I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Length: 8 Hours 10 Minutes
Series: Three Times Lucky #2
Published by Penguin Group USA on 2014-02-01
Genres: Family, Horror & Ghost Stories, Humorous Stories, Young Adult
Pages: 256
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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The eagerly anticipated followup to the Newbery honor winner and New York Times bestseller, Three Times Lucky Small towns have rules. One is, you got to stay who you are -- no matter how many murders you solve. When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner of an old inn, she doesn't realize there's a ghost in the fine print. Naturally, Desperado Detective Agency (aka Mo and Dale) opens a paranormal division to solve the mystery of the ghost's identity. They've got to figure out who the ghost is so they can interview it for their history assignment (extra credit). But Mo and Dale start to realize that the Inn isn't the only haunted place in Tupelo Landing. People can also be haunted by their own past. As Mo and Dale handily track down the truth about the ghost (with some help from the new kid in town), they discover the truth about a great many other people, too. A laugh out loud, ghostly, Southern mystery that can be enjoyed by readers visiting Tupelo Landing for the first time, as well as those who are old friends of Mo and Dale.
Why Did I Listen To This Book?
Last year the audiobook of Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage showed up at my house unsolicited. As it was a short audiobook and middle grade which I have a soft spot for, I listened to the book. I found myself unexpectedly won over by the intrepid Mo LoBeau and the residents of Tupelo Landing. So, I am sure you can imagine my excitement when I found out that Three Times Lucky was getting a follow up in the form of The Ghosts Of Tupelo Landing. When this book showed up in an email of audiobook review copy offerings, I kind of jumped on it because catching up with familiar characters is one of my favorite things to do. I am happy to say that The Ghosts Of Tupelo Landing is a worthy sequel to Turnage’s first book.
What’s The Story Here?
Miss Lana, who is kind of Mo’s foster mother accidentally buys the Tupelo Inn which is totally in shambles at an auction. She gets a bonus gift with her purchase, a ghost in the fine print. Miss Lana finds herself totally regretting the decision because she definitely does not have the kind of money needed to renovate and run the inn. So, she turns to Grandmother Miss Lacey as a business partner. Meanwhile, for class Mo LoBeau and Dale have to interview an elderly person. Stupid Anna Celeste ends up stealing Grandmother Miss Lacey as interview subject, so instead of interviewing the Mayor’s mother who is super mean, the two decide to interview the ghost of the Tupelo Inn and hopefully obtain extra credit. Meanwhile, there’s a bit of a back story to the ghost which has to do with Grandmother Miss Lacey and Redd Baker, who used to make moonshine I guess. So, the Desperado Detective Agency is on the case. Oh yes and there’s also a new kid in town named Harm who Mo does not really trust.
How Awesome Is Mo LoBeau?
As far as child main characters go, Mo LoBeau of The Ghosts Of Tupelo Landing and Three Times Lucky is right up there with Harriet the Spy for me. She’s stubborn and what I would consider a fighter. The girl doesn’t have the greatest hand in life, in that she’s not rich and she has no idea who her mother is. Yet, she’s built a good life for herself in Tupelo Landing and has a lot of love in her life. She’s still best friends with Dale, which is also awesome to see and you know the good thing about middle grade is that they remain just friends. Mo also has a bit of sass when her dander is up, so I can’t help but constantly be team Mo.
What About The Other Characters?
I feel like the easy way out would be to say that they are all really awesome. But honestly,that is the truth. Just real quick though, it’s nice to see more character development for Dale and to see him have complicated feelings about his dad who is in jail. I liked learning more about Grandmother Miss Lacey and getting some of her back story. It’s also fun to see Anna Celeste be awful in general. And the addition of new kid Harm Krenshaw really works for this book. Oh and more Miss Lana and more of the Colonel is awesome too. JUST AWESOME ALL AROUND.
How Is The Narration?
There is a different narrator for The Ghosts Of Tupelo Landing than Three Times Lucky because unfortunately the person who narrated Three Times Lucky has passed. Lauren Fortgang is the new narrator and well, her voice is really different from the previous narrator’s. She sounds a bit older and adult. Her southern accent is different. However, she does a superb job with doing different character voices, which I liked. She even sings in the different character voices. Fortgang’s narration kept me listening and interested. This is a pretty fast listen and has the quality that I have come to expect from Penguin Audio.
Sum It Up With A GIF:
I approve.
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It’s so good when a sequel lives up to expectations, and Mo sounds like a wonderful MC! It’s a shame about the original narrator 🙁
Mands @ The Bookish Manicurist
Right? I love it when a sequel is actually good and well-written. Mo’s really great as a main character. 🙂
Thanks for the thoughtful review. Michal’s delightful performance was a tough act to follow and I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed Mo and Co. as much as I did!