Murder At Midnight

Murder at Midnight is a mystery novel by the award-winning author, AVI.  This novel is set in Italy in the year 1490, which also affects the vocabulary and vernacular in the story.  While AVI is so well-known for writing many different genres, this mystery novel is sure to keep readers on their toes!  The book is 254 pages, so it is a shorter read that moves quickly.  The events that take place in the novel only span a little less than a week in time, so the novel is very fast-paced.  

Fabrizio is an orphaned boy who has recently been placed by city of Pergamontio in the home of Sophia and Magnus, a magician.  Fabrizio has not been there long, but he can already tell he is not well-liked by his master, but found favor in the mistress Sophia.  Fabrizio tries hard to earn his master's attention and affection, but without much success.  He works hard on his chores around the home and works diligently in his studies to learn to read, always grateful to the couple for taking him in.  But one evening at Magnus's magic show, a man in a black cloak startles Fabrizio as he is collecting money from the audience to tell him that his master is in great danger.  It is the next day that mysterious papers begin circulating through the city that declare the king unfit to rule and encouraging a revolt to take him out of power.  The papers are quite mysterious - written in a beautiful font, each paper is identical to another.  As hundreds of these papers appear throughout the city, the citizens are appalled at each one and how identical they are.  The only answer to their likeness can be magic.  The king, who has forbidden magic in the city, is certainly unhappy about the attack on his leadership and to the throne, as well as Magnus's use of magic to create them.  Fabrizio, in an effort to save his master from scrutiny, tries his best to race through the city and collect the papers to destroy them.  But he is seen by the king's soldiers, who believe he is distributing the treasonous papers at the request of his master.  Fabrizio is arrested and then taken to the castle to stand before the king himself.  The king then sends guards to Magnus's house to arrest him for treason.  Fabrizio is immediately sentenced to death as a message to the citizens of the city to show the king's authority.  Magnus will stand trial before the king in an effort to spare his own life.  Fabrizio knows his master is innocent, but how can he prove it?  Can he do it in time to save himself and his master, Magnus?      

Murder at Midnight is a great mystery novel for middle school readers, as well as upper elementary readers.  Again, the style of writing, vernacular, and word choice make this novel better suited for grades 5 and up.  Fans of mystery novels will enjoy this read - but you must pay attention to all the details to figure out who is planning this treasonous plot to overthrow the king!  Both guys and girls will enjoy the action in this novel and its fast pace.  While the book does include a fictitious country in a land ruled by a king and queen set in a time long ago, even readers not usually a fan of fantasy novels will enjoy this book.  The book does bring up an interesting concept of technology and how advancements in technology can make people uneasy and uncertain.  AVI is an amazing writer and his style and clever use of well hidden clues will surely have all readers hanging on to each word to see if Fabrizio can save himself and see who is after his master, Magnus.