Second in the Keys to the Kingdom series by Jeff Dixon. This is another one week romp in the life of Grayson Hawkes the new Chief Creative Architect of the Disney company. Chapter one starts with we've found a body floating in the Pirates of the Caribbean. Thus starts the adventure, the body is actually an audio-animatronic. There are a few that abandon their posts in the book, a pirate in the Hall of Presidents as well as Carousel of Progress. Hawk has various different clues that lead him through Epcot and Magic Kingdom towards the latest step in Walt's plan for the future. Another fun mystery filled with Disney World trivia. 2nd time reading it and still loved it. ( )

The adventure that started in The Key to The Kingdom by Jeff Dixon continues in the fast-paced, trivia-packed, mystery novel, Unlocking The Kingdom. Eighteen months after Grayson Hawkes (Hawk) takes over the helm of the Disney empire, things start to go a little haywire at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Pirates appear in unusual places and presidents visit Epcot to enjoy rides. And a mysterious group is threatening Hawk with much worse if he doesn’t turn over the key that controls all things Disney. This time Hawk enlists the help of friends to solve a mystery made just for him and to thwart the plans of the threatening group. But ultimately it is up to him and an attractive journalist to save the kingdom.

Jeff Dixon showcases his seemingly unlimited knowledge of all things Disney. Unlocking The Kingdom is chock full of fun facts behind the building of Walt Disney World as well as the Disney family. The mystery will keep you guessing as Hawk speeds from one clue to the next. This is a non-stop action book. And I venture to say you will never guess who is behind all the mayhem.

A great book for all members of your family. At the end of the book there are trivia questions based on each chapter to test your knowledge and recall — a great way to continue the fun. And the magic won’t end with this book. Looks like Hawk will be back at least one more time for a new mystery to solve. I grew up in Orlando and visited The Magic Kingdom too many times to count during my childhood. The magic never ceases to captivate, and Unlocking The Kingdom brought all that back for me. Now if I can just find time to get back there!

Recommended.

(Thanks to Bring It On! for my review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

Jeff Dixon’s “The Key to the Kingdom” and “Unlocking the Kingdom” are a pair of books that offer a great read to both mystery buffs and fans of Disney World. Heaped full of Disney trivia and insider views of the Magic Kingdom, the story in both books takes the reader on a whirlwind ride full of mystery, magic and excitement (much like the place itself). The reader can either follow the clues or just sit back and enjoy the ride, or both! I received this book from the publisher and bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Title: Unlocking the Kingdom
Author: Jeff Dixon
Pages: 294
Year: 2012
Publisher: Deep River Books
“We found a body floating face down in the water,” is a quote from chapter one in this second book of Jeff Dixon’s series based in Disney World. The above mentioned body is discovered in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. The action starts in chapter one and continues all the way to the last page. This book is just a blast to read! It is very entertaining and will easily grab the reader’s attention from beginning to end.
Grayson Hawkes has now been in charge of Disney World for 18 months. His job as a pastor at Celebration Community Church has been taken over by one of his close friends and staff members; however, he still preaches at one service every Sunday. The three members of his church staff are also now employed in some capacity at Disney World. He has agreed to a journalist and her crew following him around for a few days and interviewing him to give the world an inside look at his life and Disney. This is something he almost immediately regrets. The lead reporter, Kate, pushes her way into Hawk’s current mystery of spare animatronic robots showing up on various rides throughout the Disney Theme Parks. Hawk finds Kate attractive and interesting. He got burned by a woman during his last adventure that eventually gave him the key to the kingdom, so he is reluctant to trust Kate at first. Can he trust her not to share this mystery with the world? If made public knowledge, it would make it impossible to solve the current mystery. Who is putting these robots on the rides and how are they doing it? Can they solve the mystery before “the bad guys” hurt someone? Will they succeed in getting Hawk’s key to the kingdom? Who is behind this?
I admire very much Jeff’s dedication to authenticity and extreme detail in everything Disney. I’ve visited Disney World several times and not noticed many of the things he points out while his main character is searching for clues. I can’t wait to search these things out on my next trip! Jeff is a fabulous storyteller! This is a fun, exciting and entertaining book, as well as series. I hope Jeff continues this series because as the author writes from a Walt Disney quote (though Disney is referring to his parks), “It will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
My rating is 5 stars.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book from www.bookfun.org
The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter @lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )