Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

When her best friend Wendy is invited to compete in a piano competition in Oxford, England, Gilda Joyce tags along as official page turner and unofficial psychic investigator, with plenty of spiritualist tools (and fabulous hats) in tow. Gilda's imaginative flair fuels plenty of humor and drama, while the combination of stiff competition and Wendy's ominous nightmares contribute to the suspense.

Voice of Youth Advocates

Psychic investigator Gilda Joyce is determined to accompany her best friend, Wendy Choy, to England where she has been invited to participate in The Young International Virtuosos piano competition. Gilda jumps at the chance to be Wendy's page turner. Off they go to Oxford with teacher Mrs. Mendelovich and two other piano students. Before boarding the airplane, Gilda does a tarot card reading for Wendy to calm her down, but unfortunately all the cards are ominous. They show the number nine and death. Upon landing in England, they hurry to Wyntle House, a Victorian guesthouse that does not even have a piano. Wendy is horrified to find that her room is number nine. She cannot sleep, hears a piano playing, and even finds the number nine etched in the frost on her window. Gilda begins her high-powered investigation and discovers that a ghost is haunting not only her best friend but the entire competition. The ghost leads them to the grave of Charles Drummond, a young protÚgÚ who died when he was only fourteen. Why has Charles chosen Wendy to haunt and what does he want her to do to let him rest in peace? Gilda is a spunky, quirky, very likeable young lady with a sense of humor if not a great sense of fashion. There are several interesting threads in this novel that are not as fully developed as they could be and some unsatisfactory endings, but overall it is a lighthearted, comic romp of a mystery, a genre often neglected in middle school fiction. This third title in the Gilda Joyce series stands alone, but prior knowledge of Gilda and her psychic powers would be helpful.-Kathie Fitch.

ALA Booklist

Killer ghosts and tarot death cards give spooky messages in the latest about the smart teen detective, Gilda Joyce which began with Psychic Investigator (2005). Gilda accompanies her best friend to an international piano competition in Oxford, England. The suspense builds nicely (Is there a serial killer after the students? Is a ghost looking for someone to take its place), and there's lots of romantic comedy and hilarious play with Briticisms, as when Gilda is snogging in the graveyard with a cute English boy. Once again, Allison uses moments familiar to us all in a haunting story.

Kirkus Reviews

Irrepressible Gilda Joyce, Psychic Investigator, is at it again. This time it's across the pond in Oxford, England. Gilda manages to wangle a position as a page-turner for her best friend, Wendy Choy, who has been selected to compete in an international piano competition. Wendy's chilling nightmares combined with a variety of otherworldly happenings force Gilda to take a case once again. Donning her cat-eye sunglasses and her various outfits selected especially for her English holiday, Gilda finds herself combing the streets of London, looking for what is behind the genuine haunting. Gilda is determined to stay focused, but the cute English boys make it difficult. Allison's endearingly odd heroine will once again capture readers' affections while the mystery will keep the pages turning and the midnight oil burning. Offbeat and spine-chilling. (Fiction. 10-14)

School Library Journal Starred Review

Gr 5-8-Gilda manages to talk her way into accompanying a group of young musical prodigies traveling to England to compete in the Young International Virtuosos Piano Competition. With more spunk than musical ability, she volunteers to serve as her friend Wendy Choy's page turner with potentially disastrous results. Gilda hopes that Oxford's hallowed halls will offer her plenty of opportunities to commune with ghosts and hone her psychic abilities, but she soon discovers that it is Wendy who is being haunted. Gilda's irrepressible spirit continues in this third volume, as does her eccentric fashion flair. While occasionally distracted by her interest in an attractive competitor, she manages to protect and support her friend and uncover a long-buried mystery in the process. Wendy figures more prominently in this book: several chapters are told in her voice and she provides a window into the challenging life of a high-achieving young pianist. The novel is wonderfully paced and clues are dropped subtly as the story progresses. Gilda's fascination with Brit-speak also provides a healthy dose of humor. This is an excellent addition to an already strong series.-Kathleen Meulen, Blakely Elementary School, Bainbridge Island, WA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.