Bernice Takes A Plunge by Ann Harth

 

Memories of my childhood are always peppered with tales of mystery and adventure. Fuelled by the characters from books like the Secret Seven and Three Investigators I would look for mystery everywhere I went. Forever in the belief that one day I would grow up to be a great crime solving detective. 

While I did not go down that path professionally what remained is the great logic and deduction that mystery books develop in us. And of course that perpetual need to still solve the mysteries, in books at least.

Bernice takes a plunge by Ann Harth took me right back to my childhood. An incredible mystery and adventure story with one of the most lovable characters I have come across in a long time, Bernice Peppercorn. A little girl filled with spunk, charisma and a desire to do good.

A desire that most often than not gets her into trouble as she is invariably mistaken about either the crime or the perpetrator or the seagulls.*
*A whole fun adventure story about them in the book but no spoilers here.

With a trusted notebook always by her side, Bernice sets about trying to solve mysteries around her. And mysteries just seem to follow her around. This book sees her trying to solve the theft of the jewels of her favourite star Crystal Bell.

During this mystery solving journey she befriends a one-legged fisherman, Ike. And it is this part that I feel is truly the heart of the book. With childlike innocence Bernice decides that for Ike to become her friend and of course spill his secrets they would have to have common ground a.k.a. a missing limb. How Bernice goes about it, the misgivings she has about deceiving someone and the ultimate revelation of it all is brilliantly brought about.

 Ann Harth subtly broaches the topic of disability as part of the narrative itself and talks about accessibility and inclusion while also giving the reader an insight into the challenges faced by them.

In Bernice Peppercorn we have a character that we aspire to be. One that doesn’t give up, fights for the truth, goes out of the way to help (even though it backfires mostly) and one that most importantly does not want to hurt.

Filled to the brim with humour that will have you falling of your chair and great auditory and visual cues this book has you asking for more…more Bernice Peppercorn mysteries please.

 

So glad I got this RC, it reverted me back to the happy days of my childhood. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.

Happy Reading☺