An engaging mystery told simply but eloquently.
Theo’s hobby of researching objects found in river silt leads to his solving a half-century-old mystery.
Theo—an apparently young teenager with a single mom—has an irresistible narrative voice: sincere, sensitive, funny and conversational. Readers will immediately be drawn in by his reference to “something bad” in his town’s history and to rumors of a ghost haunting the bridge where he conducts his river dredging. When he excitedly uncovers an old pocket watch, Theo uploads a photo of it to his social feed and, knowing it’s been underwater for decades, jokingly inquires if anyone recently lost it. Although rattled by an anonymous, threatening reply, he is determined to learn the watch’s provenance. Is it connected to the young traveler who died by “misadventure” in 1967? Theo’s best friend—a blond, freckled girl named Syd—provides a strong, steady complement to his timidity. The pair conduct interviews, pore over old newspaper clippings, and contact a possible descendant of the traveler. Theo’s interactions with local bullies are cleverly woven into the storyline. Spoiler alert: In real life, the new evidence plus other revelations should have prompted Theo to urge local authorities to reopen the case. However, that might have created a darker ending—and the conclusion does satisfy. Characters are cued White.
An engaging mystery told simply but eloquently. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: April 11, 2023
ISBN: 9781459834538
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Orca
Review Posted Online: Jan. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
Breathless action and engaging puzzles make this a page-turner.
In this follow-up to The Mystery of Locked Rooms (2024), young escape artists rashly accept a mysterious game designer’s offer to get a sneak peek at a challenging new set of escape rooms.
Worried by announcements of a new, high-tech fun house that might drive their employer, the Delta Game, out of business, middle schooler Sarah and her friends Hannah and West jump at the chance to give Mystery Mansion a try before it opens to the public. More’s at stake than they suspect, but Currie dispenses with the backstory in a perfunctory way at the end. Her real focus—and the chief appeal here—lies in the set of fiendishly clever escape rooms that she’s devised for the trio and the team dynamics that carry them through: Hannah is the reckless thrill seeker, West is the observant brainiac, and anxiety-prone Sarah has a knack for making correct choices. The story cranks up the suspense, and the Deltas call on all the courage and smarts they can muster, sweeping readers along as they work urgently against the clock to complete the course. Hannah is cued white, West is described as dark-haired, and narrator Sarah isn’t physically described.
Breathless action and engaging puzzles make this a page-turner. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781464234941
Page Count: 248
Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
Delightful fun for budding mystery fans.
Only children, rejoice! A cozy mystery just for you! (People with siblings will probably enjoy it too.)
Debut novelist Cornett introduces the One and Onlys, a trio of mystery-solving only kids: Gloria Longshanks “Shanks” Hill, Alexander “Peephole” Calloway, and narrator Paul (alas, no nickname) Marconi. The trio has a knack for finding and solving low-level mysteries, but they come up against a true head-scratcher when the yard of a resident of their small town is covered in rubber ducks overnight. Working ahead of Officer Portnoy, who’s a little on the slow side, can Paul, Shanks, and Peephole solve the mystery? Cornett has a lot of fun with this adventure, dropping additional side mysteries, a subplot about small businesses, big corporations, and economics, and a town’s love of bratwurst into the mix. Most importantly, he plays fair with the clues throughout, allowing astute readers to potentially solve the case ahead of the trio. The tone and mystery are perfect for younger readers who want to test their detective skills but are put off by anything scary or gory. The pacing would serve well for chapter-by-chapter read-alouds. If there are any quibbles, it’s the lack of diversity of the cast, as it defaults white. Diversity exists in small towns, and this one is crying out for more. Hopefully a sequel will introduce additional faces.
Delightful fun for budding mystery fans. (Mystery. 8-12)Pub Date: April 14, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-9848-3003-6
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Dec. 21, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
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