Ruby Redfort: Blink and You Die

Ruby Redfort: Blink and You Die by Lauren Child (Harper Collins Children’s Books) HB RRP $19.99  

ISBN 978000734285

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Award-winning English author Lauren Child has written the last book in her thrilling Ruby Redfort series. Blink and You Die is the sixth book in the fascinating world of super sleuth extraordinaire Ruby Redfort.  

Both boys and girls who are into code-cracking puzzles, reading maps and who also love a mystery to solve will find this book a perfect read. Readers enter the fictional world of secret agent Ruby who lives as an ordinary child in an ordinary world… until you look closer and scratch the surface.  All is not what it seems. Readers from 8 to 14 years would enjoy entering a children’s world full of mystery and becoming a secret agent.

The Count is a dark figure who wants Ruby dead. He is always lurking in the background shadows.  You can feel he is there but you can’t see him.

‘And one should always, in the words of Mrs Digby:

Fear the wolf that other wolves fear.’

Ruby knows to trust no one at Spectrum the spy agency, but characters who offer love and support surround her such as Mrs Digby the ever-faithful, rock-solid housekeeper who comes to Ruby’s rescue. Then there is Clancy, her bestie who is not a secret agent, but the most honest and reliable friend a girl could ask for. Hitch is the house butler, but really like a bodyguard to Ruby and a secret agent, too. He says, ‘Jeepers, kid relax a little. Anyone would think you were about to meet with the Grim Reaper.’

Without giving too much away, although there is evil around, Ruby is surrounded by goodness, too.  All is revealed at the Eye Ball.     

The story is set in the 1970’s back in the day before iphones and Internet so it is not as easy to source information.  The skills of note-taking and observation are crucial to solving the mysteries but you need the skill set of a genius master code cracker. ENTER RUBY’S WORLD IF YOU DARE!

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Secret Breakers - Orphan of the Flames

The Orphan of the Flames (Secret Breakers) by H.L. Dennis (Hodder/Hachette)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 9780340999622 
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Orphan of the Flames is the second book in the Secret Breakers series in which a team of code-breakers tries to discover the secret lying behind the ancient Voynich Manuscript. Discovered in 1912 by William Voynich, it was written entirely in a code that has never been deciphered. It was donated to Yale University in 1969 and registered as MS 408.

Team Veritas consists of Brodie, Hunter and Tusia, backed up by several adults, including Mr Bray, Brodie's grandfather. They began their work from Station X at Bletchley Park, the secret code-breaker site of WWII. Level Five of the Ministry of Information (the Black Chamber) wants to prevent anyone breaking the code of MS 408.

Orphan of the Flames opens with Brodie receiving a parcel. Inside is a small dragon statue which turns out to be an incendiary device sent by the Black Chamber to discourage the team from their task. It destroys the house belonging to Brodie's grandfather. Nevertheless, the team carry on, concentrating on a musical box that plays a tune by the composer, Edward Elgar who, significantly, loved codes. Within his music score, The Enigma Variations, Elgar has encoded various people he knew, including his pet dog. He also wrote a coded letter to a girl, Dorabella. The Dorabella Cipher has never been solved.

As the team follow a trail of clues towards breaking the Dorabella Cipher, the storyline weaves around historical incidents such as medieval bookburnings in Florence committed by Savronela, and a mystery boy known as the Orphan of the Flames. On the way the team picks up a new member, Sheldon. They believe solving each complicated mystery code will eventually lead them to the truth about MS 408.

Not being of a mathematical mindset which seems essential to code-breaking, I found this story somewhat of a challenge. There was also a large number of secondary characters which lead me to the conclusion that the series needs to be read from book one to readily appreciate their roles. One asthmatic character was nicknamed Sicknote, and to me quite revolting, but kids may love it.

The strength of the storyline definitely lies with the code-cracking and the author's love of history gives it an educational touch which is deftly incorporated. A plus is the interesting reference at the back of the book describing the authentic historical elements which were the inspiration behind this six-book series.

Orphan of the Flames is sure to appeal to readers who love puzzles and deciphering mystery codes.