Scan barcode
jennlovesreading's review
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jackdziatkowiec's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found this book in a little free library. It is the third book in a series, but fully enjoyable as a standalone novel. Cute puzzles and curious characters. I hope whoever finds this book next enjoys it like I did.
rdyourbookcase's review
4.0
The next best thing to the Lemoncello books is the Book Scavenger series. I need to re-read both series because they are just so much fun. I enjoy getting to know Bertman's characters and, of course, the puzzles. The mystery is what sets The Alcatraz Escape apart from the Lemoncello books, and I love a good mystery!
katieproctorbooks's review
4.0
Fun third installment of the series!!! The puzzles and adventure are fun but also there’s a depth to these stories that is so so good for middle grade readers.
carnisht's review
4.0
I love escape rooms. They’re one of my favorite hobbies. The mystery in this book was basically one big escape room. Ergo, I loved the mystery of this book! It was so much fun for me to read! I recognize that this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it was 100% mine. I even liked the mystery behind the mystery, like why was Lucy Leonard there and why did Errol Roy appear in person after 40 years? I loved watching the answers behind these mysteries unfold while the group was simultaneously breaking “out” of the prison.
*BEGIN MAJOR SPOILERS* I really liked the final big reveal at the end of the story. Learning Errol Roy’s true identity and how he set up the mystery to confess came as quite the surprise to me! I really hadn’t guessed that while reading the story, so I loved that. Super creative way to tie the whole story together. *END MAJOR SPOILERS*
One of the bigger disappointments of this book for me was the distinct lack of puzzles. There were so many fewer puzzles in this book compared to the previous installments in this series, and those are what I really look forward to the most, so it was pretty sad to not get that from the author. This book chose to focus much more on the man vs. man conflict of the story, which was fine, but not what I had come to expect. With that being said, I did love the puzzles that were included. I found them challenging enough to where I couldn’t immediately solve them, but once the solution was revealed, it was easy to see and understand. I loved that because solving the puzzles too easily ruins the fun, but making it where the solution is incomprehensible is also pretty asinine, so I did appreciate Bertram’s puzzle creation abilities.
While the puzzles were well written, the characters were remarkably dull. None of them felt really fleshed out or developed, nor did any of them feel relatable or like I could connect with them. They really only served the purpose of solving the mystery. While this was a mystery novel and the mystery taking center stage is fine, the characters should still get some development to help readers connect. One specific character that left me scratching my head was Fiona. *BEGIN MINOR SPOILERS* She was definitely a decoy created by the author who was meant to throw readers off about who was threatening Emily and James, but she felt so pointless by the end. Her storyline was left unresolved and like a massive loose end. She got disqualified, but we were only told that by James after the fact. We never even saw her disqualification, and ultimately her character resulted in nothing significant, so why include her?! I was frustrated by it. *END MINOR SPOILERS*
To see more of my review, check out
https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2021/07/23/the-alcatraz-escape-by-jennifer-chambliss-bertram/
*BEGIN MAJOR SPOILERS* I really liked the final big reveal at the end of the story. Learning Errol Roy’s true identity and how he set up the mystery to confess came as quite the surprise to me! I really hadn’t guessed that while reading the story, so I loved that. Super creative way to tie the whole story together. *END MAJOR SPOILERS*
One of the bigger disappointments of this book for me was the distinct lack of puzzles. There were so many fewer puzzles in this book compared to the previous installments in this series, and those are what I really look forward to the most, so it was pretty sad to not get that from the author. This book chose to focus much more on the man vs. man conflict of the story, which was fine, but not what I had come to expect. With that being said, I did love the puzzles that were included. I found them challenging enough to where I couldn’t immediately solve them, but once the solution was revealed, it was easy to see and understand. I loved that because solving the puzzles too easily ruins the fun, but making it where the solution is incomprehensible is also pretty asinine, so I did appreciate Bertram’s puzzle creation abilities.
While the puzzles were well written, the characters were remarkably dull. None of them felt really fleshed out or developed, nor did any of them feel relatable or like I could connect with them. They really only served the purpose of solving the mystery. While this was a mystery novel and the mystery taking center stage is fine, the characters should still get some development to help readers connect. One specific character that left me scratching my head was Fiona. *BEGIN MINOR SPOILERS* She was definitely a decoy created by the author who was meant to throw readers off about who was threatening Emily and James, but she felt so pointless by the end. Her storyline was left unresolved and like a massive loose end. She got disqualified, but we were only told that by James after the fact. We never even saw her disqualification, and ultimately her character resulted in nothing significant, so why include her?! I was frustrated by it. *END MINOR SPOILERS*
To see more of my review, check out
https://yalitreader.wordpress.com/2021/07/23/the-alcatraz-escape-by-jennifer-chambliss-bertram/
raereadings's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mollyhuie's review
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25