Product Description

IF YOU FAIL,
ALL IS
LOST.

Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106 in Books
• Published on: 2009-10-06
• Released on: 2009-10-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780316045520
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Product Description

Join the Mysterious Benedict Society as Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance embark on a daring new adventure that threatens to force them apart from their families, friends, and even each other. When an unexplained blackout engulfs Stonetown, the foursome must unravel clues relating to a nefarious new plot, while their search for answers brings them closer to danger than ever before.

Filled with page-turning action and mind-bending brain teasers, this wildly inventive journey is sure to delight.

Take a Look Inside this Book
(Click on each image below to see a larger view)

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Review
Praise for The Mysterious Benedict Society:
A New York Times Bestseller
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
Winner of the E.B. White Read Aloud Award
A Top 10 Children's BookSense Pick
A Booklist "Top Ten Youth Science Fiction and Fantasy" Title
An ALA Notable Children's Book
A VOYA 2007 Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best
Received critical praise, including 4 starred reviews

* "Like the Potter books, [this] story goes beyond mere adventures, delving into serious issues." - Booklist (starred review)

* "Fans of Roald Dahl or Blue Balliett will find a familiar blend of kid power, clues, and adventure."-School Library Journal (starred review)

* "Deliciously tasty." - BCCB (starred review)

Praise for The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey:
* Not just a rip-roaring adventure with plenty of clever twists and hair's-breadth escapes, but also a warm and satisfying tale about friendship." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"[Readers] will find this sequel a worthy successor." - Horn Book

"This classic struggle of good versus evil also includes the many layers in between." - VOYA

"Entertainingly quirky." - Kirkus

"Every bit as chunky and satisfying as the first, this adventure will delight fans." - The Bulletin

About the Author
Trenton Lee Stewart, graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop and author of the The Mysterious Benedict Society, lives in Arkansas with his wife and two sons.

Diana Sudyka received a Masters of Fine Art from Northwestern University. She lives and works in Chicago as an artist. This is the first book she has illustrated.

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Customer Reviews

"Kate Had Finally Figured Out a Good Rhyme for Constance"
If you're a fan of the series, that alone should persuade you pick up a copy of this book, eh? Well, if that's not enough, than on with my real review...


"The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma" begins with Reynard "Reynie" Muldoon, George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall and Constance Contraire reunited once again. Yet, as with the beginning of the previous installment ("The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey,") all is not entirely well. The children are prisoners of a sort. Not that they are in prison, but they and their families have been uprooted from their normal homes and, for protection, are being housed by Mr. Benedict, as it has been deemed necessary to keep them under ground due to the continued schemes of the evil Mr. Curtain.

The beginning of the story sees the group being tested with a classic conundrum known as the "Prisoner's Dilemma." I was familiar with the concept going in through the show "Numb3rs," but for those that don't know, Sticky provides an excellent explanation of it in the book-- two prisoners, partners in crime, are arrested, but the police do not have needed evidence against them, so they try to get them to talk. If one talks and the other doesn't, the one that talks goes free, while the other receives a harsh sentence. They can choose to both remain silent, in which both receive a very light sentence. Or if they both betray the other, they both receive a middle of the road sentence. If you're familiar with this series, you may have guessed that the monkey wrench in the works here is Constance, but that the Mysterious Benedict Society comes through in the end.

With events taking place in Stonetown with everyone together, the supporting cast of the series is explored in greater depth than ever before. Also to be found in this book are answers to long-awaited questions regarding a couple of the key mysteries of the series. The book begins with a growing tension until, about halfway through, the other shoe drops and The Mysterious Benedict Society faces their greatest test yet. The group will have to rely on their combined talents and friends, as well a most intriguing new power of Constance's that is almost supernatural.

So many plot threads are seemingly resolved in this book that it feels very much like this book is intended as a finale to the series. If this is the case, then I am pleased to see the series ending in fine form. If I am, in fact, mistaken, then I will be delighted to discover so.


At 391 pages, "The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma" is actually a fair bit shorter than either of the books that preceded it. Despite this, the novel sizzles with the sharp wit and growing tension of the previous "Mysterious Benedict Society" stories, leading towards a most satisfying conclusion. Don't miss the bus! Read "The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Priosoner's Dilemma" to discover what's in store for this group of talented children.

This book is AWSOME!!!!!
I love this entire series! They are my favorite books. I love solving the mysteries and the characters are fun! I've read # 1 29 times, # 2 19 times and #3 only 1 time. I'm in the 6th grade.

Brilliant Book - Disappointing Ending
At least, for me, it was disappointing. Let's start at the beginning though.

I'll admit, I had not the slightest idea what the Prisoner's Dilemma was, and I thought it to be much more literal. My idea of what it meant went something along the lines of Martina Crowe being in a dilemma. If you look up what the real meaning is, I assure you that it will not give you much of a spoiler, because the title really does not have as much to do with the book as you would expect.

Constance is discovered very early on to have a new power, which is definitely intriguing and curious, though I wonder if it only serves to make it so the ending turns out perfectly for the Society. However, I love the new things we learn about Constance. It's interesting to learn about her background, finally, and it was one of the biggest mysteries I wanted to learn about.

One minor side note that I feel compelled to mention: Kate had finally thought of a rhyme to match Constance's (as another reviewer mentioned) and we never even got to hear it! Or maybe I need to reread the book again...

The plot of this book is obviously centered quite centrally upon Curtain, who has devised yet another plan to get things under his control. Ultimately, the MBS (guess what it stands for?) takes it in to their hands to be the ones to stop it, and, ultimately, the adults find out and decide to take the necessary action. What follows is a clever blend of action, surprise, and some humor that makes this read enjoyable.

So why did I give this book four stars? The ending for me was too perfect. There was a time when I only liked perfect ending, but that time ended long ago, and I found this so unrealistically perfect and odd. Perhaps you'll se what I mean, but I just couldn't get used to the idea of... Well, I'd prefer not to mention spoilers. But I'll just say that the ending was so finished that it felt as if it wasn't completely done. I was left with a curious sensation of wanting more, when there was no more to want.