Hey bookworm friends, thanks so much for popping by my stop of The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond Tour! You’re just in time to add this middle-grade supernatural mystery to your October TBRs! 👻Below I will provide a review and feature my favourite quotes so, enjoy!
Thank you to TBR And Beyond Tours, Delacorte Press, & Christyne Morrell for the e-ARC.
About The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond
Author: Christyne E. Morrell
Genre(s): Middle-Grade Mystery, Fantasy
Publisher: Delacorte Press, imprint of Random House Children’s Books
Format Read: E-ARC
Pub Date: September 17, 2024 – OUT NOW!
Cover Artist: TK
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When twelve-year-old Charlie moves from New York to a small town in Florida, she discovers that her new house is haunted! As she struggles to settle into her new home she hears rumours of a curse. If what the townspeople say is true then the three ghosts in her house—Ada, Arthur, and Guff—are stuck here because they stole a dead man’s diamond. And it now lies hidden somewhere in the house. Since Charlie is already sick of Florida (and the school bullies that come with it) she hatches a scheme: If she could only find the diamond, they’d have enough money to move back to New York!
CWs: grief, bullying, toxic friendships, on page deaths
Purchase Links
⟡ Amazon│Barnes & Noble │Bookshop.org ⟡
My Review
This middle-grade mystery/fantasy charmed me from the very beginning because it felt like a cross between two of my favourite childhood movies: Casper (1995) and The Rescuers (1977). Okay so the references might be a tad outdated but I promise this book is not! We have a creepy haunted house, ghosts, tales of curses, making friends, and school bullies: all topics that a middle schooler (and adults) will find engaging or relatable.
The story is told in alternating POVs: one for Charlie and one for the three ghosts where we follow them before they were ghosts and how they cope with being ghosts in Charlie’s time. I enjoyed how the narrative mixed light and mysterious moments with heavier story beats as we got to know our characters better. We learn about the ghosts’ tragic past, and about Charlie’s grief and feelings of guilt—there’s a touching moment about midway through that made me tear up. But don’t worry, the dialogue also made me laugh several times, especially when the town’s medium, Madame Rayna was on the page. She and Cinco, an Argentinian boy with a satisfying character arc, are my favourite characters!
I loved how this book discusses what being a true friend means, especially because it’s aimed at an age group where kids might want to spend more time with friends than with family. It’s a natural part of growing up and finding independence and it doesn’t mean they don’t love their family but it can be tough to navigate. Charlie sometimes acts unkindly toward a new friend or behaves in a way her father doesn’t understand but I loved how the story allows her to process those things, and take ownership of her mistakes. The bullies in the story are not depicted as black-and-white and while it is clear that there is no excuse for bullying, it’s also equally clear that everyone deserves compassion.
8 Favourite Quotes
My Cheek was smashed so firmly against the cool car window that it peeled off like a Fruit Roll-Up when I lifted my head.
Winklevoss Manor—that’s right, our new home had a name—was a towering Victorian mansion, crisscrossed with so many thick vines it looked like clutching fingers were trying to drag the place back into the earth.
When Ada Winklevoss was a child, old wive’s tales were the only kind of tales she knew
Then, as suddenly as the diamond gave, the diamond took away. First in small ways—cracks in the new china, torn lace, a spoiled bottle of Bordeaux. Then in larger ways.
Don’t be afraid to add a pop of color to your wardrobe. Ghosts get sick of all the black.
I decided there and then that ghosts weren’t actually scary at all. But middle-school—now that was a different story.
I was playing a duet with a ghost. This was too much. Too weird. Even for Florida.
I don’t specialize in the living, but I do know this—I’ve never met a problem dulce de leche couldn’t solve.
About Christyne Morrell
I encourage you to check out the other lovely bloggers on the tour schedule.
September 23rd
Boys’ Mom Reads! – Review
September 24th
Dark Shelf of Wonders – Review, Favorite Quotes
September 25th
Dana Loves Books – Top 5 Reasons to Read The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamonds
September 26th
Jen Jen Reviews – Review
September 28th
therearenobadbooks – Review
September 29th
One More Exclamation – Review
September 30th
the nutty bookworm reads alot – Review
Let’s chat in the comments!
Have I convinced you to check this one out? Or, what’s your favourite ghost story?
Stunning cover and it sounds like the kind of middle grade I’d enjoy.
Yes I love the cover too and it really suits the vibe of the book well. If you’re ever in a middle grade supernatural mood I recommend it !:)
I have a few MG books on my TBR but never seem to get around to them. This is definitely one I’m intrigued by too now though. I love the quotes you’ve included and the fact that it reminded you of Casper, I’ve always adored that movie. (I’m sure I’ve seen Rescuers but can’t remember it tbh 🙈) it’s also pleasantly surprising that the ghosts also have POVs in the book. I think that’s what intrigues me most of all as it makes it stand apart from other Haunted house MGs.
Aww I hope you can read some of the MGs on your radar soon, I just love the way books for that age group can tackle difficult topics with so much care and gentleness, they often just feel like hugs and I think people every age can benefit from that. haha yes oh my gosh I’m pretty sure Casper was my first crush as a kid 😂 I was surprised that the ghosts had a POV too but it worked quite well 🙂
Thank you. I at least want to check out Impossible Creatures given all it’s hype and the sequel releasing next year. Ooh and Morrigan Crow. Aww that’s a lovely point to make and does make you want to pick them up. I can’t remember if I had a crush on him 😂 but I don’t think I could keep track of how many times I watched the movie. I’m glad it worked well as it certainly sounds interesting
oh my gosh Impossible Creatures is on my tbr too, it looks so great! & Morrigan Crow too, I really need to read more MG! Hehehe yesI’m so glad you loved that movie too!!
Ooh maybe we could both try to read it before the sequel comes out. It could be a fun one to discuss given the magical creatures involved. Hopefully we’ll both get to some of our high priority ones sometime 😂 maybe I’ll rewatch it this Halloween as I haven’t seen it in years.
Oh yes that would be so fun, we could read it together even if you’d like 🙂 I would be down. & Yes I agree 🙂 I hope you enjoy it after so many years of not seeing it!
Yeah sure, that sounds good. By the way I haven’t forgotten about Wicked Lovely but could we maybe do it a bit later in the year? I’ve finished the library stuff besides maybe one but I have a couple of ARCs and I found some free Fall reads to check out too but they’re only avaliable this month. Plus I still have those two books I was desperate to read 😅
Anyway I just looked and the sequels not out until September, I thought it was earlier in the year than that. So I’m definitely up to read it together sometime before then. Thank you 🥰
Hey, Yeah sure we can certainly do that 🙂 We could do it later this year or even at the start of 2025 if that works best for you. Just let me know I can be flexible. 😄
I totally understand wanting to take advantage of ARCS and limited time free reads hehe.
Okay sounds good, also you know where to find me (if you want quicker replies IG is better but I also make sure to check my messages here weekly.) 🥰🥰🥰
As long as you’re okay with it maybe early next year sometime? I’m trying not to get anymore library books out this year besides possibly the sequel I need to Immortal Rules & maybe something festive.
Thank you 🥰 I wasn’t expecting any free ones to pop up tbh but they have The Voice Upstairs & Witch Haven, both of which I’ve had my eye on for a while 😅
I’ll let you know once I’m caught up on Instagram. Sorry for the delay.
Yeah that would work for me as well because then I can focus finishing as many of my goals as I can before then haha 🙂 & same here, trying not to put anything else on hold this year. haha those are valid exceptions 😉 Oh cool ! & ok no problem and oh my gosh you don’t need to apologize, you should only use whatever you’re comfortable whenever you want♥♥!
That’s a good point. Good luck with them all. I’m sure you can do it 🥰 it’s not just me then 😂 I majorly do need to get to some owned books sometime though
I do really want to reread it sometime & am looking forward to it. Whenever should be fine after these few books I think. I just really wasn’t expecting those free reads to appear 😂 although I’m over the moon that they have.
Thanks so much 😚 haha not just you that’s for sure 😉!I hope you’re able to reread it!ok cool & Haha one never does expect free reads to drop into our laps but it’s a nice surprise lol.