Review: Knightley & Son by Rohan Gavin

Title: Knightley & Son
Author: Rohan Gavin
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pub. Date: March 4, 2014
Genre: Middle Grade
Rec. Age Level: 8-12
Pages: 320
More by this author: N/A

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For the past four years, Darkus' investigator father has been in a coma. In an attempt to learn as much as he can about the detective business and his father, Darkus spent countless hours poring over his dad's old cases. When his father suddenly wakes, he's immediately pulled back into his last case. Darkus is just happy to have his dad back and, this time around, he's set on making the detective biz a family affair. When reports of seemingly unprovoked crimes start making the news and the only detail that connects them is a book currently on the bestseller list, Darkus and his father set out to solve the case.

Knightley & Son has a compelling mystery, sinister villains, seriously funny characters, and family drama readers are sure to identify with. Plus it has a distinctly Sherlockian air, which I loved!

I must say, Rohan Gavin has his hands full with these characters! They all have such distinct personalities; even the secondary characters are unforgettable. Knightley's housekeeper was hilarious and I was always happy to see her show up in a scene! 

I have a soft spot for the main character, Darkus, and his struggles to relate to and connect with his father. Readers will see some improvement in Darkus and Knightley's relationship in book one, but I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress in book two. Though it's likely the mystery elements and action within Knightley & Son will be what pull readers in, I sincerely hope that the characters and their personal struggles will make an impression as well.

Of course, I have to mention that I absolutely loved that it was a book that was wreaking so much havoc and causing people to commit crimes they didn't remember. I mean, crime is bad and all that, but what a clever reminder that books have power!

I'll definitely be reading the next adventure featuring Knightley and Darkus!