Instead of 39 steps, billionaire Grace Cahill left her heirs 39 clues scattered around the world. At the end of this circuitous trail are the answers to a great family mystery, but Amy and Dan must decide whether any prize can be more important than the rescue of their missing parents. The beginning of an enthralling ten-book arc.
Kirkus Reviews
"Synergy" is the name of the game in Scholastic's post-Potter search for market share. Grace Cahill has died, and her orphaned grandchildren Amy, 14, and Dan, 11, are among the heirs offered a choice: They can accept one million and walk, or they can take the first clue in a worldwide scavenger hunt to find the secret that has made the extended Cahill family the most powerful family in world history. Every other heir is out to get Amy and Dan, Grace's supposed favorites, as they work their way through the puzzles in this first volume of a ten-book "multi-platform" series. Six trading cards come with each trade-edition copy, and more can be purchased separately. Cards can be entered on an accompanying website, where readers six to 14 can "enter the race" by playing mystery games. Each new volume, by such authors as Gordon Korman and Peter Lerangis, spawns a new contest with real cash prizes. Librarians should be careful to purchase card-free library editions to avoid circulation headaches. (Novelty/fiction. 9-14)
JANUARY 2009 - AudioFile
Grace Cahill dies and leaves her orphaned grandchildren, Amy, 14, and Dan, 11, with a choice. Do they, and other descendants, want a million dollars, or do they want a clue that will set them on a search that will change the world? David Pittu's narration stresses the adventures of the siblings’ quest as they seek clues from Philadelphia to the catacombs of Paris. Pittu's delivery enlivens the story with dialogue that portrays fearful Amy and daredevil Dan, as well as providing characterizations of their many competitors in the search. How can the two triumph over their malicious elderly uncle and devious cousins? This is the first book of a projected series of 10, written by favorite children's authors and tied to online games and the chance to win a sweepstakes. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine
