From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—Following Rick Riordan's first book in the projected 10-title series, The Maze of Bones (SLJ, Feb. 2009, p. 58), Gordon Korman has written the second installment (Scholastic, 2008) about Amy and Dan Cahill's quest for the 39 clues left by their deceased wealthy and eccentric grandmother who has promised to reward the winner with unimaginable riches. Those unfamiliar with the first book will miss out on some of the past history, but there is enough background given here to ensure that listeners will enjoy the mystery and adventure. Dan, 11, is impetuous and resourceful, while Amy, 14, is pedantic but brilliant. Narrator David Pittu, with only slight voice and accent variations, brings to life their constant squabbles as well as the threats by their nefarious relatives, such as a scheming rock star and his father, a former KGB agent, an entire family of enemies, and an elderly "gentleman" with evil intentions. The orphans, on the run from the Massachusetts Child Protection Program, are supported by their patient and resourceful companion Nellie and their grandmother's cat, Saladin. Pittu is almost breathless as he describes vehicle races on the road and along the canals of Venice. A lot of historical information is presented about Venice, Mozart, Marie Antoinette, and more. A fun listen.—Edith Ching, Washington Latin Public Charter School, DC
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From AudioFile

Another well-known children's author pens the second adventure in this multimedia series, which includes online clues and games, in addition to the audiobooks themselves. As orphaned siblings Amy and Dan Cahill seek clues to promised mysterious powers, the fast-paced plot deepens their understanding of their quest. David Pittu, who is planned to narrate the entire series, injects tension as the siblings race from Vienna to Venice, desperately decoding of the journal of Nanneril Mozart, the famous composer's sister. Their quest becomes clearer as the orphans grown to understand their relationships to their own family, as well as to artists and scientists of the past. Pittu differentiates the Cahills' adversaries with a multitude of accents and attitudes and creates extra tension by giving each a strong sense of menace and deceptiveness. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine