A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Slippery Slope

Book the tenth in Lemony Snicket’s investigation of the Baudelaire case, also known as A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Slippery Slope is an enthralling read that’s filled with more mysteries, more villains, and a surprise survivor of a terrible fire. 

Things seem to be at their blackest as Violet and Klaus Baudelaire tumble and buffet towards their death whilst their little sister Sunny remains trapped in the clutches of the evil Count Olaf. But thanks to Violet and her great inventing brain, the children escape an otherwise grim fate and set off through the Mortmain Mountains to find the secret headquarters of V.F.D and rescue their sister. Along the way they make a few more discoveries including a coded message, the whereabouts of a last safe place, and a surprise survivor of a terrible fire. 

The series is becoming really exciting now. It seems that at every turn, the Baudelaires come face to face with yet another mystery that needs to be solved if they are ever to find peace and defeat Count Olaf. 

A lot more drama is creeping into the books now as is evident in this one as, for the first time, the Baudelaire siblings are separated and a real sense of desperation and danger comes into play. 

What was nice about this book was the fact that, as the books are getting darker and more dramatic, there are refreshing moments of relief and even romance. I can’t really elaborate any more on that without giving the surprise of the story away, but although it’s very subtly done, it’s actually rather refreshing, like a really strong mint. I really liked it. 

This is also the book where the bigger story comes into clearer view. Now, It’s not just all about Count Olaf trying to steal fortunes, it’s something much bigger, something to do with a crucial piece of evidence that will cover up all Olaf’s crimes forever, but unfortunately the bigger picture is as coded and mysterious as all the other important mysteries that are harboured in this book. Snicket doesn’t make it easy for us. 

Filled with inclement weather, a frozen waterfall, a stupid alphabet pledge, spring rolls, mysteries, and a surprise survivor of a terrible fire, The Slippery Slope is the tenth book in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and is every bit as thrilling and exciting as it predecessors. Love it.