If you don't heed the author's many warnings not to read this book, you were clearly meant to discover the entire Series of Unfortunate Events, of which this is the first installment. If Harry Potter has reminded us that children enjoy a bit of darkness in their literature, Lemony Snicket has added this reminder that children also appreciate dark comedy.

Released on Friday, December 27, 2002 at The Snicket File geocache in Raleigh, North Carolina USA.

Readers beware!