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London Eye Mystery #1
The London Eye Mystery
Monday, 24 May, 11.32 a.m. Ted and Kat watch their cousin Salim get on board the London Eye. He turns and waves and the pod rises from the ground.
Monday, 24 May, 12.02 p.m. The pod lands and the doors open. People exit in all shapes and sizes – but where is Salim?
Ted and his older sister Kat become sleuthing partners since the police are having no luck. Despite their prickly relationship, they overcome their differences to follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find their cousin. And ultimately it comes down to Ted, whose brain runs on its own unique operating system, to find the key to the mystery.
In Spring 2009. the Unicorn Theatre adapted The London Eye Mystery for the stage. The story was adapted by Unicorn Artistic Associate Carl Miller, directed by Rosamunde Hutt and performed by the Unicorn ensemble and received a host of rave reviews.
Monday, 24 May, 12.02 p.m. The pod lands and the doors open. People exit in all shapes and sizes – but where is Salim?
Ted and his older sister Kat become sleuthing partners since the police are having no luck. Despite their prickly relationship, they overcome their differences to follow a trail of clues across London in a desperate bid to find their cousin. And ultimately it comes down to Ted, whose brain runs on its own unique operating system, to find the key to the mystery.
In Spring 2009. the Unicorn Theatre adapted The London Eye Mystery for the stage. The story was adapted by Unicorn Artistic Associate Carl Miller, directed by Rosamunde Hutt and performed by the Unicorn ensemble and received a host of rave reviews.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published June 7, 2007
About the author
Siobhan Dowd
21 books377 followersSiobhan Dowd was born to Irish parents and brought up in London. She spent much of her youth visiting the family cottage in Aglish, County Waterford and later the family home in Wicklow Town.
She attended a Catholic grammar school in south London and then gained a degree in Classics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. After a short stint in publishing, she joined the writer's organization PEN, initially as a researcher for its Writers in Prison Committee.
She went on to be Program Director of PEN American Center's Freedom-to-Write Committee in New York City. Her work here included founding and leading the Rushdie Defense Committee USA and traveling to Indonesia and Guatemala to investigate local human rights conditions for writers. During her seven-year spell in New York, Siobhan was named one of the "top 100 Irish-Americans" by Irish-America Magazine and AerLingus, for her global anti-censorship work.
On her return to the UK, Siobhan co-founded English PEN's readers and writers programme, which takes authors into schools in socially deprived areas, as well as prisons, young offender's institutions and community projects.
During 2004, Siobhan served as Deputy Commissioner for Children's Rights in Oxfordshire, working with local government to ensure that statutory services affecting children's lives conform with UN protocols.
Siobhan has an MA with Distinction in Gender and Ethnic Studies at Greenwich University, has authored short stories, columns and articles, and edited two anthologies.
In May 2007, Siobhan was named one of "25 authors of the future" by Waterstones Books as part of the latter's 25th anniversary celebrations.
Siobhan died on 21st August 2007 aged 47. She had been receiving treatment for advanced breast cancer for 3 years, and did not go gentle into that good night.
She attended a Catholic grammar school in south London and then gained a degree in Classics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. After a short stint in publishing, she joined the writer's organization PEN, initially as a researcher for its Writers in Prison Committee.
She went on to be Program Director of PEN American Center's Freedom-to-Write Committee in New York City. Her work here included founding and leading the Rushdie Defense Committee USA and traveling to Indonesia and Guatemala to investigate local human rights conditions for writers. During her seven-year spell in New York, Siobhan was named one of the "top 100 Irish-Americans" by Irish-America Magazine and AerLingus, for her global anti-censorship work.
On her return to the UK, Siobhan co-founded English PEN's readers and writers programme, which takes authors into schools in socially deprived areas, as well as prisons, young offender's institutions and community projects.
During 2004, Siobhan served as Deputy Commissioner for Children's Rights in Oxfordshire, working with local government to ensure that statutory services affecting children's lives conform with UN protocols.
Siobhan has an MA with Distinction in Gender and Ethnic Studies at Greenwich University, has authored short stories, columns and articles, and edited two anthologies.
In May 2007, Siobhan was named one of "25 authors of the future" by Waterstones Books as part of the latter's 25th anniversary celebrations.
Siobhan died on 21st August 2007 aged 47. She had been receiving treatment for advanced breast cancer for 3 years, and did not go gentle into that good night.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,692 reviews
March 7, 2008
This is just an indescribably fabulous novel. Ted has a different brain from other people - he says he runs on a different operating system. When a cousin comes to visit and then disappears, it's up to Ted and his sister Kat to solve the mystery since none of the adults will listen to their clues. Using the art of deduction and his unusal way of looking at the world, Ted discovers clues to the whereabouts of his cousin that no one else observed.
What I love about this novel is the very frank way Dowd describes Ted's autism and how he gets along without being able to understand the "language" of emotions and body signals. His compassionate teacher has taught him little tricks about facial expression to try to read people. I found Ted's "operating system" fascinating.
The tragedy here is that Dowd died of cancer last fall. This is only her second published novel and it is just so fantastic. It's so sad to see such a great talent snuffed out early.
What I love about this novel is the very frank way Dowd describes Ted's autism and how he gets along without being able to understand the "language" of emotions and body signals. His compassionate teacher has taught him little tricks about facial expression to try to read people. I found Ted's "operating system" fascinating.
The tragedy here is that Dowd died of cancer last fall. This is only her second published novel and it is just so fantastic. It's so sad to see such a great talent snuffed out early.
September 17, 2017
This title came to my attention through Robin Stevens. I love her series of Murder Most Unladylike and I received a notification that she had written a completely new book, sequel to this one.
The London Eye Mystery was written by the late Siobhan Dowd, author of Bog Child and A Monster Calls (through Ness), and features a 12-year old boy with Asperger's trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of his cousin Alim at the London Eye. Children crime stories have bursted on the scene these last few years, which I am all for, but it seems Siobhan was one of the first. The mystery is well crafted, in a realistic way, and the author does give you all the clues to get to the solution.
As much as I enjoyed this aspect, what I really liked was the relationships between all the characters. Siobhan shows us the dynamics of this family, from Ted and his own way of perceiving the world around him, to his older sister, storming her way around events, and the working parents. All felt very real, and although this is seen from Ted's eyes, you still can understand each person's point of view. We get the vagaries of siblings relationships (Ted and Kat, but also their mother and aunt), divorced families, the difficulties of being outside what society considers the norm, whether being of mixed race (Alim and his friend) or having a totally different perception (Ted) - all in a very candid fashion.
On my personal enjoyment scale, I would give this novel 3.5 but I pushed it to 4 for what the author achieved here.
The London Eye Mystery was written by the late Siobhan Dowd, author of Bog Child and A Monster Calls (through Ness), and features a 12-year old boy with Asperger's trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of his cousin Alim at the London Eye. Children crime stories have bursted on the scene these last few years, which I am all for, but it seems Siobhan was one of the first. The mystery is well crafted, in a realistic way, and the author does give you all the clues to get to the solution.
As much as I enjoyed this aspect, what I really liked was the relationships between all the characters. Siobhan shows us the dynamics of this family, from Ted and his own way of perceiving the world around him, to his older sister, storming her way around events, and the working parents. All felt very real, and although this is seen from Ted's eyes, you still can understand each person's point of view. We get the vagaries of siblings relationships (Ted and Kat, but also their mother and aunt), divorced families, the difficulties of being outside what society considers the norm, whether being of mixed race (Alim and his friend) or having a totally different perception (Ted) - all in a very candid fashion.
On my personal enjoyment scale, I would give this novel 3.5 but I pushed it to 4 for what the author achieved here.
March 12, 2010
This YA "mystery" is told from the point of view of a kid with Aspergers, which means the writing is really affected. This worked for me in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time because i believed, more or less, in the character. Here, it just seems like a plot device.
After about 50 pages of dull set-up (kid's cousin boards the London Eye, never gets off, where did he go?) I got impatient and skipped to the end, skimming the last 50 or so pages for the resolution of what seemed a potentially intriguing locked room mystery. What actually happened was a let down, even considering the fact that I hadn't read the intervening 250 pages. And considering all the answers were given in, oh, the last 15 pages, I can't imagine having waded through all the tedious red herrings in-between.
Book recommendation fail. That's what I get for reading book blogs at work.
After about 50 pages of dull set-up (kid's cousin boards the London Eye, never gets off, where did he go?) I got impatient and skipped to the end, skimming the last 50 or so pages for the resolution of what seemed a potentially intriguing locked room mystery. What actually happened was a let down, even considering the fact that I hadn't read the intervening 250 pages. And considering all the answers were given in, oh, the last 15 pages, I can't imagine having waded through all the tedious red herrings in-between.
Book recommendation fail. That's what I get for reading book blogs at work.
June 4, 2021
Um... it's the fact that this was plotted better than most adult mysteries for me.
Fantastic.
Fantastic.
March 29, 2015
A warm-hearted and very clever mystery story like no other, with a charming and strong hero. I loved this!
October 29, 2021
The mystery isn't the thing; it is the description of a young man on the autism/Asperger's spectrum's inner thought processes that are fascinating. Ted thinks through the problem, discounts no theory - even spontaneous combustion - and notices all the details before the police detectives do, as they each try to solve the mystery of his cousin Salim's disappearance from inside one of the closed pods of the London Eye. A YA twist on the Locked Room mystery. Middle Grades and Up.
December 6, 2023
Enjoyable kids’ mystery that was a good palate-cleanser for me. Young Ted is yet another autistic main character with a singular obsession, in his case the weather. He and his older sister Kat don’t always get along, but they team up when their cousin Salim goes missing, seemingly having vanished during a ride on the London Eye. Fast-paced and well-constructed. There was one reference by Kat to concerns Salim may have been kidnapped for “sex stuff” that seemed not to align with the target age-range for the book, and an out-of-date reference to “transvestites” that underscored how things have shifted since 2007 when this was published. But the detectiving was grand.
February 18, 2017
Just having my lunch yesterday decided to have a rummage in the new book draw at work. When we were processing this book it caught my eye, I love the cover and the synopsis of the book sounded really interesting. Well 50 pages later thought I'd better get some work done. Ted and his sister Kat decide to take their cousin Salim on the London Eye before he flies to New York with his mum. Whilst in the queue a man comes up to them and offers them his ticket, saying he's chickened out at the last minute as he doesn't like heights. Ted and Kat let Salim have the ticket as they've already been on the eye. They wave to Salim as he boards and then wait for him. But as his pod returns he doesn't get off, so where is he. He mum spends a few agonising days while the police search for him. But the police are not The only ones investigating Salim's disappearance, so are his cousins Ted and Kat. I love the character of Ted, he has Aspergers high on the spectrum, his brain runs on its own unique operating system, he also has a thing about the weather and wants to work for the Met Office and listens to the weather forecast on the radio every night......' Fitzroy, mainly northerly, four or five, becoming variable, thundery showers....'. This really took me back in time when I was young and the radio was on at home and the shipping forecast would come on at the end of the news at certain times of the day. A lovely story, easy read, fast paced which certainly keeps your attention.
September 30, 2008
Is it just me, or does this read like a slightly warmed-over *Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime*. The disappearance of a kid from a closed capsule on the London Eye is an intriguing mystery, but the only possible solutions pretty quickly close down to two, and the solving of the mystery seemed slightly anticlimactic. The novel also violates a principle that would have adult mystery fans howling - the key clue to the mystery is not available to the reader.
Most crucially, though, is the presentation of what appears to be Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism. Much is made in the first few pages of the protagonist's inability to understand metaphorical language - but then he consistently deploys his own metaphors throughout the story, while occasionally relapsing to express confusion at "normal" people's use of figurative language. You can't have it both ways - if he is too literal minded to understand metaphors, he is too literal minded to create original metaphors; if he cannot understand the way that other people think, he cannot imaginatively put himself into other's places. And yet, he does.
It's still a good read, but it would be superior with a little more consistency in depicting the kid's character.
Most crucially, though, is the presentation of what appears to be Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism. Much is made in the first few pages of the protagonist's inability to understand metaphorical language - but then he consistently deploys his own metaphors throughout the story, while occasionally relapsing to express confusion at "normal" people's use of figurative language. You can't have it both ways - if he is too literal minded to understand metaphors, he is too literal minded to create original metaphors; if he cannot understand the way that other people think, he cannot imaginatively put himself into other's places. And yet, he does.
It's still a good read, but it would be superior with a little more consistency in depicting the kid's character.
September 23, 2008
What goes up must come down – unless you’re Ted Sparks’ cousin Salim.
Aunt Gloria and her teenage son Salim are preparing to move from Manchester, England to New York City. Before they leave for the United States, Gloria wants to visit her sister and her family in London. Salim has never been to London so his cousins Ted and Katrina are eager to show him the sights.
They decide to visit one of Ted’s favorite places, the London Eye. The London Eye, also called the Millennium Wheel, is the tallest ferris wheel in Europe. When they arrive at the Eye, there’s a long line for tickets. After a stranger approaches Ted, Kat and Salim to offer his ticket, the kids decide that Salim should take it and "fly the Eye" on his own. Ted and Kat track Salim's capsule during its half hour ride, but when the capsule comes down and people file out, Salim is nowhere in sight. Was he kidnapped? Did he run away? Did he spontaneously combust (one of Ted's eight theories)?
After their parents contact the police, Ted and Kat decide to launch their investigation into their cousin’s disappearance. Ted has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism. Since his brain works on a “different operating system”, Kat and Ted think they may have an advantage over the police investigators. Can Ted’s unique perspective help them find Salim before it’s too late?
I found The London Eye Mystery to be an interesting, fast read. It is not without some flaws, however. Ted and Kat withhold vital evidence from their parents and the police (such as Salim’s camera and information about the stranger who gave Salim his ticket). I never got past my disbelief that they would withhold so much evidence when their cousin was in a dangerous situation.
Some of the British slang used throughout the book may be challenging for young American readers. I had no trouble with it, but a glossary like the one included in Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicholson series would have been a nice touch for the American edition.
The London Eye Mystery really shines, though, in the character of Ted Sparks. Ted is a fascinating, sympathetic character. His Asperger’s Syndrome was well-portrayed and consistent with what I know of Asperger’s. Dowd did an effective job of showing how Ted deals with his social challenges. Dowd also showcased the positive aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome: Ted is extremely intelligent, honest and free of prejudice. It's obvious that a lot of research was put into his character. The London Eye Mystery was worth reading for Ted’s characterization alone.
Aunt Gloria and her teenage son Salim are preparing to move from Manchester, England to New York City. Before they leave for the United States, Gloria wants to visit her sister and her family in London. Salim has never been to London so his cousins Ted and Katrina are eager to show him the sights.
They decide to visit one of Ted’s favorite places, the London Eye. The London Eye, also called the Millennium Wheel, is the tallest ferris wheel in Europe. When they arrive at the Eye, there’s a long line for tickets. After a stranger approaches Ted, Kat and Salim to offer his ticket, the kids decide that Salim should take it and "fly the Eye" on his own. Ted and Kat track Salim's capsule during its half hour ride, but when the capsule comes down and people file out, Salim is nowhere in sight. Was he kidnapped? Did he run away? Did he spontaneously combust (one of Ted's eight theories)?
After their parents contact the police, Ted and Kat decide to launch their investigation into their cousin’s disappearance. Ted has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism. Since his brain works on a “different operating system”, Kat and Ted think they may have an advantage over the police investigators. Can Ted’s unique perspective help them find Salim before it’s too late?
I found The London Eye Mystery to be an interesting, fast read. It is not without some flaws, however. Ted and Kat withhold vital evidence from their parents and the police (such as Salim’s camera and information about the stranger who gave Salim his ticket). I never got past my disbelief that they would withhold so much evidence when their cousin was in a dangerous situation.
Some of the British slang used throughout the book may be challenging for young American readers. I had no trouble with it, but a glossary like the one included in Louise Rennison’s Georgia Nicholson series would have been a nice touch for the American edition.
The London Eye Mystery really shines, though, in the character of Ted Sparks. Ted is a fascinating, sympathetic character. His Asperger’s Syndrome was well-portrayed and consistent with what I know of Asperger’s. Dowd did an effective job of showing how Ted deals with his social challenges. Dowd also showcased the positive aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome: Ted is extremely intelligent, honest and free of prejudice. It's obvious that a lot of research was put into his character. The London Eye Mystery was worth reading for Ted’s characterization alone.
February 7, 2017
Prima lectură pe anul 2017 (am vrut să fie un alt roman de Stephen King, dar Capcana pentru vise pare interminabil) aduce în centrul atenției un băiețel cu un creier formidabil și un mister ce pare imposibil de explicat: dispariția unui băiat dintr-una din capsulele lui London Eye, gigantica roată de pe malul Tamisei. Bine scrisă, cu un ritm alert și cu un personaj foarte simpatic, este o lectură ușoară, dar plină de învățăminte. Recenzia, pe Bookblog: http://www.bookblog.ro/recenzie/extra....
October 30, 2009
This book was great! One of the best MG mysteries I've read, with dimensional characters and no annoying loose ends. Really impressed and was incredibly sad when I looked up the author and realized she was deceased.
August 8, 2017
For the benefit of Americans: the London Eye isn’t an eye at all, but a Ferris wheel so enormous that riders can see 25 miles in all directions.
Londoners Ted and Kat Spark take their visiting 13-year-old cousin Salim to ride the London Eye; it is Salim who takes a free ticket to ride the attraction, but he never exits the London Eye when the ride is done!
Twelve-year-old Ted struggles with some of the more common effects of autism: He has an obsession (weather); when upset, he flaps his hands and goes “Hrumm”; he struggles with slang and idioms, which he takes literally; he has trouble with hugs, making eye contact and determining facial expressions; he paces when thinking or stressed. (My daughters with autism didn’t grunt or flap their hands, but they were beset with the other issues.) But Ted has an advantage over his older sister Kat, his parents, his Aunt Gloria (Salim’s mother) and even the police. As he says at the book’s beginning, “This is how having a funny brain that runs on a different operating system from other people’s helped me to figure out what had happened.”
Siobhan Dowd’s suspenseful middle-grade mystery will enthrall both its target audience and their parents; I couldn’t stop reading this riveting mystery! Fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time are in for a treat with another novel of a young man with autism and a drive to solve a mystery. Highly recommended.
Londoners Ted and Kat Spark take their visiting 13-year-old cousin Salim to ride the London Eye; it is Salim who takes a free ticket to ride the attraction, but he never exits the London Eye when the ride is done!
Twelve-year-old Ted struggles with some of the more common effects of autism: He has an obsession (weather); when upset, he flaps his hands and goes “Hrumm”; he struggles with slang and idioms, which he takes literally; he has trouble with hugs, making eye contact and determining facial expressions; he paces when thinking or stressed. (My daughters with autism didn’t grunt or flap their hands, but they were beset with the other issues.) But Ted has an advantage over his older sister Kat, his parents, his Aunt Gloria (Salim’s mother) and even the police. As he says at the book’s beginning, “This is how having a funny brain that runs on a different operating system from other people’s helped me to figure out what had happened.”
Siobhan Dowd’s suspenseful middle-grade mystery will enthrall both its target audience and their parents; I couldn’t stop reading this riveting mystery! Fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time are in for a treat with another novel of a young man with autism and a drive to solve a mystery. Highly recommended.
October 10, 2014
I read this with a zany ten year old from Mars. He bloody loved it, and so did I.
What he loved was that there is an actual story. He also spotted the differences in the kids and was very indignant on their behalf. Particularly for the kid who made me cry. You know the one !
What I loved was the humour, kindness and compassion.
This is a clever and lovely book which demands discussion and chocolate. In our case it lead to a,midnight feast.
A quote from the brilliant ten year old who I am lucky to share a,planet with : " There's enough room for everyone in this world. You don't have to be rich or funny, but if you can be kind to people who collect light bulbs, then you've earned your place on Earth"
Gulp.
But it and read it !! I would say suitable for kids 8-150
What he loved was that there is an actual story. He also spotted the differences in the kids and was very indignant on their behalf. Particularly for the kid who made me cry. You know the one !
What I loved was the humour, kindness and compassion.
This is a clever and lovely book which demands discussion and chocolate. In our case it lead to a,midnight feast.
A quote from the brilliant ten year old who I am lucky to share a,planet with : " There's enough room for everyone in this world. You don't have to be rich or funny, but if you can be kind to people who collect light bulbs, then you've earned your place on Earth"
Gulp.
But it and read it !! I would say suitable for kids 8-150
June 9, 2023
It’s a mystery with no one dies, and I liked it.
January 1, 2014
I’ve seen this book on the bookshop shelves many times, and never bought it because of the overly blatant ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ title and the somewhat garish cover. But I finally noticed that it was by Siobhan Dowd, and belatedly bought it for my 11 year old, who stayed up very late one night to finish it (it’s the Christmas holidays, so that was fine) because, as she said, it’s about a boy who goes missing, and she REALLY needed find out if he was ok…
So, on her recommendation, I’ve just read it too. And it is a very good mystery! (A mystery set around the London Eye, so it does do exactly what it says on the cover…)
Salim gets on the London Eye, watched by his two cousins Ted and Kat, and they never see him get off again. While the adults around them (parents, aunts, uncles, police) do all the usual things (ask friends and neighbours, put appeals on the TV) Ted and Kat try to think through all the possibilities logically. And as Ted’s brain works on a differently operating system from everyone else’s – his own words - (it’s never spelled out, but there are hints of autism) he is very persistent and logical. He is prepared to examine all potential theories (even spontaneous combustion and timewarps – though he dismisses those two quite early on) and he might just manage to solve the mystery before it’s too late…
The story is beautifully straightforward – a problem, potential solutions, chasing down leads and eliminating possibilities – which leaves plenty of time to enjoy spending time with weather-obsessed Ted. He wants to be a meteorologist, and while he has a problem with most metaphors and figures of speech, he does love language and phrases based on weather.
It’s a simple story, but with real depth (especially when a body matching Salim’s description is found near the Thames) and great characters. I really should know better than to be put off by covers and titles…
So, on her recommendation, I’ve just read it too. And it is a very good mystery! (A mystery set around the London Eye, so it does do exactly what it says on the cover…)
Salim gets on the London Eye, watched by his two cousins Ted and Kat, and they never see him get off again. While the adults around them (parents, aunts, uncles, police) do all the usual things (ask friends and neighbours, put appeals on the TV) Ted and Kat try to think through all the possibilities logically. And as Ted’s brain works on a differently operating system from everyone else’s – his own words - (it’s never spelled out, but there are hints of autism) he is very persistent and logical. He is prepared to examine all potential theories (even spontaneous combustion and timewarps – though he dismisses those two quite early on) and he might just manage to solve the mystery before it’s too late…
The story is beautifully straightforward – a problem, potential solutions, chasing down leads and eliminating possibilities – which leaves plenty of time to enjoy spending time with weather-obsessed Ted. He wants to be a meteorologist, and while he has a problem with most metaphors and figures of speech, he does love language and phrases based on weather.
It’s a simple story, but with real depth (especially when a body matching Salim’s description is found near the Thames) and great characters. I really should know better than to be put off by covers and titles…
July 22, 2017
It took me a few pages to get into the narrative style of this book, which seemed at first artificially stilted and precise. Then I realized -- duh! -- that this was because our narrator, twelve-year-old Londoner Ted, has Asperger's syndrome. Pretty soon thereafter I got into the swing of Ted's way of telling the story and, though just once in a while I resented the painful literalness of some of his interpretations, in general I reveled in the novel's language.
Ted's cousin Salim has come to stay for a couple of days en route to Salim's mother's new job in New York, so Ted and his older sister Kat decide to take Salim for a trip on the London Eye. (Think of the largest and slowest ferris wheel you can imagine.) For various reasons, Salim boards the Eye ahead of the rest of the party and, when his compartment finally returns to the ground, he has vanished.
Which is of course impossible.
Well, Ted doesn't believe it is. In fact, he draws up a list of eight theories -- later expanded to nine -- that might explain Salim's disappearance. That spontaneous combustion is one of them and a time warp another doesn't seem incongruous to Ted: his brain functions a bit differently to the way other people's do, after all.
Between them Ted and Kat -- essentially, Ted as the theoretician and Kat as the effector -- solve the "impossible" mystery of Salim's disappearance and, as a separate problem, track the boy down.
Although written for and starring children, this is actually a pretty satisfying mystery novel that any fan of traditional detective fiction should enjoy, whatever their age. Certainly I did -- I romped through it pretty quickly, eager to find out what happened next and thoroughly enjoying the company of Kat and Ted.
The page count is a bit misleading, by the way. The pages are quite small and the font reasonably generous, so really this is more like a 176-page book than a 320-page one.
Ted's cousin Salim has come to stay for a couple of days en route to Salim's mother's new job in New York, so Ted and his older sister Kat decide to take Salim for a trip on the London Eye. (Think of the largest and slowest ferris wheel you can imagine.) For various reasons, Salim boards the Eye ahead of the rest of the party and, when his compartment finally returns to the ground, he has vanished.
Which is of course impossible.
Well, Ted doesn't believe it is. In fact, he draws up a list of eight theories -- later expanded to nine -- that might explain Salim's disappearance. That spontaneous combustion is one of them and a time warp another doesn't seem incongruous to Ted: his brain functions a bit differently to the way other people's do, after all.
Between them Ted and Kat -- essentially, Ted as the theoretician and Kat as the effector -- solve the "impossible" mystery of Salim's disappearance and, as a separate problem, track the boy down.
Although written for and starring children, this is actually a pretty satisfying mystery novel that any fan of traditional detective fiction should enjoy, whatever their age. Certainly I did -- I romped through it pretty quickly, eager to find out what happened next and thoroughly enjoying the company of Kat and Ted.
The page count is a bit misleading, by the way. The pages are quite small and the font reasonably generous, so really this is more like a 176-page book than a 320-page one.
May 15, 2008
I am not a big fan of books that try to get into the minds of people who don't think in the "normal" way (whatever that is) because I feel that the author might not get it right and give a false representation of that unusual way of thinking, or else give others the sense that their depiction is the way it is for everyone who thinks differently in that manner (I don't think I am being very articulate). And this book makes me uncomfortable along those lines. Also, the cataloger places it under thd Asperger's syndrome but Ted's "different" way of thinking is never categorized in the book. There is a real flatness to the story that may be the author's attempt to reflect how Ted thinks, since he is the narrator, but that kept the story from coming alive for me and my students have not responded positively to it, their comments, "it's okay" which I agree with. That said, the strength of this book is in portraying a character who thinks differently and is trying to learn to fit in (the social cues his parents and others have given him which he tries to absorb are one example) and he comes off as very competent and compassionate and just a good kid that you like and hope things will go well for....
April 27, 2023
Ted and Kat are a very cool detective duo.
January 8, 2020
A kid goes up in the London Eye by himself. When the pod comes back down, he has disappeared.
His cousins try to find him.
Didn't really hold together for me.
His cousins try to find him.
Didn't really hold together for me.
August 19, 2016
“Salim tidak ada di sini,” kataku.
Lalu aku bilang, “Salim menghilang.” (h. 50)
Kehidupan keluarga Spark mulai berantakan ketika tante mereka, Gloria, dan anaknya, Salim, datang berkunjung setelah lima tahun tidak bertemu. Ibu dan anak itu berkunjung ke London sebelum pindah dari Manchester ke New York.
Di hari pertama kedatangan mereka, semua masih baik-baik saja. Anak-anak Spark, Ted dan Kat, mulai akrab dengan sepupu mereka yang telah lama tidak berjumpa itu. Sayangnya, pada hari kedua, ketika mereka berjalan-jalan untuk menikmati pemandangan di London Eye, Salim menghilang. Salim masuk ke dalam salah satu kapsul, tetapi Salim tidak pernah keluar.
Hari berganti, polisi sudah dihubungi, berita hilang disebar. Namun, tidak ada petunjuk keberadaan Salim. Di mana Salim?
Sebelum membaca novel ini, saya tidak pernah tahu bahwa kasus anak hilang bisa membuat semua orang—bahkan pembaca—merasa cemas, waswas, khawatir, dan merana. Ini bukan kali pertama saya membaca cerita dengan tokoh yang hilang, tetapi (sepertinya) ini kali pertama saya membaca cerita anak hilang dari sisi si-bukan-yang-hilang. Misalnya saja Narnia atau Alice in Wonderland deh, ceritanya bisa dibilang soal anak hilang, tetapi tidak ada ketegangan yang tercipta karena tokoh utama kita hilang. Yang ada justru petualangan.
Inilah yang membuat The London Eye Mystery terasa tegangs sekaligus membuat saya merana dan frustrasi.
Bab 39, Hujan Malam, itu membuat air mata saya berderai. Serius. Saya nangis. Saya baca ulang bagian akhirnya saja pun, saya nangis lagi. Padahal saya sudah tahu, tapi air mata saya tetap mengalir. Huhuhu, Ted, Kat, Salim... *peluk-peluk*
The London Eye Mystery ini bisa saja disebut novel anak-anak, tetapi, saya yakin orang dewasa pun akan bisa menikmatinya. Terlebih mereka-mereka yang mencintai cerita misteri. Cobalah datang ke kepala Ted dan rasakan ketegangan di rumah keluarga Spark.
Review lengkap sila baca di sini.
April 3, 2017
I just finished reading this with a Year 6 class, and they loved it. The story follows 12-year-old Ted and his 14-year-old sister (Kat) as they try to find out what happened to their cousin (Salim) who mysteriously went missing when the three of them went on a trip to The London Eye. Ted, the narrator of the story, is on the autistic spectrum, and has what he describes as a 'different operating system' from other people. He is obsessed by weather systems and is very literal, often misunderstanding idioms and jokes, and he finds it very difficult to lie. He is a brilliant narrator, and it was great to be able to discuss autism with the children when led by such a safe pair of hands. In fact, there were a lot of difficult subjects to discuss along the way, including gender and racism, prompting conversations we wouldn't have had if we hadn't read the book.
The story itself was engaging and exciting, although I felt the last third of the book was a bit of an anti-climax. It all felt a bit rushed and convenient to me, which was a shame because it had been so full of nuance and suspense before this. That said, the kids really enjoyed it, and since they're its target audience, I'd say it was an overall success.
The story itself was engaging and exciting, although I felt the last third of the book was a bit of an anti-climax. It all felt a bit rushed and convenient to me, which was a shame because it had been so full of nuance and suspense before this. That said, the kids really enjoyed it, and since they're its target audience, I'd say it was an overall success.
July 4, 2018
When Ted and Kat's teenage cousin disappears whilst being on the London Eye, his extended family are left picking up the pieces and wondering what could have happened. Rather than doing nothing and fretting like the adults, Ted, our narrator and a young boy on the autistic spectrum, along with his rebellious and single-minded sister, decide to solve the case themselves.
Dowd wrote so well and this fast-paced and gripping story is no exception. Not only does she pitch the writing perfectly for her intended audience but she also, effortlessly, masters the genre. Both Ted and his cousin, Salim, are social misfits within the circles that they play in - the latter for his condition as the former for his racial/cultural heritage is, in the private boys' school, referred to as 'Paki-boy Number 1' until he manages to win over his peers. These moments, alongside Kat's own desire to break rules associated with 'girly' behaviour are what Dowd's books so smart. She leaves the issues there, implicitly, in the hope that they encourage some reflection or discussion whilst still retaining a gripping and exciting narrative.
Dowd wrote so well and this fast-paced and gripping story is no exception. Not only does she pitch the writing perfectly for her intended audience but she also, effortlessly, masters the genre. Both Ted and his cousin, Salim, are social misfits within the circles that they play in - the latter for his condition as the former for his racial/cultural heritage is, in the private boys' school, referred to as 'Paki-boy Number 1' until he manages to win over his peers. These moments, alongside Kat's own desire to break rules associated with 'girly' behaviour are what Dowd's books so smart. She leaves the issues there, implicitly, in the hope that they encourage some reflection or discussion whilst still retaining a gripping and exciting narrative.
September 26, 2012
The story is based in London and an extended family, the story extends to include things which may happen in life and helps to make this story interesting. It looks at many categories such as culture, broken families and special needs and this gave many focussed talking points. It is an informative book but also a great read even for adults. It was also used as a Yr 6 topic of work and the children seemed to love it.
July 18, 2013
We listened to the audio edition, and my almost 10 year-old son and I were absolutely riveted by the story. The narration, by Paul Chequer is excellent, so much so, that when we returned from our road trip with only a fraction of our audio book listened to (as usual), rather than finishing the book more quickly in paperback, we kept listening to it in the car, whenever possible. I found myself wanting to make excuses to go out driving and get stuck in traffic.
February 28, 2013
This truly was an amazing book. The way all of the pieces in the book came together in the end is a sign of an incredible author. I loved the way Salim said "neek" didn't stand for nerd and geek, but was an abbreviation of "unique". That statement is truly true. I wish I had the brains like Ted!... But I'm fine with the one I have right now.
April 29, 2008
A reasonably good mystery for younger readers, but I found the characterisation of the Asperger's protagonist/narrator inconsistent and not always believable.
May 10, 2018
Misterul de la London Eye e un roman simpatic, relaxant, în parte și pentru că rolul de narator îi revine lui Ted, un băiețel cu probleme, pe care nimeni nu-l prețuiește așa cum ar trebui, dar care te cucerește cu inteligența și inocența lui. Mie îmi plac foarte mult poveștile narate de copii, îmi intră în suflet imediat și reușesc să îmi transmită mult prin sinceritatea lor.
Romanul de față nu a fost extraordinar, nu a avut o poveste complexă, însă micuțul Ted are darul de a te prinde în poveste.
E un roman ușor, care se citește în câteva ore și care se vrea a fi plin de mister, dar mie nu mi s-a părut chiar așa. A fost destul de previzibil și nici autoarea nu a încercat să dezvolte prea mult povestea, să includă vreo intrigă interesantă sau să vină cu un final neașteptat. A fost destul de simplu și liniar, cel puțin pentru gustul meu, de devoratoare de thrillere. 😁 Pentru un copil însă, ar fi o lectură interesantă datorită subiectului, dar și educativă datorită mesajelor strecurate subtil. Probabil chiar aceasta e categoria de public pe care o și vizează.
Romanul de față nu a fost extraordinar, nu a avut o poveste complexă, însă micuțul Ted are darul de a te prinde în poveste.
E un roman ușor, care se citește în câteva ore și care se vrea a fi plin de mister, dar mie nu mi s-a părut chiar așa. A fost destul de previzibil și nici autoarea nu a încercat să dezvolte prea mult povestea, să includă vreo intrigă interesantă sau să vină cu un final neașteptat. A fost destul de simplu și liniar, cel puțin pentru gustul meu, de devoratoare de thrillere. 😁 Pentru un copil însă, ar fi o lectură interesantă datorită subiectului, dar și educativă datorită mesajelor strecurate subtil. Probabil chiar aceasta e categoria de public pe care o și vizează.
March 23, 2019
I enjoyed this clever charismatic middle grade novel, which follows Ted and his sister Kat as they investigate the disappearance of their cousin Salim from the London Eye. It’s serious at the same time as being sweet, and is smart about familial relationships. I thought Ted’s first person narration was well done, for the most part, with a nuanced approach to Aspergers. I’d probably recommend this for younger readers, 8-10. Looking forward to reading Robin Stevens’ sequel.
January 30, 2023
4,5 stelle
Un libro molto dolce sul valore di non essere tutti uguali.
Un libro molto dolce sul valore di non essere tutti uguali.
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