Items related to The Haunted Aquarium Castle
Synopsis
Years ago, the oldFreshwater and Marine Aquariummagazine announced the future publication of a novel: The Haunted Aquarium Castle. The magazine broke barriers with WadeRivers/Robert McKinnon short stories (not articles, fiction) on the subject oftropical fish; publishing a novel was way over the top. Thy top runnith over.Two retired schoolteachers, Mini Ann Harper and Jane Mary Emerson, a couple of "Arsenic and OldLace" types, have for years been attending to a monster state of the artaquarium. The riveting centerpiece is a gigantic, mixed bag castle, a gift fromMini Ann's brother, long lost years ago in Germany. At the local pet store onHalloween eve Mini Ann runs into a couple of scary strangers inquiring into thestatus of the castle. It isn't long before the castle starts acting up, and itisn't long before Mini Ann and Jane Mary are convinced the thing is haunted.
But by what?
Good question.
Professor Service,a professor from the University, is called in, and he takes an interest in theweird aquarium inhabitant and determines to "get to the bottom" of it all. Mr.Proteus, owner of the local pet store, swears he never saw anything like itbefore, and it certainly did not come from his establishment.
In the meantime,month-by-month, the anthropomorphic sights and sounds in the aquarium aregetting raucous, and all the lights and sounds aren't coming from the constantparade of gorgeous fishes swimming back and forth through creative, showy plantarrangements.
In addition to theobviously goofy aquarium castle, the sporadic visits of the two weirdostrangers don't do much for peace of mind with Mini Ann and Jane Mary, who onat least two occasions, "from stress," end up in the hospital, renewing oldacquaintances with the two ambulance drivers they had in class in grade school.
"Is our aquariumcastle haunted?"
"I rather thinkso."
In addition to theoverall mystery of the story, each chapter contains a mystery fish to keepreaders guessing, month after month. Some are easy. Some are tougher. And, forthe more entrenched freshwater fish hobbyists, there are a couple of zingers,which will send readers splashing for their reference books.
Nancy Waddell, aretired editor from J.B. Lippencott and Silver Burdett read and helped edit The Haunted Aquarium Castle. She hadthis to say about the story: "Bob McKinnon's The Haunted Aquarium Castleis a delightful read with a bit of mystery and a passel of eccentricity. Hisfinely-drawn characters are real-life all the way; in fact, I swear one of themlives down the street from me. Once again, McKinnon weaves his own expertiseinto a very entertaining and captivating tale."
Think you're good?Think you're an Afishiando? Let's see you name all thirteen mystery fish plusthe bonus fish. The answers follow the story, no fudging!!!!!
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
THE HAUNTED AQUARIUM CASTLE
Reviewed By Susan Sewell for Readers' Favorite
The Haunted Aquarium Castle by Robert Scott McKinnon is a fascinating and spooky mystery. Mini Ann Harper and her roommate, Jane Mary, are ichthyology aficionados. They are fish enthusiasts, and they possess one of the most notable aquariums in the world. It holds four thousand gallons of water and contains an impressive assortment of fish, some which have lived in their tank for thirty-five years. It also accommodates an enormous castle that Mini Ann's missing twin brother sent them when they had their aquarium built. Billy, Sammy, and Joey, three fifth graders who are also interested in fish and are attempting to breed a new variety of guppies, ask if they can view Mini Ann's aquarium. On Halloween, something strange and eerie occurs when Mini Ann is showing her aquarium to the three boys. That is just the beginning; now weird and mysterious things are happening in Mini Ann and Jane Mary's unique aquarium. Is it haunted or have the three boys managed to play a spectacular trick on Mini Ann and Jane Mary?
The Haunted Aquarium Castle by Robert Scott McKinnon is an intriguing mystery with a touch of spookiness. This is a mysterious and intriguing novella about ghosts and a strange creature haunting a fish tank. A Mystery Fish Contest and a coded message to decipher are included for the reader to solve. The book holds clues to help the reader solve the Mystery Fish of the month and the encrypted message. When the reader thinks he knows the answer, he can check to see if he is correct. The author has placed the answers to the contest and the cipher in the back of the book. It is an absorbing story with a surprise ending, and I recommend it to those who love mysteries with unexpected outcomes. This is an engaging mystery, and it is suitable for children aged eight to twelve.
Nancy Waddell, aretired editor from J.B. Lippencott and Silver Burdett read and edited The Haunted Aquarium Castle. She hadthis to say about the story: "Bob McKinnon's The Haunted Aquarium Castle is adelightful read with a bit of mystery and a passel of eccentricity. Hisfinely-drawn characters are real-life all the way; in fact, I swear one of themlives down the street from me. Once again, McKinnon weaves his own expertiseinto a very entertaining and captivating tale."
Great Falls Tribune
Monday September 6, 2004
Tribune Associate Editor Tom Kotynski.........
Greyhound Movie Widespread
Bob McKinnon says Grey-hound Pets of America has secured 50 copies of his Greyhound movie, "Montana I Love Ya'" to go to their 50 charters, to be shown as it was here on public access television. The film is based on greyhound adoption, which he advocates.
He planned to go on Voice of America, a national radio show, with the organization in August, and plans to show the film again in Montana in September.
Dubuque and Council Bluffs, Iowa dog tracks and casinos have been showing the film every day before races in dog track clubhouses and also in casino sports rooms.
McKinnon, who writes for the American Greyhound Review under the assumed name "Maddog McDermutt" is readying his fifth novel, "The Haunted Aquarium Castle," in 13 serialized chapters in Freshwater and Marine Aquarium magazine.
It is a mystery in which each chapter contains a mystery fish where the readers can send their guess for prizes hosted by the magazine and sponsors. There is a bonus mystery fish at the end. All the mystery fish are freshwater tropical fish.
It is illustrated by Tom Quinn, a CMR grad, and son of Jake and Polly Quinn, now of Dana Point, Calif.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherIndependently published
- Publication date2016
- ISBN 10 1519067755
- ISBN 13 9781519067753
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages112
- IllustratorQuinn Tom
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