39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers 1 - 3

The Cahills aren't the only family searching for the Clues. . . .
The Cahills thought they were the most powerful family the world had ever known. They thought they were the only ones who knew about Gideon Cahill and his Clues. The Cahills were wrong.
Powerful enemies —the Vespers— have been waiting in the shadows. Now it’s their time to rise and the world will never be the same. In Vespers Rising, a brand new 39 Clues novel, bestselling authors Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman and Jude Watson take on the hidden history of the Cahills and the Vespers, and the last, terrible legacy Grace Cahill leaves for Amy and Dan.

This is another set of books in the 39 Clues series. The same characters return, but the plot is different: the Cahill family has come together, of sorts, but now there us a new enemy. The Vespers. And they want something that Gideon Cahill, father of the splintered family, once protected. Beginning with 39 Clues book 11: Vespers Rising, this new story has hit the ground running.

I enjoyed the first installment for the most part--the hunt for the 39 clues. Once all the authors got a mutual feel for the characters, the story flowed nicely. The clues vs. questions had a good balance and I was always looking forward to more.

This next installment is similar. The pacing is good, the characters are consistent, and the story is just plain fun. There have been a few moments where I didn't quite buy the logistics, but these moments are small--the rest of the story doesn't hinge on them--so they don't bother me. In fact, both my eight year old son and I are hooked and we are eagerly awaiting the release of book 4 this fall.

There are also seven short stories, called 39 Clues: Rapid Fire, that were released last December. My son and I have been reading these as well, and enjoying them. They aren't necessary backstory for the Cahills vs. Vespers series, but they do add another interesting layer of information. And they are just as entertaining as the books.

If you liked the original 39 Clues series, then you will probably like Cahills vs. Vespers since it is more of the same. I think boys of all ages will love it.