Review Detail

A world of adventure and danger, where the dark is actually filled with monsters out to get you- this is the world of The Dead Gentleman. Matthew Cody weaves a fantastic tale that leaves you on the edge of your seat. The reader hears the tale from an early 20th century orphan named Tommy and from a present day average girl named Jezebel. As quoted from the Observations of the High Father of the Enlightened Hidden City (read the novel to discover more interesting quotes), “All paths lead to the same place. But it seems Man is destined always to choose the rockier way. It is his defining trait.” How true that is! Tommy and Jezebel find themselves confronting the darkness and having everything thrown in their way. And the reader finds themselves on the edge cheering the characters on!

The Dead Gentleman is action packed, filled with all the good stuff; fight scenes, chase scenes, and a little bit of spookiness. I would just tell myself, “Only one more chapter and I will put the book down.” Then I would find myself hooked by the cliff-hanger ending of a chapter. I had to read more. In the world of The Dead Gentleman you have parallel universes, time travel, sea battles, and the walking dead- or half dead. How could I resist. What I loved best about the story is that even though the characters face worlds of fancy far beyond our reality, I truly grew to love the characters and wanted to discover what would happen next. Tommy loves adventure and is cautious of others and Jezebel just wants something a little more exciting than life with her father, the artist.

Both young readers, boys and girls alike, as well as adults will find The Dead Gentleman a fantastic read. I already have students waiting in line to read it! My 7th graders loved Matthew Cody’s Powerless and are sure to love this as well.