The Adventure Zone: Murder on the Rockport Limited! is still written by the McElroy’s (Clint, Griffin, Justin and Travis) and still amusing. The bad puns are bad and the innuendos even worse. This time, the story is a smidgen predictable (after all the three main characters return from book one, here in book two). You know that Merle, Magnus and Taako will screw around, goof up, accidentally get a magic spell or two right, drink booze (occasionally tea), play their role-playing game, interrupted by the DM and somehow save the day.
This adventure is separate from book one, but it is good to read them in order. If you know the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game, you will most likely get a lot from it. If you just like fantasy, with some off-the-wall humor, great fashion, and the worlds best detective as a 10-year-old boy who makes references to one of the best bad-lines ever, you will enjoy this too.
Carey Pietsch’s illustrations in many ways are the best part of the story. Their bright colors and detailed panels bring the story to life. You can see expressions, the clues (one fancy bow tie anyone?) and every cut, bump and bruise. This is Murder on the Orient Express meets D&D meets Key Stone Cops.
We shelve this in our adult graphic novel section, but it could be read by a (strong) 14 on up. The language (a few F bombs and such are dropped) and sexual allusions make this not for everyone.