It seems like every book in A Series of Unfortunate Events just gets better and better. This one was surprisingly hefty, at 350+ pages, but it just flew by. It's got all of the usual elements of books in the series, the black humor, the witty writing, the hints at plot elements to come, and so on. However, this one adds a new dimension, which is a serious consideration of what it means to be a good person, as the three main characters consider the actions they've taken so far, and a fantastic ending that really surprises.

It feels like the books have come full circle, with many of the characters of the first books returning, but we still don't know what's in that sugar bowl. I expect great things from the last book in this series.

Don't be fooled because these books are supposedly for children. There's as much for any adult in here as there is for kids. I also like the way Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) is willing to tackle all sorts of serious issues in a series of book for kids. There is good and evil, and even better, complex moral choices to be made, instead of cartoon depictions of "good guys" and "bad guys".