Book Review : “Mystery at Deadman’s
Ridge”
By Mandy Edwards
Reviewed by Anne Cook, Class teacher,
Cromwell Primary School
Nothing much
happens in the country, right? Wrong! City girl, Maggie finds that out quickly
when she comes to stay with her farming cousins in the backblocks of rural
Otago. Sheep rustling, the discovery of a marijuana plot, gun shots in the
night , the injuring of a shepherd, a marauding hawk…..are some of the
challenges that the young characters have to deal with.
“Mystery at
Deadman’s Ridge” is a fast paced read that is action packed; full of twists
& turns and is hard to put down. It’s a real mystery story with characters
that are real. I’ve met them all in my time on the land.
Mandy
Edwards draws on her vast experience of life in Rural New Zealand. Farming in
Otago is portrayed accurately with subtle explanations woven in. One can easily
relate to the hectic pace at shearing time, the busy woolshed and yards, and
the capable, hard working farming family
eeking out a living on the land.
The young
farm boys, Tom and Luke, are highly capable as farm kids are: whether it’s
working dogs, mustering stock, helping in the woolshed or riding a quad bike.
There is a natural ease and confidence. By the same token, Maggie, although out
of her comfort zone in the country is savvy with a cell phone. It is the kids, not
the adults, who solve the mystery and bring the villains to justice.
All young
people, whether from a rural or urban background will enjoy this book. I highly
recommend it.
http://amzn.to/149v0A4
