As usual, Byars wastes no time plunging Herculeah Jones into a new mystery, this one taking the girl sleuth to an old mansion with a dark tower that piques her curiosity. Best friend Meat once again plays the comedic role of timorous but devoted sidekick, while the plot spins out in a series of increasingly suspenseful scenarios that lead the unstoppable Herculeah right into the arms of a villain. Kids need not have read previous adventures in this series to appreciate this one, which, like the others, delivers breathless adventure moderated by amiable comedy. ­­

Gr 4-6-Herculeah is back in another exciting adventure. Here, she is reading to her mother's friend, a lonely stroke victim who cannot speak, and becomes involved in a family feud and mystery involving money and murder. Against her friend Meat's better judgment, she keeps going back to the house and puts her own life in danger. A fast-paced plot and well-developed, likable characters keep readers turning pages. Fans of the series as well as those new to it will enjoy the suspense that Byars is so famous for building.-Krista Tokarz, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Herculeah Jones has a nose for trouble and for sniffing out mysteries. By the time her mother sends her on a neighborly errand to Hunt House (aka Haunt House), Herculeah has already solved six murder mysteries. Furthermore her mother is a private investigator, and Herculeah cannot leave a mystery unsolved. Herculeah goes to Hunt House with her best friend, Meat, in order to read to Mr. Hunt, whose recent stroke has left him unable to communicate except by blinking his eyes. He specifically asks her to read The Terror in Black Tower, a book that might possibly explain the house's mysterious past and its spookiness today. Meat accompanies her, but because of his inability to make himself enter frightening Hunt House, he remains outside waiting. The true mystery gains momentum because he is exactly in the right space at the right time. Byars strikes again with this fast-paced mystery that early middle school readers will love. Herculeah and Meat make a great, quirky team, hooking readers into their adventure. Although the sixth installment in a series, this novel stands by itself. This book is an excellent addition to libraries.-Jennifer Rummel.