The Black Dragon (Mysterium)

Danny Woo was a gweilo, as Kwan later told him. As a "pale ghost,” a “foreigner,” he didn't quite fit into his native Britain and certainly not his mother’s home turf, Hong Kong. Danny and parents, Harry White and Lily Woo were part of the Mysterium, a “radical traveling circus.” It was there Danny belonged, where the most unusual was usual and the magic of the circus commonplace. It was all in the past now after the fire more than a year ago. Danny suddenly found himself an orphan living in Ballstone, an anything-but-magical school. His mind often drifted back to the Mysterium, particularly his father’s failed Water Torture Escape.It had almost been curtains for Harry White when he somehow misjudged the amount of time it had taken to undo all those locks. Major Zamora, an achondrplastic dwarf, was the strongman who had to rescue Harry from that water chamber. There were so many questions, so many memories, but a fire had destroyed so many of them. Aunt Laura was coming to rescue him from the drudgery of Ballstone and take him half way around the world to Hong Kong. Laura White was an investigative journalist who had a story to unearth, something about “organized criminal gangs.”Danny thought about taking his Escape Book of coded secrets, but it was best to leave that behind. A deck of cards would have to do. Once again Danny Woo would be back in a place of intrigue, a place of mystery, a Mysterium in the orient. Would Aunt Laura be able to find out what the Black Dragon was all about? Perhaps Danny could even assist in the search for this elusive group. It wasn't long before mysterious things began to creep into the picture and an unusual “"white-suited man” began pursuing them. At least it looked that way to Danny, but what did he know?There had been an explosion at Ballstone so perhaps Danny’s imagination was running wild. The fire that took the lives of the twelve-year-old’s parents was fresh on his mind and there were lots of questions without answers. The Pearl Hotel on Hong Kong would be their home base while Aunt Laura ferreted out the Black Dragon — if there even was such a thing. In front of their room was a strange series of dots. “"It was a square made of dots,” Danny explained to Major Zamora, “Seven by seven I think.” Oddly enough, it was something he'd seen before.This would be a fun adventure, much more interesting than simply existing is some boring old boarding school. Danny couldn't seem, however, to shake the vision of his father “desperately struggling in the water torture cell.” While Aunt Laura recorded her findings in a red notebook, Danny continued to try to make sense of what happened at the Mysterium. There would be even more intrigue on the horizon when Aunt Laura was kidnapped! Could there really be any such thing as the Black Dragon? Could a young, inexperienced gweilo figure out the meaning of those forty-nine dots and save his aunt or would he be next in line?This is the first in what I hope turns into an ongoing series. It it a Junior Literary Guild Selection, an honor that is a well-deserved one. The writing brought me back into the pages of the book time and time again, enthralling me with the mysteries of the Mysterium and the Black Dragon. Danny is a young sleuth, but a totally believable one. His sidekick, Major Zamora, was a perfect choice as a co-sleuth. The action was hot and became sizzling as the mystery deepened. I was able to totally suspend disbelief quickly as I immersed myself into the mysterious world of the Black Dragon. My imagination went wild as I traveled with Danny and Major Zamora through the streets of Kowloon and Hong Kong.There were subtle hints that were dropped, ones that helped me as a reader nudge Danny along in his search. This was no simple, cut and dried mystery, but, as I mentioned, one of intrigue, one of high action, and excitement. It was so well-written I was able to put it down and return to the pages without missing anything, fully recharged and ready to continue the search for the Black Dragon. It's not so complex that it would leave the reluctant reader behind, but rather one that would encourage and invite them into this fabulous mystery. Danny Woo is one young sleuth I'll be anxious to meet up with again somewhere in the land of mystery and intrigue!This book courtesy of the publisher.

I'm reading this with my children - 10 and 9 - and we are all gripped! They love the suspense and the thrill of the chase and I'm enjoying the descriptions of the unusual characters and Hong Kong. They are now desperate to learn more about magic and to visit a circus. And to read the next book...Highly recommended for both boys and girls of 9 upwards.

An unusual, stylish and pacy thriller, with a fantastic central character and strong supporting cast - Danny Woo deserves his own movie! Highly recommend for girls and boys.

My Don loved this book, he would recommend it to others

This book is so engaging and if I get a chance I would love to read the second book! The characters are quite unexpected in a good way so it makes the mystery more exciting! Whoever is reading this I hope you are enjoying or enjoyed or even I hope you enjoy it! P.S. I'm only 11 so I hope you think my review is helpful!

There is a perfect balance of adventure and psychology in this book. We are engaged viscerally and emotionally throughout. The characters and sense of place (Hong Kong) are vividly conjured and satisfyingly developed. Loved it