RATING: 7 out of 10.
VERDICT: A more than satisfying sequel to the excellent "Awful End".

Book Two of the Eddie Dickens trilogy (following the excellent "Awful End"), "Dreadful Acts" sees our young hero enduring another series of Pythonesque episodes involving his crazy family, an escapologist, some stolen jewels and a gang of escaped convicts. Oh, and Eddie falls in (unrequited) love for the first time, with the escapologist’s lovely camel-faced assistant, Daniella.

Although not quite as funny as the first book, "Dreadful Acts" is still very, very amusing and can still be enjoyed whether or not you have read "Awful End" (if you haven’t read it, why not?). Kids will love it and adults will love reading it to them. It’s certainly much more fun than reading about a young four-eyed wizard with a lightning-bolt scar on his head. A must-read. Oh, and we can’t wait for the third book.