'Who Could That Be at This Hour?'

Also Published as "All the Wrong Questions: Question 1"

By: Lemony Snicket

Narrated by: Liam Aiken

•A New York Times Notable Children's Book of the Year

•A Kirkus Best Book of the Year

•A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

★ "Fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events will be in heaven."―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Before the Baudelaires became orphans, before he encountered A Series of Unfortunate Events, even before the invention of Netflix, Lemony Snicket was a boy discovering the mysteries of the world. This is his story.

In a fading town, far from anyone he knew or trusted, a young Lemony Snicket began his apprenticeship in an organization nobody knows about. He started by asking questions that shouldn't have been on his mind. Now he has written an account that shouldn’t be published, in four volumes that shouldn't be listened to.

This is the first volume.

The mystery continues in When Did You See Her Last?, Shouldn’t You Be in School?, and Why Is This Night Different from All Other Nights?, all available now.

"Please, it's Lemony Snicket. Enough said."―Booklist

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2012 Daniel Handler (P)2012 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"A Pink Panther-esque page turner that marks the return of eccentric narrator Lemony Snicket....The black, gray and blue illustrations by celebrated cartoonist Seth only add to the throwback gumshoe vibe of this outrageous, long-overdue, middle-grade follow-up series from a truly beloved narrator."—Los Angeles Times

"Demands to be read twice: once for the laughs and the second time for the clues....Equal parts wit and absurdity."—The Boston Globe

"The sort of goodie savored by brainy kids who love wordplay, puzzles and plots that zing from point A to B by way of the whole alphabet."—The Washington Post

Interesting book

Even as a kids book the plot is kind of 'grown up style'. Very serious and makes you think. Very enjoyable

Worthy follow-up to that series of unfortunate events

Despite absolutely loving the original series, I felt like I was done with it on completion. I sat on this prequel series for a long time, and the synopsis on the back didn't really seem to help interest me at all. After the slowly-burning, intricate and deceitful world that was created in the originals, did I really want to read a very short book about some kid doing detective work - even if that kid was Lemony himself?

Turns out it was my mistake for waiting so long to pull the trigger on this prequel series. It has the same sense of strange dread and incredibly contrived situations that somehow feel deep when though should feel trite, however it is also distinct enough to stand on its own. Whereas the original series was a slave to its own constantly repeating imagery, word-tricks and symbolism, this is a (comparatively) more straightforward tale. As much as I loved the mechanics of those original series, it turns out Handler can write just as well in that world without making it an exercise in literary whirlpools.

There are a few "a word which hear means"-es though.

As for the story: just read it. Great characters, great location, great writing. The audiobook production is great too (though of course I miss Handler and Tim Curry, as well as the Magnetic Fields songs).

Finally, SPOILERS:

So I guess the bominating beast is the Unknown question mark which devoured so many Unfortunate Events characters?

Sooooooo good

Oh my gawd this is so good!
A series of unfortunate events was good but this is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You should read all the others.

Unique Writing Style

I haven’t read ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ but I really love this series. I think his writing style is really cool and unique. I just wish there were more books in this series!

If you liked a series of unfortunate events, you'll love this one!

I recommend this title to anyone who loved a series of unfortunate events, and everyone else who loves books that are both realistic and imaginative and filled with beautifully random sensory detail. The writing crosses all boundaries of age and gender,– – This may be a children's book but as a grown-up with a masters degree in English, I couldn't think of a more fulfilling, stimulating read.

this book was great.

I loved this book so much that I've been reading it nonstop for 2 hours.

witty, clever tongue-in-cheek mystery

if you enjoy Lemony Snicket's sense of humor you will enjoy this first volume.in the series. Full of interesting characters, odd ball settings, and witty, and odd, banter.

THE BEST BOOK EVER

I love this book it's so good it is really
Wired butt I love it the book you can get
For a kid

the illustrations are the best!!

so,I noticed that the person who read the book is Liam Aiken who acted as Klaus in the movie a series of unfortunate events and I liked the illustrations
very very very much it was a good book

Let's make it a FIVE! So many questions...

I enjoyed this book. It's quirky, extremely funny, and truthfully a darn good mystery. I have so many questions about the characters, plot situations, etc.
Definitely worth the credit.
Definitely worth buying the next book!