The Sherlock SocietyReview posted August 31, 2024.
Aladdin, September 2024. 336 pages.
Review written June 29, 2024, from an Advance Reader Copy sent by the publisher.
Starred Review
James Ponti has a series called City Spies that is wildly popular at our library - I have to keep ordering more copies. So when I saw that he's starting a new series, I wanted to see what the fuss was about.
The Sherlock Society is a fun four-children-working-together middle grade mystery. I can understand the wide appeal. Brother and sister Alex and Zoe Sherlock decide to make money during the summer by solving mysteries, with the help of two friends and their grandpa - who used to be an investigative reporter, and has lots of tips - and a car.
The making money part may not work out so well for them, but while trying to unearth Al Capone's treasure, they find a more pressing mystery - who is dumping chemicals in the Everglades? Is it their fault that following the clues leads them into danger? And can they find the evidence to actually land the crooks in jail?
The mystery has lots of action, good tips from their grandpa, and a believable story even with kid detectives. Four children on an adventure is classic middle grade fare, and I love the way this author pulls it off. I'm sure he's got another hit on his hands.