the Lost Jewels
"In her second stand-alone mystery featuring heroine Hazel Frump, author Jennifer Lanthier has created an enthralling and suspenseful story reminiscent of fellow Canadian Eric Wilson's Tom and Liz Austen mysteries for younger readers. A bad storm closes Hazel's and her brother's schools, stranding them at at their cousins' castle Land's End. To keep them busy, their father devises a treasure hunt, sending them hunting for a set of legendary lost jewels. But what begins as harmless fun quickly turns dangerous as dark images from their family's past come back to haunt them.
Hazel is a feisty, likeable and completely realistic heroine. She is not a trouble maker but trouble tends to find her, and readers will enjoy her adventurous spirit. Hazel's brother Ned is also well-developed charaicter and his more cautious and thoughtful nature makes a good counterpart to Hazel's sometimes eager impulsiveness. The cast of minor characters who pop in and out of the story are also quirky and fun, and while the mystery quite firmly stays in the hands of Hazel and Ned, they help to keep the story moving, and to avoid becoming too narrowly focused.
The mystery is solid and the clues are fun to follow without being too easy or overly challenging. Lanthier also does an excellent job of creating several twists and turns along the way, adding a spooky subplot to the story and keeping readers guessing right until the end.
Though the length and format of the novel might be a bit daunting for some younger readers, the story is completely clean and not so scary that readers will find it too frightening. Whether it is read alone or read aloud, mystery fans will look forward to another adventure in this refreshing new series."
Reviewed by Rachel Steen, Selection Manager for S&B Books, in the fall issue of Canadian Children's Book News.
And:
"More traditional summer reading includes mystery novels, and The Legend of the Lost Jewels (HarperColllins, 225 pages, $14.99) fits that bill. A sequel to the Myster of the martello Tower, published last year, it again features 12-year-old Hazel Frump, her 10-year-old brother Ned and their cousins. Lanthier spins a good tale and is a master at creating evocative settings; much of the action in this novel plays itself out in Land's End, Uncle Seamus's castle on the shores of lake Ontario, and a nearby town that is home to hazel's nemesis, Kenny Pritchard (whose father Hazel and the gang helped send to prison in the previous volume). This time around, there are jewels to be found and mysterious portraits to be examined. A dose of local history, involving the Fenians in the late 1800s (and a passing reference to Thomas D'Arcy McGee) helps spice up the story. Age 10 and up."
Reviewed by Bernie Goedhart in The Gazette, Montreal, June 7, 2008.
Also:
"...In her sequel to the The Mystery of the Martello Tower, lanthier gives readers an edge-of-the-seat thrill that is chalk full of suspense, mystery, and even a bit of humour. "Tweens" who are already familiar with the likes of Hazel and Ned (and even those who are not) won't be disappointed. The Legend of the Lost Jewels is a page turner, and with plenty of clues popping up around every corner, readers will be encouraged to pick up their own spy-glasses, almost as if they, themselves, are characters in the book."
CM Magazine, Sept. 26, 2008.
Praise for The Mystery of the Martello Tower - U.S. Edition
An occasional Google scan reveals that the American edition of Hazel's first adventure is being recommended by librarians, the good people of the Lincoln Nebraska JournalStar and by various kids' and parents' blogs. But perhaps the most exciting moment for Hazel's supporters came on Sept. 3, 2008, when esteemed editor Otto Penzler, founder of the Mysterious Press and owner of the Mysterious Bookshop in Manhattan, had this to say about Martello:
"For somewhat younger readers (8-12), Jennifer Lanthier has produced a captivating, Nancy Drew-like mystery, "The Mystery of the Martello Tower" (Laura Geringer, 265 pages, $16.99) that crams into one volume just about everything that could scare the snot out of a child.
At the start of a summr vacation, Ned (not Nancy Drew's friend) and hazel's father suddenly disappears. Then the babysitter leaves. Then INterpol gets involved. Then their apartment is burgled. Then two scary thugs seem to be stalking them.
This is the author's first book, and it seems as if she was determined to get every idea she ever had into it. With all the activity, there is no time for readers to catch their breath, which is exactly the idea."
Reviewed by the inimitable Otto Penzler in the (sadly, now-defunct ) New York Sun newspaper, Sept. 3, 2008
Praise for The Mystery of the Martello Tower - Canadian Edition:
“Hazel has independence, self-assurance and a wicked lay-up, making her a great role model for young readers today. Hazel’s owlish brother Ned, whose first love is a chemistry set, simply radiates personality…”
“In a style reminiscent of Enid Blyton, Lanthier has imagined a world where children rule the day… Children are empowered with self-sufficiency and without a doubt readers will ultimately feel as though they are part of a secret club whose membership is honored by way of not being an adult. Throughout most of the novel, Lanthier does an excellent job of leaving readers on the edge of their seats – particularly at chapter’s end… “
“Set for release in 2008, Lanthier’s next installment of Hazel Frump’s Adventures is likely to be just as exhilarating as the first. Hazel herself proclaims she has ‘had enough adventure to last a long, long time’… but I hope she hasn’t.”
CM Magazine, copyright: The Manitoba Library Association
And:
"This fun, old-fashioned mystery yarn has all the ingredients of a satisfying story for young readers: plenty of adventure with one mysterious circumstance after another; suspicious characters with questionable motives; a spunky and likeable brother-sister duo (featuring a star basketball player/older sister and a brilliant nine-year-old brother); and a noteable lack of responsible adults to get in the way of the young peoples' sleuthing... the characters are all highly engaging and the gradual unfolding of the Frump family history ties in nicely with the original art mystery. Young readers will enjoy accompanying Hazel and Ned on this action-packed romp and will look forward to the next."
Reviewed by Lisa Doucet, Woozles Bookstore, Halifax, for Canadian Children's Book News, Summer 2007
Also:
"The Mystery of the Martello Tower, by Jennifer Lanthier (HarperCollins, 240 pages, $15.99), will hold the interest of both male and female readers. Set in Ontario, it's a mystery story that involves forged artwork, a mostly absent father, a newly discovered set of cousins and a courageous brother and sister who face danger in order to find truth. It's a lively story from a first-time author that will leave readers hoping for future volumes featuring Hazel Frump, the 12-year-old hero. Age 10 and up."
Reviewed by Bernie Goedhart in the Montreal Gazette, June 9, 2007
And (Briefly):
In The Magazine, May, 2007
"an entertaining sibling adventure."
In The Globe and Mail, March 31, 2007
GOOD, CLEAN, MYSTERIOUS FUN
"While the book is written for young readers, it ought to engage their parents as well."
"Lanthier certainly deserves kudos here...she's pulled off an energetic, well-paced mystery novel. Her style's as lively as her basketball-loving heroine."
"...a refreshing change from the ultra-realistic brutality of many teen novels."
"By the end of The Mystery of the Martello Tower, the reader is so swept up in Hazel's and Ned's lives that their only concern will be to wonder what's up next for the intrepid detectives. Where will their future adventures lead them? We'll have to tune in to the next installment to find out."
And on CBC Radio One , the sadly now-cancelled show (it's not my fault, I swear) Freestyle, March 13, 2007
"Good for the whole family...Hazel Frump is a great girl detective...she could probably kick Nancy Drew's butt... I'd like to be her!"
And in the Toronto Star, March 4, 2007
"A nice alternative to Nancy Drew."