Book 1: The Maze of Bones

Plot Introduction:

After their grandmother's death, Amy and Dan Cahill go on a hunt against other teams to find the source of their family's power hidden around the world in the form of 39 clues.

Synopsis:

The book begins with an elderly woman named Grace Cahill suffering from cancer dying. She asks her lawyer, William Mcintyre, to bring out her new will. She tells him to use the new will before she dies. William then leaves her body and holds a conference with a man in black... Meanwhile, Amy and Dan are in the car, and Dan is busy annoying Amy as always. Other characters are introduced, as distant relatives of Amy and Dan, such as the Holts, Ian and Natalie Kabra, Alistair Oh, Irina Spasky, Ned, Ted, and Sinead Starling, and Jonah and his father, Broderick Wizard. Only a few out of the many mourners are invited to inherit Grace's will.
William shows everyone a video of Beatrice describing her new will. She explains that the Cahill family consisted of famous leaders, inventors, explorers, and artists. Everyone invited will choose between one million dollars or the 1st clue out of 39 as to part of the family's secret source of power. Many choose the one million dollars, but the characters mentioned above, including Dan and Amy, decide to get the 1st clue, to the horror of Aunt Beatrice, who disowns them and sends Social Security after them.
The clue turns out to be the words Resolution: The fine print to guess, Seek out Richard S-------. Before Amy and Dan go away, William tells them the ominous warning: Beware the Madrigals.
Alistair approaches Amy and Dan and offers to make an alliance with him. They quickly find out tin Grace's secret libary, that Richard S------- stands for Richard Saunders, a pseudonym Benjamin Franklin, a Lucian Cahill, used. However, a fire breaks out in Grace's mansion. The Cahilills manage to grab Grace's jewellry and her cat, Saladin, while getting out. However, Alastair escapes with Richard's (Ben's) book, Poor Richard's Almanack, with a message Amy and Dan's mom, Hope, wrote: Follow Franklin, first clue. Maze of Bones. On the way out, they see a man in black watching them.
Soon, the Cahills manage to convince their au pair Nellie to go with them around the world to find the 39 clues. They head to Paris, where Benjamin Franklin, as an ambassador, went to sign the Treaty of Paris.

Cahill Family Overview

The Cahill families:

Lucian: Lucian is comprised of the world's greatest leaders and spies. They have the most confidential information. They're commonly considered the most ruthless of all the branches. They were founded by Luke Cahill, a gaunt man who specialized in trickery and strategy and the oldest Cahill. Lucian is represented by two snakes around a sword. Among the branches former ranks are Benjamin Franklin, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Mao Zedong. Currently, Irina Spasky and Ian and Natalie Kabra are the few remaining Lucian in the world. The Lucian family is lead by Vikram and Isabel Spasky, the patriarch and matriarch of the Kabras.

Strengths: Strategy, planning, cunning

Weakness: Hubris and pride

Ekaterina: We are the wisest of all the branches of Cahill. Our wisdom matches and sometimes outwits our sense of strategy. We've been responsible for some of the greatest inventions in the world, like the light bulb, but we have also created some detrimental things like the nuclear bomb. We are fierce rivals with the Tomas branch because of a rivalry the two creators of these branches had. Our branch was founded by Katherine Cahill, the second oldest who was rumored to have stolen something from her younger brother, Thomas, causing the rivalry of Ekaterina. We were made up of Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla, and Marie Curie. Current agents of the Ekaterina are the Alistair Oh, the Starlings, a few others, and I. We are led by Bae Oh, Alastair's cousin.

Strengths: Extremely wise, very witty, solve thinking puzzles with ease

Weakness: Very individualistic

Tomas: This makes up the power of the Cahill family. The Tomas tend to be explorers and athletes, and bicker constantly with us. While most them lack mental power, they make it up with sheer muscle and determination. Tomas members usually have a short fuse, and insulting them might be the last thing you might ever do. This branch was founded by Thomas Cahill, the third-born who hates his older sister Katherine. The Tomas used to be made of Neil Armstrong, Annie Oakley, and Babe Ruth. Now, the Holts are the few Tomas left. It is unknown who is currently leading the Tomas.

Strengths: Extreme power, iron will, endurance

Weakness: Usually have temper problems and tend to be impulsive

Janus: This artistic branch is Lucian's rival. They've made the greatest works of art. They are extremely art-loving and can easily be distracted by a good painting or a catchy song. We have always been tired of their extreme patience, but we've been known to cooperate with them on several occasions. They were founded by Jane Cahill, the youngest Cahill and a painter, poet, author, and musician. They have had Wolfgang Mozart, Thomas Jefferson, and Walt Disney on their side. Currently, Jonah Wizard and other celebrities are the few Janus left in the world. The branch is led by Cora Wizard, Jonah Wizard's mother.

Strengths: Prodigious artistic sense, creativity, strong perception

Weakness: Fond of all works of art and can be bribed through threatening a work of art

What family do you think you belong in? Go to Cahill Web to find out!

Introductions

I've recently been introduced to the 39 Clues Series, and it's one of the best book series I've ever read. I'll be posting on this blog book summaries, tips for the interactive game, and a first-person account of my adventures on Cahill Web.