The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels
Author Beth Lincoln
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Story
The Swifts are an eccentric family. Every new baby is given a name from the dictionary and expected to live up to that name and it’s definition, but Shenanigan Swift doesn’t want to grow up to be a trouble maker.
Every 10 years, The Swifts gather at The House to search for the treasure that was hidden many years ago by ancestor, Cantrip Swift. The reunion takes a dramatic turn when someone tries to murder Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude.
Shenanigan enlists the help of her most trusted relatives to find out whodunnit.
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Why we chose it
A great murder mystery, dark and very funny, with quirky characters and a gothic feel. A satisfying detective story with a message that you can be who you want to be no matter what others expect of you.
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What a young reviewer said
With a hilarious gothic feel, a well plotted mystery and relatable and diverse characters, this makes it an excellent book! (Thomas, age 12)
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First published
2024, Puffin Books
Story Reviews
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A family where your name defines you, and where your personality is literally set in stone. A family full of chaos and deception. A family with a hidden fortune. They are the Swifts. In the rickety, mish-mash of the house, Shenanigan Swift dreams of finding Vile Swift’s fortune, so when Great aunt Schadenfreude calls a gathering to decide her successor, Shenanigan is sceptical. But then the murders begin. Will Shenanigan catch the killer before her whole family ends up in a body bag. And will her family understand that names don’t mean everything. When I first picked up this book, I worried that the plot would be overly simple and light. This was not true! With a hilarious gothic feel, a well plotted mystery and relatable and diverse characters, this makes it an excellent book!