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The Dead Kid Detective Agency #3
Loyalist to a Fault
October Schwartz and her five deadest pals are back
When October Schwartz raises her five dead friends to investigate the cause of Cyril Cooper’s death way back in 1783, she expects a dull research-based journey into the lives of Canada’s earliest British settlers, the United Empire Loyalists. You’d think our favourite teen detective would have the hang of this solving-mysteries thing by now, but when a ghost pirate appears on the scene, October may be in over her head.
The ghost pirate — or someone in a very convincing costume — is thieving key evidence at every turn, beating October to the goods time and again. Worst of all, Valentine’s Day is looming, and October’s friends seem more concerned about secret admirers than secret conspiracies. As October digs deeper into the mystery, she starts to suspect the pirate may be someone very close to her, just as she uncovers facts regarding her long-missing mom and the meaning behind a cryptic message from a past case.
The Dead Kid Detective Agency’s third quest is a veritable bouquet of misadventures that weaves the American Revolution, a beyond-chaotic school dance, a historic sea vessel, and a boatload of supernatural shenanigans into one unforgettable madcap adventure.
When October Schwartz raises her five dead friends to investigate the cause of Cyril Cooper’s death way back in 1783, she expects a dull research-based journey into the lives of Canada’s earliest British settlers, the United Empire Loyalists. You’d think our favourite teen detective would have the hang of this solving-mysteries thing by now, but when a ghost pirate appears on the scene, October may be in over her head.
The ghost pirate — or someone in a very convincing costume — is thieving key evidence at every turn, beating October to the goods time and again. Worst of all, Valentine’s Day is looming, and October’s friends seem more concerned about secret admirers than secret conspiracies. As October digs deeper into the mystery, she starts to suspect the pirate may be someone very close to her, just as she uncovers facts regarding her long-missing mom and the meaning behind a cryptic message from a past case.
The Dead Kid Detective Agency’s third quest is a veritable bouquet of misadventures that weaves the American Revolution, a beyond-chaotic school dance, a historic sea vessel, and a boatload of supernatural shenanigans into one unforgettable madcap adventure.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
About the author
Evan Munday
9 books34 followersEvan Munday is an illustrator whose work has appeared in books and magazines, including Toronto Life, This Magazine, Alternatives Journal and Broken Pencil, as well as the novel Stripmalling, by Jon Paul Fiorentino.
He works as publicist for Coach House Books and has just finished work on a graphic novel, Quarter-Life Crisis, set in a post-apocalytic Toronto. He lives in Toronto.
He works as publicist for Coach House Books and has just finished work on a graphic novel, Quarter-Life Crisis, set in a post-apocalytic Toronto. He lives in Toronto.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 26, 2015
Why would an adult enjoy a YA novel so much? Because it was such a funny and brilliant adventure which was exactly what this adult needed! I couldn't put it down and it left me in a great mood and I was sorry when it ended. Sometimes escaping into teenaged angst, particularly when layered with magical realism and fantasy is exactly what you need and this was the perfect book for that!
October 6, 2017
I am truly surprised how much I really enjoyed reading Loyalist to a Fault by Evan Munday. I had just finished reading another young adult book and had to learn its writing style. Then I began reading this book. I wasn't sure if I could learn this lingo too, but continued reading anyway. I'm so glad I did. Once I understood how the author wrote, I had fun - thoroughly reveled in it! I actually am sorry it ended.
It's not difficult to read. Its just that I never, ever really thought and spoke like a normal teenager in my youth - using slang and so forth from my generation or any other generation. Most who know me, tell me I speak my very own lingo.
This book is the 3rd in a series. I wish I read the first two first, but as it turns out, this story stands alone and refers to previous adventures.
I usually don't tell you about the story, because you can read that from the cover and I don't want to accidentally give anything away. It's a mystery, fantasy, adventure story for the young or young at heart. I consider myself young at heart - most of the time anyway.
It's not difficult to read. Its just that I never, ever really thought and spoke like a normal teenager in my youth - using slang and so forth from my generation or any other generation. Most who know me, tell me I speak my very own lingo.
This book is the 3rd in a series. I wish I read the first two first, but as it turns out, this story stands alone and refers to previous adventures.
I usually don't tell you about the story, because you can read that from the cover and I don't want to accidentally give anything away. It's a mystery, fantasy, adventure story for the young or young at heart. I consider myself young at heart - most of the time anyway.
July 22, 2018
Totally different from the usual books I read and great! I enjoyed how the plot twisted at the end. Can't wait to read the next book! Recommended for anyone who likes a good adventure with goth-loving characters.
Rating: 😶😳😏😮😠😊😃
Rating: 😶😳😏😮😠😊😃
March 17, 2020
Well... okay... this just raises more questions!
I mean... now there's a wizard going around killing people? This is all happening in a span of months and her dad is still letting her outside? Bitch, i know he's a teacher but if it were my daughter she'd be getting homeschooled if the faculty of the current school she was at kept trying her. Or at the very least a transfer.
Also now there are romances going on? With the humans. With the dead-kids. and now Human/Dead-kid. I mean cute, one of them has a crush on October... but he's dead. like... 200 years or more dead. Doesn't know what modern technology is dead. I just... he's not a zombie so this can't be a Warm Bodies thing so like... i mean... that's just gonna open up heart ache and she's just in grade nine so like WTF.
Okay. No more bitching. Actually a cute little mystery. I love seeing October dealing with the dead-kids cause they're all so much fun. It was well written i like the style, but i'm starting to get frustrated cause i just want something good to happen for once. Like something positive. something nice. And I'd really like it if the teachers stopped trying to kill October. She's not Harry Potter.
Oh and if one of the books could answer the question of what the hell is going on with this Meadows thing, that psychic telephone or what's going on with her mother who might be using the psychic telephone that would be WONDERFUL.
I mean... now there's a wizard going around killing people? This is all happening in a span of months and her dad is still letting her outside? Bitch, i know he's a teacher but if it were my daughter she'd be getting homeschooled if the faculty of the current school she was at kept trying her. Or at the very least a transfer.
Also now there are romances going on? With the humans. With the dead-kids. and now Human/Dead-kid. I mean cute, one of them has a crush on October... but he's dead. like... 200 years or more dead. Doesn't know what modern technology is dead. I just... he's not a zombie so this can't be a Warm Bodies thing so like... i mean... that's just gonna open up heart ache and she's just in grade nine so like WTF.
Okay. No more bitching. Actually a cute little mystery. I love seeing October dealing with the dead-kids cause they're all so much fun. It was well written i like the style, but i'm starting to get frustrated cause i just want something good to happen for once. Like something positive. something nice. And I'd really like it if the teachers stopped trying to kill October. She's not Harry Potter.
Oh and if one of the books could answer the question of what the hell is going on with this Meadows thing, that psychic telephone or what's going on with her mother who might be using the psychic telephone that would be WONDERFUL.
August 16, 2021
Honestly, the writing is really clear, with no confusion while reading. The historical references are really helpful and interesting. Loyalist to a Fault is really good. Anyone reading this, please know to read the first and second book first, but you really can go through the third one without needing to know what happened to the first two. Evan sums everything in his book, sometimes speaking of the plots in his previous books which I find really good.
August 28, 2018
This series keeps getting better!
My fave thing? The fact that I couldn't guess who the ghost pirate was at all! I also hate the fact that these books finish so quickly... But the author makes it so exciting that I finish the book in a day or two!
Can't wait for the 4th book.
My fave thing? The fact that I couldn't guess who the ghost pirate was at all! I also hate the fact that these books finish so quickly... But the author makes it so exciting that I finish the book in a day or two!
Can't wait for the 4th book.
March 3, 2018
Best one yet.
August 16, 2023
GREAT BOOK. But on the cover they really did October dirty with how they threw the shirt.
November 2, 2015
I won a copy of Loyalist to a Fault by Evan Munday in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I fear I may be in trouble here for a couple of reasons; first, author Evan Munday, in the first chapter of Loyalist to a Fault mildly (and good-naturedly) chastises readers who have not read the first two books in The Dead Kid Detective Agency series, and second, the Barnes and Noble website, where I also post reviews when able, lists Loyalist to a Fault as for 8-12 year-old readers, Amazon also lists it as a children's book.
I, sadly, have not read the first two offerings in the series, and I do not fall in the audience target age range.
If this truly destroys the credibility of my review, oh well, because I enjoyed this book immensely. The narrator often speaks directly to the reader making them an insider to the story. I think this is great and makes an already funny story even better. The adventures of our heroine, October Schwartz, are too much fun. Though maybe not to her.
As the series title divulges, our human detective, who is in the ninth grade, is aided in her sleuthing by several non-living entities (ghosts). They of course have many (mis)adventures on the way to resolving their mysteries. Think Scooby-Doo meets Nancy Drew, meets Saved by the Bell, meets Rocky Horror (the narrator).
There are many pop culture references which the target audience is probably too young to get, so author Munday provides a helpful guide explaining those references. Shows how old I am, I understood most of the references without the guide.
I would advise whomever is in charge of such things, to reconsider labeling Loyalist to a Fault as for 8-12 year-olds. I think adults, at least those who still possess a sense of humor, will have fun reading this book. Seeing the book described as a children's book may discourage them from checking it out. This would be sad indeed, we all need a good, clean, fun read from time to time.
Loyalist to a Fault is not serious (did I get that point across yet?), if you want serious, read War and Peace, if you want light-hearted fun, read Evan Munday's Loyalist to a Fault. Unless you are a full on grinch you'll like it. Enjoy!
Mike
I fear I may be in trouble here for a couple of reasons; first, author Evan Munday, in the first chapter of Loyalist to a Fault mildly (and good-naturedly) chastises readers who have not read the first two books in The Dead Kid Detective Agency series, and second, the Barnes and Noble website, where I also post reviews when able, lists Loyalist to a Fault as for 8-12 year-old readers, Amazon also lists it as a children's book.
I, sadly, have not read the first two offerings in the series, and I do not fall in the audience target age range.
If this truly destroys the credibility of my review, oh well, because I enjoyed this book immensely. The narrator often speaks directly to the reader making them an insider to the story. I think this is great and makes an already funny story even better. The adventures of our heroine, October Schwartz, are too much fun. Though maybe not to her.
As the series title divulges, our human detective, who is in the ninth grade, is aided in her sleuthing by several non-living entities (ghosts). They of course have many (mis)adventures on the way to resolving their mysteries. Think Scooby-Doo meets Nancy Drew, meets Saved by the Bell, meets Rocky Horror (the narrator).
There are many pop culture references which the target audience is probably too young to get, so author Munday provides a helpful guide explaining those references. Shows how old I am, I understood most of the references without the guide.
I would advise whomever is in charge of such things, to reconsider labeling Loyalist to a Fault as for 8-12 year-olds. I think adults, at least those who still possess a sense of humor, will have fun reading this book. Seeing the book described as a children's book may discourage them from checking it out. This would be sad indeed, we all need a good, clean, fun read from time to time.
Loyalist to a Fault is not serious (did I get that point across yet?), if you want serious, read War and Peace, if you want light-hearted fun, read Evan Munday's Loyalist to a Fault. Unless you are a full on grinch you'll like it. Enjoy!
Mike
November 30, 2016
Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book
So, I’ve never really been a huge fan of history, which is unfortunate because there was a lot of that in this book. It made it kind of bleh for me. But all of that was balanced out with the fact that this is such a fun read with an amazing voice! It also has a great mystery, by the way. You know I always love that ;)
This series is also filled with great characters: Our MC October is so quirky and fun, I love her! I also love her ghost friends, they are so funny and, as ghosts, come in real handy ;) lol. Also, there was a freaking pirate in this book and it was amazing!
This book continues to break the fourth wall which I absolutely love! I don’t think I’ve ever read any other books that do that, so that’s always fun. This book also continues to switch from 1st person POV to 3rd person and I still don’t know why and can’t figure out how often. But the thing is, I don’t notice this till I’m about halfway into the 3rd person POV chapter. However, it only bothers me when I think about it or realize it happened, lol. It’s so weird!
The Dead Kid Detective Agency is definitely a great MG read! It’s fun, very funny, action-y, there’s ghosts, mysteries, and sometimes you even learn stuff. All that and we also get a great main character and supporting characters (both dead and alive!) in a really fun world! And the fun pictures and Appendix at the end are just a plus!
So, I’ve never really been a huge fan of history, which is unfortunate because there was a lot of that in this book. It made it kind of bleh for me. But all of that was balanced out with the fact that this is such a fun read with an amazing voice! It also has a great mystery, by the way. You know I always love that ;)
This series is also filled with great characters: Our MC October is so quirky and fun, I love her! I also love her ghost friends, they are so funny and, as ghosts, come in real handy ;) lol. Also, there was a freaking pirate in this book and it was amazing!
This book continues to break the fourth wall which I absolutely love! I don’t think I’ve ever read any other books that do that, so that’s always fun. This book also continues to switch from 1st person POV to 3rd person and I still don’t know why and can’t figure out how often. But the thing is, I don’t notice this till I’m about halfway into the 3rd person POV chapter. However, it only bothers me when I think about it or realize it happened, lol. It’s so weird!
The Dead Kid Detective Agency is definitely a great MG read! It’s fun, very funny, action-y, there’s ghosts, mysteries, and sometimes you even learn stuff. All that and we also get a great main character and supporting characters (both dead and alive!) in a really fun world! And the fun pictures and Appendix at the end are just a plus!
October 20, 2016
Revolutionary War, in the late 1700s. Along the way, October encounters crazy twists and turns such as a ghost pirate who attempts to kill her multiple times, a crazy school dance, more than a few break-ins, getting arrested, and a mysterious historic sea vessel. To top it all off, October has to deal with aggravating days at school and a vicious mean popular girl. Will October be able to handle her normal life and solve the case or will the cause of Cyril’s death remain a mystery forever more? Find out the unexpected conclusion to the book “The Dead Kid Detective Agency: Loyalist to a Fault”.
Middle schoolers would enjoy this book because it is witty with some funny punch lines. I really liked the way the book speaks directly to the reader and addresses them as if they were standing right next to the narrator. This book is more suited for readers 10 years and older because it has some scenes that may not be appropriate for younger readers. Overall this was a pretty good book and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good mystery.
Reviewed by: Roksanna K, age 12, Broward Mensa
Middle schoolers would enjoy this book because it is witty with some funny punch lines. I really liked the way the book speaks directly to the reader and addresses them as if they were standing right next to the narrator. This book is more suited for readers 10 years and older because it has some scenes that may not be appropriate for younger readers. Overall this was a pretty good book and I recommend it to anyone looking for a good mystery.
Reviewed by: Roksanna K, age 12, Broward Mensa
February 23, 2016
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads
This was a fun and quirky little novel. Quite easy to read and fast paced. I do feel the "dead kids" would be a little to intense for the intended age range, but otherwise I found it fantastic.
This was a fun and quirky little novel. Quite easy to read and fast paced. I do feel the "dead kids" would be a little to intense for the intended age range, but otherwise I found it fantastic.
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August 18, 2015Had to give up on this one, I think I would be better off starting at the beginning.
September 29, 2015
What an awesome read filled the unexpected and a group of 'teen' shades helping to solve an ages old murder! A riveting read!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews