Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: A Pseudo Murder Mystery in Hogwarts

Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

So I’ve been listening to Harry Potter at the gym on Audile and I decided to go through every book. This includes the one that vowed once to never read again. It’s The Chamber of Secrets. I was forced to read it in elementary school and hated it. Loathed it so much, I hated Harry Potter for years to come. It wasn’t until senior year of high school I read the following books. And even more years later as I was going back through the books I wonder was it really that bad? Well let’s find out. Here is my review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling.

What is it about? It follows Harry Potter in his second year at the wizarding school Hogwarts. As he and his friends attend classes, something fowl is afoot. Someone with powerful magic is petrifying mudblood (non pure blood) wizards and various messages are showing up speaking about the Chamber of Secrets. Dobby, a mysterious house elf tries to keep Harry from going to school and then continues to try to get him removed throughout the mess. Gilderory Lockhart, a handsome self-centered celebrity wizard is making the school worse through his own carelessness which he is oblivious to. And Harry starts hearings strange voices throughout the school suspect it might be the attacker.

So the good? To be fair this book is not that bad. It’s a well thought out mystery and ten-year old me wanted some more exciting to happen surely. It has wonderfully placed red herrings. It also expanded the world. The introduction of racism against muggle born and mixed blood wizards exposed a darker side of the world. The story itself had a much more grown up tone. It’s a nice change to the super light hearted first book.

The bad? This book is a well told pseudo murder mystery in Hogwarts but has little to do with the rest of the series and has a completely different tone. Many consider this the black sheep of the series and I can see why. It’s a slow burn mystery opposed to an enchanting adventure.

Overall, it’s not bad. It’s just different. It’s a well written mystery. A little more adult and very dry for children. I hated it as a kid. As a Harry Potter book, it may be the worst but it is still a well told story worth reading. If you like mysteries or enjoy Harry Potter this is for you.

3 smoothies out of Four.

Overall Rating: A Pseudo Murder Mystery in Hogwarts.