Books The Reptile Room. Book the Second. A Series of Unfortunate Events No. 2  by Lemony Snicket (Author)

The Reptile Room, the second book in Lemony Snicket's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," follows the Baudelaire orphans as they live with their new guardian, Uncle Montgomery Montgomery, a kind and knowledgeable herpetologist. The children enjoy their time in the "Reptile Room," where they learn about snakes and help Monty prepare for a trip to Peru.

However, danger looms when Monty's new assistant, Stephano, arrives—who is actually Count Olaf in disguise. Olaf poses a constant threat, and despite the Baudelaires' efforts to warn Uncle Monty, Olaf kills him by poisoning him with snake venom. The Baudelaires try to expose Olaf's identity and prove he murdered Monty, but adults like Mr. Poe initially do not believe them. Eventually, with clever detective work and evidence of Olaf's tattooed ankle, the Baudelaires reveal Stephano’s true identity, but Olaf escapes again to continue his pursuit of the Baudelaire fortune.