This is the first book in a trilogy that follows Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance on their adventures in the Mysterious Benedict Society. Each answers a strange ad in the paper looking for exceptional children, and they are the only four that pass the mind-bending test. After being trained by Mr. Benedict and his assistants, the four travel to an isolated school where children are being trained by a criminal mastermind to participate in his schemes to take over the world. The young investigators need to use their special talents and abilities in order to discover Mr.