Review Detail

I loved the first book of the 39 Clues series so much that I was worried the bar may have been set too high for an equally as captivating follow-up. In true Cahill style, Gordon Korman rose to the challenge with “One False Note,” the second book in the series started by Rick Riordan.

“One False Note” follows Amy and Dan as they continue their worldwide scavenger hunt to track down the mysterious 39 clues. Clues to what exactly, they aren’t sure, but they know it has something to do with the source of their family’s extreme power and influence. Hitting up Austria and Venice, Italy, for this leg of the race, Amy and Dan try to outsmart their relatives, who are also competing in this wild goose chase, by following clues that relate to Mozart (who wrote the music for “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” apparently).

Korman really stuck with the fast-paced action of the first book. Each chapter leads from one adventure to the next, with no lull in the suspense or thrill of the chase. He also gives us more background into the Cahill clan that felt true to the foundation Riordan established in “The Maze of Bones.” With a new author for each book, I was initially worried that the books may feel disjointed as each writer took the story in the direction he or she wanted. This, however, was not the case, and I’m impressed that Korman was able to pick the story up right where Riordan left off without it feeling like there was some unexplained shift in action, scenery, or plot.

Korman does, however, have his own distinct voice. Korman writes a bit more academically, and with a voice that seemed more mature than that of the first book. While this voice was different from Riordan’s humor-infused narration, it still felt like it fit into this world. Korman’s writing style seemed to be more influenced by brainy Amy rather than goofy Dan, and I liked the subtle shift in tone as it still followed the overall personality of one of the main characters.

While his tone may have felt a bit “smarter,” Korman’s adrenaline-pumping adventure never let up, and “One False Note” left me just as hooked and eager for the next book as “The Maze of Bones.” Two clues down, 37 to go!