Book Review: The Screaming Statue (Curiosity House #2) by Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date: November 10th, 2016
A Series?: Yes, Curiosity House #2
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Mystery
Buy Links: Kinokuniya Malaysia | MPH Online
Rating:
Source: Huge thanks to Pansing Books for the review copy

Synopsis

Four orphans with extraordinary abilities - Pippa,

Sam, Thomas, Max - are happy to be out of harm's

way now that the notorious villain Nichold Rattigan is 

halfway across the country in Chicago.

But their troubles have only just begun. The four are shocked when their beloved friends, famous sculptor Siegfried Eckleberger, is murdered. As they investigate, they find clues that his death may be tied to the murder of a rich New York heiress, as well to their own past.

In this second book in the exceptional Curiosity House series by bestselling author Lauren Oliver and shadowy recluse H.C.Chester, the children must avenge their friend's death, try to save their home, and unravel the secrets of their past...before their past unravel them.

Another mystery, problems arise, the fours wonderful kids are on a mission to find a clue of the death of the rich heiress and a case of a murder of their beloved friends and also, to find a way to ensure they won't lose their home. 

This second series of Curiosity House, in my opinion, is much better than the first installments. More mystery cases appear in this second series, in which, I could not guess who is the real murder and it put me still to want to know, who did that and why that person do it? What's the connection between all of it? That questions pop up in my mind when I'm reading. 

The characters - Pippa, Max, Sam, and Thomas - are as adorable, wonderful kids ever. We can see that Pippa's ability start to grow up better than the first series - there's improvement in her ability, and then, Sam, in this series, he is kind of a bit to want to be left alone and full of anger, not having so much communication between all of them ever since, Howie become part of the extraordinary's family. 

Like Thomas, I can see he almost close to becoming a Sherlock Homes with his curiosity and finding the clue to solve the mystery, I kinda like his character more for this second series. Lastly, Max, the knife-thrower, she is somehow having this goo-goo eyes (as said by Sam) over Howie, she kinda becomes distracted. 

I think the only character that I hated in this second series is Howie. Gosh! He is so annoying. He has an ability to turn his head to the back of his body and the way he kept constantly said "some people are just born special. And others aren't." Dude, you are so rude. Blergh. I don't like him so.

In my opinion, I love the second series of Curiosity House more in which,  that my curiosity has grown up right after turning one page to another. Reading this feels like I'm living in the 1920s (maybe?) and it was a wonderful setting. 

Lauren Oliver and H.C.Chester have done a great job in written a story in which I don't even realize there's something coming up (oops! did I just spoil it? Hopefully not!) and how it surprised me is what it has intrigued me also it was a dark mystery story yet interesting. All in all, The Screaming Statue is another dark mystery appeared in the story with the quirky sense of humor in the book makes it an interesting and enjoyable to read which I think kids ages 9+ will be going to enjoy this series as much as us, the adults. 

Now, I can't wait to read the third series of Curiosity House. So, if you are a fan of mystery cases, you might want to consider reading these series.