The saga of the Deptford Mice continues in this sequel to The Dark Portal. The evil rat Jupiter has been defeated, and the young Deptford mice emerge from the sewers to start a new life in the country. But the albino mouse Oswald is seized by an illness and lies near death. His friend Audrey enlists the help of the ancient squirrel mystic Starwife, who agrees to heal him on one condition. She reintroduces Audrey to the once villainous rat Madam Akkikuyu, whose mind is now broken, and decrees that Madam Akkikuyu must stay with Audrey until she dies.
In the country, the mice find a bucolic existence, until they find themselves embroiled in a series of murders. The country mice suspect that headstrong city mouse, Audrey, is the culprit. But the truth is far more sinister, as Audrey witnesses the return of the supernatural evil she thought had been destroyed.
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"I loved this book as an early teenager and read everything of Robin Jarvis I could get my hands on. It was magical and mysterious. It will stay with me forever. I still have the old copies in my loft somewhere to give to my daughter. "
— Gemma (5 out of 5 stars)
“The final chapters are breathtakingly thrilling.”
— School Library Journal“Enjoyable…stands up well as a foreboding bridge to the trilogy’s concluding volume.”
— Booklist“The Crystal Prison offers fast, entertaining reading for fantasy lovers.”
— Children’s Literature“Like its predecessor, this is a terrific page-turner, drenched in foreboding atmosphere and punctuated with grisly discoveries and sinister revelations…Shivery good fun.”
— Kirkus Reviews" I liked Book 2 better than Book 1, but still am bothered by Jarvis' deus ex machina style of story telling and the personality inconsistencies of his primary character Audrey (the mouse). Nevertheless, I'm going to pick up Volume 3. "
— Peter, 8/10/2013" The story continues wellin the second book of this trilogy. "
— Donna, 7/9/2013" I loved this book as an early teenager and read everything of Robin Jarvis I could get my hands on. It was magical and mysterious. It will stay with me forever. I still have the old copies in my loft somewhere to give to my daughter. "
— Gemma, 3/24/2013" The highly recommended sequel to the Dark Portal. "
— Tim, 1/8/2013" Not as good as the first but it does set up the third book fairly well "
— Christopher, 6/27/2012" ust got reminded of these by the fact they're doing a live version at wimbledon theatre. it was one of my favourites as a kid, i read all these deptford mice books multiple times. great stuff! "
— Talkingtocactus, 6/24/2012" Dark and morbid just the way I like it! "
— Wooga, 1/16/2012" Great continuation to the dark portal, and i must say enjoyed it just as much. "
— Becky, 12/22/2011" Very interesting, a bit darker than Redwall or other rodent novels I like, but still follows the tradition of mice and rat stories, with heroes, villians, and hearts that change. "
— Donna, 8/27/2011" Great continuation of the saga - did not go where I expected it to at first - which is probably why I enjoy Jarvis' novels so much. "
— Virginia, 7/9/2011" While I did like this one a little bit more than the first it was also kind of dark for kids. "
— Jailynn, 6/2/2011" ust got reminded of these by the fact they're doing a live version at wimbledon theatre. it was one of my favourites as a kid, i read all these deptford mice books multiple times. great stuff! "
— Talkingtocactus, 4/8/2011" I liked Book 2 better than Book 1, but still am bothered by Jarvis' deus ex machina style of story telling and the personality inconsistencies of his primary character Audrey (the mouse). Nevertheless, I'm going to pick up Volume 3. "
— Peter, 8/22/2010" While I did like this one a little bit more than the first it was also kind of dark for kids. "
— Jailynn, 1/21/2009" The story continues wellin the second book of this trilogy. "
— Donna, 12/9/2008" Great continuation of the saga - did not go where I expected it to at first - which is probably why I enjoy Jarvis' novels so much. "
— Virginia, 6/8/2008" The highly recommended sequel to the Dark Portal. "
— Tim, 2/5/2008Robin Jarvis was born in Liverpool, England, and studied graphic design in college. He worked in television and advertising before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. It was while working at a company that made characters for TV programs and advertising that he began making sketches of mice. From these drawings, the idea for the Deptford Mice was born. The Dark Portal, short-listed for the 1989 Smarties Book Prize in England, was followed by two more titles in the series, The Crystal Prison and The Final Reckoning. He lives in London.
Roe Kendall (a.k.a. Vanessa Benjamin), a native of the British Isles, graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London. She has performed on stage, as a voice-over artist, and as an audiobook narrator.