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Rosalind Barden
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The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery Kindle Edition

by Rosalind Barden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 38 ratings
A high-seas adventure—or a deep-water tombstone?!

Depression-era sleuth Sparky is back in action, but this time she is out to sea! Sparky skipped it out of landlocked Bunker Hill and stowed away on an ocean liner, which turns out to be jam-packed with disgruntled ex-silent movie actors hoping the mysterious film project they are sailing toward will rejuvenate their dead careers. But when Sparky is soon discovered, she becomes hopelessly ensnared in a dangerous case of mistaken identity.

Tensions are running high. Someone tumbled overboard under strange circumstances. But Sparky didn’t do it! The passengers are suspicious of Sparky, but she’s even more suspicious of them. Will Sparky uncover what’s really going on before the vengeful passengers make her walk the plank?

Sparky misses her guardian, former silent movie star, Tootsie, and she even misses her sketchy ex-boss, Bookie. Will she ever see them again? Or will our young hero be forever lost at sea?

"Make time to hang with Sparky, amateur detective of Bunker Hill. You’ll be glad you did!"— Diane Vallere, national bestselling author of the Madison Night Mystery Series.

The South Seas Shenanigans is the fourth in author Rosalind Barden's hilarious, historical 1930s cozy LA noir Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery series with a most unlikely amateur sleuth, Sparky, an 11-year-old street punk who's a bit of a little criminal herself! The first in the series, The Cold Kid Case, is a Firebird Book Award Winner for Best Cozy Mystery.
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  1. Reading age
    11 - 18 years
  2. Book 4 of 5
    A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery
  3. Print length
    197 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    October 5, 2024
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Not Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. ISBN-13
    979-8989280872
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There are 5 books in this series.

From the Publisher

The Cold Kid Case: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery
The Cannibal Caper: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery
The Monkey Island Murder: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery
The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery
The Catalina Cahoots: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery
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Customer Reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars 65
4.6 out of 5 stars 29
4.7 out of 5 stars 29
4.4 out of 5 stars 38
4.8 out of 5 stars 13
Price $0.99 $4.99 $4.99 $4.99 $4.99
1930s Mystery ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fun! ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Movie Stars ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Adventure ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Zany Animals ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Wacky Mobsters ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Cozy Noir ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Laugh-Out-Loud ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Tweens to Grown-ups love it! no data no data no data no data no data

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0D2ZMKWDC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Poodle Productions, LLC
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 5, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.8 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 197 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8989280872
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 4 of 5 ‏ : ‎ A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 11 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 38 ratings

About the author

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Rosalind Barden

Rosalind Barden

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Discover more at https://rosalindbarden.com/. For bonus content, fun giveaways, and updates, sign up for Rosalind Barden’s Readers Club newsletter at https://rosalindbarden.com/join-readers-club/.

Rosalind Barden's zany, cozy noir mystery novel set in 1930s Depression-era Los Angeles, SPARKY OF BUNKER HILL AND THE COLD KID CASE, is a Firebird Book Award 1st Place Cozy Mystery Winner, Literary Titan Gold Medal Book Award Winner, Author Academy Top 10 Mystery Winner, and Critters Readers Poll Top 10 Finisher for both Best Mystery and Best Young Adult Books. Over thirty of Rosalind Barden's short stories have appeared in print anthologies and webzines, such as the U.K.'s acclaimed WHISPERS OF WICKEDNESS. Mystery and Horror LLC has selected her stories for multiple print anthologies, including FAPA President's Book Award Silver Medalist HISTORY AND MYSTERY OH MY! She is a regular contributor to the STRANGELY FUNNY anthology series. Ellen Datlow selected her short story LION FRIEND as a Best Horror of the Year Honorable Mention after it appeared in CERN ZOO, a British Fantasy Society nominee for best anthology, part of DF Lewis' award winning NEMONYMOUS anthology series. TV MONSTER is her print children's book that she wrote and illustrated. In addition, her scripts, novel manuscripts and short fiction have placed in numerous competitions, including the Writers Digest Screenplay Competition and the Shriekfast Film Festival. She writes in Los Angeles, California. Photo credit: Guy Viau.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
38 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • gl
    4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful fourth addition to the Bunker Hill Mystery series.
    Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery by Rosalind Barden continues from where book three of the series leaves off. Eleven-year-old Sparky has snuck aboard a ship to escape her troubles. Unfortunately, Petunia, a vicious adolescent, captures her. Sparky finds herself with a roomful of obnoxious, wannabe child stars practicing for a performance. She resembles a missing dancer, and Petunia orders her to perform in the girl’s place.

    And so begins another delightful romp with the feisty, fun-sized amateur detective. Sparky is a stow-away on a cruise ship with a group of hopeful, down-on-their-luck actors. Her goal is survival, so the first order of business is food acquisition, then hide. Disaster strikes when someone attempts to kill the music director and Sparky is accused. Humorous situations abound, including cases of mistaken identity, chase scenes, and a food fight.

    Barden’s descriptions of the 1930s are vivid and very much draw you into that fascinating era. The characters are diverse, and the Perils-of-Pauline ending has me eagerly awaiting the next book. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical cozy mysteries.
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  • Geoff Miller
    5.0 out of 5 stars good-spirited fun
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The South Seas Shenanigans: A Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery is the fourth installment of Rosalind Barden’s series about a spunky, freckle-faced eleven-year-old with a knack for getting herself into trouble and finding a way out of it—sort of.

    Sparky hopes to leave her many troubles in early 1930s Los Angeles behind by sneaking aboard a cruise ship taking a group of washed-out silent screen performers to an unnamed island where they hope to restart their careers in a talkie film. While sneaking around the ship for something to eat and a clean restroom, Sparky ends up like a fly on the wall and overhears both actors and crew members wanting to throw a detested music director overboard.

    She’s a cross between Nancy Drew and Hieronymus Bosch, the Michael Connelly cop who always ends up in trouble or suspected of a crime, the difference being that they are serious characters whereas with Sparky, Barden goes straight for the funny bone. The amusement comes in part from the viewpoint of the bright, curly haired Sparky trying to figure out the loony world of the adults. Add to that the wacky dialogue when they discover her hiding under a table in the party room with stolen cream pies and mistake her for an infamous actress who had ruined all of their careers and run off with their money. Barden heaps on the improbabilities to keep the funny engine on high speed.

    Sparky proves more kindhearted than all of them when she realizes the performers were “poor people clinging to the tatters of their former stardom.” But the pity comes to a cold stop when they plot to make her walk the plank for being the hated actress. Finding out how Sparky gets out of this one keeps you turning the pages.

    The South Seas Shenanigans is one of those stories that if you underlined all the funny parts of you’d end up with most of the book marked up. Highly recommended if you need a dose of good-spirited humor.
    One person found this helpful
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  • RLBKBJ
    4.0 out of 5 stars As usual, an entertaining middle-grade read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024
    It isn’t often that I get attached to middle-grade readers’ book series, but in this case, author Rosalind Barden is proving to be an exception to the general rule. The main character, Sparky, is cute but not to the point of being too saccharine to tolerate, and smart but not obnoxiously so, maintaining her eleven-year-old innocence in a world full of complicated adult lives. Most of all, she’s a survivor who manages to get me rooting for her every time. In this volume, she’s stowed away on a ship full on the edge of irrelevant actors and wannabe movie star kids, all wanting to either get their foot in the door of the acting world or stay there. Sparky resembles a child star who grew up swindling men, marrying her way to screen success. But she also finds herself in a position to take the place of a dancer. But as usual, intrigue and mystery happen and the heroine finds herself falsely accused of possible murder. Good stuff. But, it’s the time period and the way Barden immerses her characters and audience into the setting that steals the show for me. This book is well-written and a lot of fun.
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  • Laurie Buchanan
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Joy to Turn the Pages!
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The South Seas Shenanigans is the fourth installment in the Sparky of Bunker Hill Mysteries. Barden's research of the 1930s era is extensive, and it shows with her attention to historical detail. Sparky, with her feisty, tenacious, intelligent, and street-smart nature, makes it a joy to turn the pages and follow her shenanigans, always keeping you on the edge of your seat to see what she'll do next.
    One person found this helpful
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  • ~~Lorralei~~
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sparky is back!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2024
    4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

    The South Seas Shenanigans is Book 4 in the Sparky Bunker Hill series and the crew is back at yet again! This is a fun, historical cozy mystery that is quite enjoyable. I recommend reading this series in order to get to know Sparky and the cast of characters. I love the adventure, drama and mayhem that Rosalind Barden brings to life in these book.

    When Sparky takes cover on a ship and becomes a stow-away, what type of crazy mischief can truly happen? When someone goes overboard and Sparky is discovered....could the suspect be around the corner..

    Definitely read to see what happens with this mystery....
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  • Mr. Craigo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mystery + intrigue add up to an engaging and lucid read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The author has written a terrific follow-up to her Sparky series … 3-dimensional characters and a plot that evolves seamlessly throughout. Top-shelf storytelling.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • MBeyeline
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Misleading Yet Thought-Provoking Read
    Reviewed in Italy on October 10, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    From the cover art and title font, I anticipated a lighthearted, adventurous story, but this book took a very different turn. The plot starts off in an innocent manner but gradually shifts into darker and more adult themes, which caught me by surprise. While I appreciated the depth of the themes, I found myself a bit confused by the protagonist's journey, especially when the story delved into adult concerns such as an eating disorder, mental health issues, body dysmorphia, and the topic of young girls in entertainment.

    The resolution left me with mixed feelings. While the plot came to a close, the weight of the main events felt unresolved to me. I did, however, become interested in the next book, though I would have preferred more closure in this standalone installment.

    This book seems more like a psychological novel wrapped in an adventure façade, which was not what I expected. The story is centered more around acting (literally) and human flaws than the sea adventures implied by the cover and title.

    In conclusion, despite my personal expectations, the book kept me reading to the end, which is a testament to the author’s writing. For that, I give it 4 stars.
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  • Kristina
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sparky walks the plank
    Reviewed in Canada on November 1, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The South Seas Shenanigans is the fourth book in the historical mystery Sparky of Bunker Hills series.
    This time the setting is different. Sparky stows away on a ship and she has no friends to keep her out of trouble. Most passengers on the ship are ex-silent movie actors or aspiring actors. They are excited about the opportunity to play in a movie which will be shot on an island the ship is heading to.
    Sparky looks very similar to a person everybody on the ship had painful experiences with in the past and, of course, she gets in trouble.
    The book reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. Same as the Baudelaire children, Sparky encounters mean kids and adults who put her life in danger more than once. Most of the time I worried for Sparky and had sad feelings about miserable people on the ship. This story could be adapted into TV series that would appeal to the audience who appreciate black comedy and slapstick.
    The book contains a lot of retelling of the events that happened in previous books. I think it slows down the pacing.
    The first book in the series remains my favorite!
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  • Leonie
    4.0 out of 5 stars The latest Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery is as entertaining and engaging as the previous three
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 14, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is the fourth book in the Bunker Hill series of teen / young adult cosy mysteries, and is as entertaining and engaging as the previous three.

    We find the aptly named Sparky, an appealing, resourceful, eleven-year-old street kid, stowing away on an ocean liner, The South Seas, which on first impressions seems almost luxurious. Unsurprisingly the ship, its crew, the band and the other passengers all turn out to be far from how they first appeared.

    As ever in this series there is a colourful cast of characters — vaudeville performers, wannabe actors, passé actors, tap-dancing spangled girls and con artists galore. And, as in previous Bunker Hill stories, the context is the advent of talking movies and the existential crisis that posed for many stars of silent music whose voices couldn’t match their screen presence.

    The reader sees everything through Sparky’s eyes as she explores the ship in search of food with her customary combination of street-smart fearlessness, ingenuity and insatiable curiosity. She gradually pieces together the truth about the motley crew and passengers in the face of great personal danger from which she extricates herself with her usual aplomb.

    The downside is perhaps an excess of exposition, but that is inevitable given the need to provide relevant background on so many characters while keeping the book to a reasonable length. But the prose and the story are sufficiently pacy and captivating to carry the reader along to the cliffhanger ending, which ensures that the next in the series will be eagerly awaited.
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  • Angela Hayes
    4.0 out of 5 stars Historical cozy mystery.
    Reviewed in Australia on October 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    3.5 Stars

    The South Seas Shenanigans is the fourth book in the Sparky of Bunker Hill Mystery series by Rosalind Barden. I have been enjoying this cute historical cozy mystery series which is set in the 1930’s and follows Sparky, the spunky, street smart, precocious tween (11 year-old) FMC on her mystery solving adventures.
    Sparky has had some interesting adventures/cases over the course of the series, and this one sees her running away- well actually stowing-away on a cruise ship that sails her right into a troublesome mystery- with a case of mistaken identity, where a whole lot of trouble is about to rain down on Sparky if she can’t uncover the truth quick-smart.
    Again, as with the rest of the series, the story contains all the historical detailing, language, sights, and societal norms that you would expect from that era- it is richly detailed, and the descriptions are quite ‘visual’, adding an extra element of interest to the story/series. The characters are many and varied- but all are quirky and quite ‘colourful’ individuals. The author definitely did a great job of bringing her characters and story to life.
    Another great addition to this fun series.
    Happy Reading…

    Thank you, Rosalind Barden!
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  • VisserFour
    3.0 out of 5 stars Quirky main character in an improbable scenario
    Reviewed in Australia on November 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I'll start by saying that this is the first book in this series I have read, and it follows from three other instalments. As is always the case to some extent when you arrive late to the party, some context is lost, but I think the author did a good job of establishing the world and our protagonist for newcomers.

    Sparky, alias of Ambrosia Brown, is an 11 year old former street kid living during the depression. Unhappy with her lonely life and unable to fit in at school, she stows away on a vessel purportedly bound for the Pacific, with a passenger manifest consisting mostly of out-of-work actors unable to transition to the talkies. From there, Sparky encounters other stow aways like herself, is forced into showbiz, and learns the true destination of the ship.

    Right away I thought the writing style was fun and helped to personify Sparky as a true wisecracking inhabitant of her era. She's a spunky kid hero who really was an engaging protagonist. For me, the plot didn't really seem to ever get started; I think the adult characters weren't really all that compelling or authentic. At one point Sparky is mistaken for a woman several decades older - I couldn't tell if that was for comedy or the author was dead serious, but either way, it didn't land with me. I also can't tell whether the book is intended for kids or not, since there is a lot of slapstick and the worst thing you can call each other in this setting is fat (there are a lot of references to being fat in this book). On the other hand, I thought the book was a little too cozy for even lovers of cozy mysteries, and the protagonist being a kid is definitely adding to that.

    With all that being said, I can't fault the writing nor the way the author established the setting. I'd recommend this book series to younger readers who are looking for something with a more wholesome vibe.
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