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The black circle

Patrick Carman - Author

Expect a puzzle-led adventure with travel, rival teams and historical mysteries, rather than a quiet standalone story. The search also touches on the Cahill siblings’ parents and the circumstances of their deaths.

More about this book

"A strange telegram lures fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan, deep into Russia and away from the only trustworthy adult they know. Signed with the initials NRR, the telegram launches a race to uncover a treasure stolen by the Nazis and the truth behind the murder of the last Russian royal family. All too soon, the treasure hunt starts to smell like a Lucian trap. But the bait might just be irresistible...what will Amy and Dan risk to find out what really happened on the night parents died?"--container.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Adventure· ExplainedPuzzles· ExplainedRivalry· Explained

Consider

Violence and harmFear and suspenseViolence

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

adventurepuzzlesrivalryfamilyRomanovsmurder mystery

FictionNovel

Themes in Context

Clues, travel and pursuit

Amy and Dan follow a telegram and a trail of clues across Russian cities while competing with other clue-hunters.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The plot is organised around successive clues, travel and encounters with rivals, giving the adventure a brisk, puzzle-led shape.

Talk about: Which clue or change of location most helps you follow the trail?

Family history and historical mystery

The search connects a Romanov-era mystery with clues about what happened to Amy and Dan’s parents.Provisional reading

Talk about: If these family questions feel important, what do you think Amy and Dan hope to learn?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The Russian trail links a fictional treasure hunt with the Romanovs, Rasputin and the Amber Room. It may suit a reader who enjoys following clues and meeting historical references along the way.

What Deserves Attention

The story includes a pursuit by rivals, an attack, hiding in a coffin, and references to murder—including the Romanov family’s death and the siblings’ parents’ deaths. These elements may prompt questions or feel intense for some readers.

A Conversation Worth Having

If the Romanov history catches your reader’s interest, what would they like to find out about the real people and places behind the clues?

Reading Approach

If reading the series, consider starting with an earlier instalment: this is book five, and the siblings’ family mystery carries over. The audiobook edition is unabridged and read by David Pittu.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Clues, travel and pursuit: . The story follows a clue trail across Russian cities and encounters with rivals.
Family history and historical mystery: . The family mystery connects the siblings’ search with the Romanov-related clues.

The black circle by Patrick Carman | Open Library

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Clues, travel and pursuit; Family history and historical mystery

The Black Circle - Wikipedia