Mystery at Blackbeard's Cove, by Audrey Penn

A group of the children who live in Ocracoke Island, North Carolina, love to hear the tales of Mrs. McNemmish, especially those about Blackbeard.  When Mrs. McNemmish dies, the children try to respect her final wishes, while uncovering her secrets.

I really thought this was an excellent children's book, one that was still able to hold my attention.  The characters are developed well enough for the targeted age group, and I like that there is a mix of male and female characters, making it appealing to a wide reading audience.  The book is full of action and mystery that really drives the story.  Were the characters just a tad more developed and a tinge more likable, the book could possibly appeal to some older readers.  As it stands now, it is probably most appropriate for middle grades readers.

The thing I loved best was the setting.  Having visited Ocracoke Island just last summer, I felt like the book did a good job setting the scene from a factual standpoint, while still allowing for fictionalization of certain key locations in the story.  There was a lot of great historical research behind the book, and the fact and fiction blend seamlessly. 

I thought this was a solid book, a little room for improvement, but widely appealing to young readers.

I received a review copy courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.



If you liked this review, please rate it (and others!) as helpful on my Amazon profile. My Amazon Profile