The Bad Beginning is about three children named Sunny, Violet and Klaus Baudelire. They have rich parents and live in a massive mansion. One day, while out at the beach, the banker arrives and tells the children that their parents have died in a big fire that destroyed the Baudelire Mansion. The children are sent to their closest relative who happens to be Count Olaf, a man that they have never heard of. Count Olaf is really mean and puts the children to work in his dark and scary house.
Unbenownst to the children, Count Olaf was plotting to steal the Baudelire fortune. He was going to do this by secretely marrying Violet in a play called "The Marvelous Marriage". The children have to work together to stop Count Olaf from succeeding.
The Bad Beginning is a mysterious book and is bleak, but the children are clever and it is fun to read how they solve each problem. There are thirteen books in the series and they are all worth the read. The writing uses really descriptive words and even have some made up words. The books are easy to read and very enjoyable.
I would recommend this book to chidlren aged 7 and older.