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Never Trust a Dead Man

(2004, Fiction - Mystery, Written by Vivian Vande Velde)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 9, age appropriate for kids over 10; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Classic mystery with a touch of magic, dark humor.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 10 and Up

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    No one in this story is really admirable. Some of the humor is a bit gruesome.

  • Violence:

    A fight. Selwyn is trapped in a cave with decaying bodies.

  • Sex:

    An old man leers at a young woman. All of the men leer at a barmaid.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Scenes of drinking in a bar.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Never Trust a Dead Man

Parents need to know that the author has a decidedly dark sense of humor. The scene where Selwyn is left to die in a tomb filled with decaying corpses, though leavened with that humor, may still be a bit much for some young readers.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the change in the relationship between Selwyn and Farold. Once enemies, they become friends as they work together. How do they overcome their enmity?
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