In the Library With A Candlestick

Title: Murder at Midnight

Author: Avi

ISBN: 9780454080903

Genre: Mystery, Detective

Summary
The story happens in Pergamontio, Italy, 1490. Fabrizio is a ten-year-old servant boy. He master is Mangus, a magician. Fabrizio liked his master and mistress because they are the one who picked him from the street. Two days after a magic performance, the Primo Magistrato or the Chief Justice, DeLaBina, visited their house to question regarding a sheet of paper. In the paper, there is a message. The message is about overthrowing the king of Pergamontio, King Claudio, A king who believe in real magic. The Primo Magistrato suspected Mangus is the person who made the paper. His reason is that there is a bunch of papers that are identical to the one DeLaBina had showed. In 1490, there is no way to have two written papers that are identical. They think it is magic is making it happens. Mangus was sent to trial. The Prince believes that someone had asked Mangus to made the message papers and asked him to traitor that person. Fabrizio have to find out how those papers were made and who is behind the scene in order for to him to save his master.

Review
A magical world with no real magic. A real mystery story is that readers cannot guess, or 100 percent sure what the truth is until the author uncover it. I think truths were not surprising in the story because it seems logic, but the interesting thing is that I cannot come up with a confirmed answer to the mystery. I think Avi had done a nice job it in Murder at Midnight. He had ingeniously integrated the magical element in into the story that added a layer of mystery to confuse readers. A remarkable work.

Award winning Author

Starred rated review from Publishers Weekly

Positive review from Kirkus Reviews.

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