Sarah, Hannah, and West are best friends. Nicknamed The Deltas, the friends challenge themselves and their abilities in escape rooms, so when the ultimate escape room temps them in the form of an abandoned fun house, they bite. Lying to their parents, traveling by train, and entering an abandoned building, the friends work their way through "The Triplets" funhouse using their brains, some brawn, and a lot of trust, in themselves and one another. The goal: finish the funhouse to win the treasure at the end and save Sarah's house from foreclosure (and her from moving to Michigan). But, a fifty year old abandoned funhouse is very different from a current escape room. Will The Deltas have enough ability to survive and find the treasure, or is it all for naught?

The Mystery of Locked Rooms is not as amazing as its cover art (which is why I read the novel). I received an eGalley through NetGalley and was very excited to read this novel. I loved the cover and the description of the book; that's where my love ends. I found most of the novel to be forced (especially the dialogue). It lacked exposition to connect the reader to the characters and truly develop the story. It felt like The Deltas were in an escape room, heard about a funhouse, Sarah's dad is sick, now we're at the funhouse and solving it. Oh, and Hannah got kicked out of dance, and West doesn't like how he has a photographic memory (or so it seems). I've worked with middle school students for sixteen years, and these middle-schoolers are not relatable or realistic. I truly thought I was in for an amazing novel, but I was greatly disappointed.

Let me just start by saying while this book may be considered middle grade, I’d easily recommend The Mystery of Locked Rooms to readers of all ages. I love how Lindsay Currie’s books (at least the ones I’ve read so far) don’t shy away from serious issues and how she doesn’t talk down to her younger readers.

Things are rough for Sarah Greene. In the years since her father fell ill her mother has done everything she can to keep up with the bills, but it hasn’t been enough and now their home is about to get foreclosed on. Luckily her friends, West and Hannah, may have a solution. According to local legend there’s a secret treasure hidden in an abandoned funhouse. Well it’s a good thing the three of them are so good at escape rooms because in this treasure hunt they’re going to have to work together and use all their skills. I loved this cast of characters and the story is wonderfully clever. As I said at the start of my review this is a book for all ages, and definitely one I’ll be picking up for my nieces. I’d like to thank SOURCEBOOKS Kids, Sourcebooks Young Readers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Mystery of Locked Rooms.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3LN4ME2AX5A62/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Lindsay Currie does it again. After reading What Lives in the Woods by the author, I knew I'd love all her books. The Mystery of Locked Rooms is my new favorite middle-grade read. I can't recommend this story enough to readers.

The book has so many incredible moments, full of suspense, mystery, and friendship. We immediately meet our fantastic protagonists Sarah, West, and Hannah. They like to call themselves The Deltas, and they are the best at escape rooms. Early in the book, we find out that Sarah's father is very ill, and they may be forced to foreclose their home and move away. Until Hannah mentions the existence of a legendary fun house abandoned in the 1950s, filled with treasure. So the Deltas set out to the adventure of a lifetime to try and save their friendship. I absolutely loved this story, filled with adventure, nostalgia, and so many twists and turns.

For readers who love puzzles and riddles and mazes and math problems, The Mystery of Locked Rooms is a thrilling adventure. They’ll enjoy following the kids on their important quest—and joining in each challenge.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

“The probability of three math nerds who all love escape rooms finding each other and being best friends probably wasn’t good either. But we did”.
I really loved this book. It is written so well and the descriptions of the rooms is spot on. What I also took from this is something we need more of in this world, bonds that are hard to break and teens who have nothing but encouragement and mutual respect for one another.
Sarah and her friends, West and Hannah, are 7th graders who share the love of escape rooms. They find the hardest rooms and try and beat them. However, their close bond may end due to Sarah’s house going into foreclosure and the threat of moving far away to Michigan. Sarah’s family has had a very hard year. Her mom is working two jobs due to her father being diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, leaving him virtually bed ridden. Upon doing some research the friends, known as the Delta Crew, find out about a 70 year old funhouse that has a potential treasure at the end. Lying to their parents, they take a train to another city to try and beat this funhouse created by triplet brothers. The funhouse, like no other escape room they have ever experienced, proves to be frustrating and rewarding. Each kid finds out about themselves and most of all they realize they have trust in one another.
I will definitely be reading this to my teen students and would recommend it for parents and educators.
Thank you #netgalley #sourcebooks for allowing me to read #themysteryoflockedrooms

Thank you to Source Books and #NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital ARC of The Mystery of the Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie. This middle grade novel will be published April 1, 2024. All opinions are my own.

Sarah, Hannah, and West are the best of friends and they refer to themselves as the Deltas. They love to do escape rooms and each bring something different to the game. When Sarah finds out that their house is going to be foreclosed on and she and her family will have to move to Michigan to live with her grandparents, the Deltas come up with a plan: find the treasure rumored to be hidden in an abandoned funhouse.

This was a super fun, middle grade mystery. Escape rooms are very popular right now and this book did a great job of incorporating them. I loved the uniqueness and creativity of the various rooms they faced. I also loved that each room and task taught the characters a lesson. The book focuses on themes related to friendship, growing up, and learning that there are things that are outside of your realm of control, but that ultimately you are resilient and you can survive. The characters were fun and though the idea was a little out there, it’s still realistic and believable. Overall, it was a fun read and kind of perfect for spring break.

If you have kids who like to read, this book would be a great option for them, especially if you're looking for an easy plot to follow. I love the moral of the story, and I appreciate how the characters worked together.

The Mystery of Locked Rooms is a fabulous middle grade novel for those students or readers who love to solve puzzles and challenging limits. When Sarah Greene's family is at risk for losing their house to foreclosure and moving far away to live with her grandparents, Sarah knows she needs to do something to help out her parents. Together with her two best friends they are ready to find a mysterious treasure thought to be at the end of a complex fun house just outside of town. Can the three pre-teens who have mastered numerous escape rooms take on this fun house in a hopes of finding the treasure and saving Sarah's house from financial ruin.

Lindsay Currie does a wonderful job of keeping the book's pace fast and action packed, while throwing in some social/emotional challenges for each of the three main characters to conquer on their own. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Young Readers for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

4.5 stars

Ooh, I really liked this one! Anyone who is a fan of mysteries, riddles, or escape rooms would love this. Sarah, West, and Hannah have been best friends ever since she moved into the neighborhood and discovered West and Hannah trying to rescue an unwilling cat from a tree. They are the three sides of a triangle, and they call themselves The Deltas. Their love of puzzles, riddles, and escape rooms is what ties them together, but their friendship is about to be tested when they discover that Sarah might have to move away because their house is being foreclosed on, due to her dad's Chronic Fatigue diagnosis.

They tell her about a local legend known as the Triplet Treasure that is supposed to be in a run-down abandoned escape house that the Triplets built long ago, but never opened after one of them died. This is when the Deltas decide they will work together to solve the house and possibly find the treasure to save Sarah's house.

I loved all three of the main characters, and I loved that even after being such good friends, they were each able to learn something new about the others that deepened their friendship along the way. I loved the puzzles and how each of them had strengths that the others did not and that together, they formed a strong triangle. Yes, this was a puzzle story, but it was also about the kids themselves. I absolutely loved the ending and while this is a standalone story, I would love to read more books with these characters. I think this is a book that readers of Lemoncello's Library would enjoy. While geared to middle school kids, I really enjoyed it as well and will be recommending this to my own students.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a fun middle grade read The Mystery of Locked Rooms was! Full of fun twists and adventure, the story follows best friends Sarah, West and Hannah, escape room enthusiasts, as they try to escape the ultimate challenge.

Sarah's story is the forefront of this adventure. Her father has a chronic illness that is preventing from working and living life, leaving her mom shouldering all the weight. When the family faces foreclosure in their home, Sarah enlists her best friends, West and Hannah, to help her conquer the ultimate escape room that is rumored to have a treasure - treasure that could solve all their problems! As the story evolves, we learn more about West and Hannah and the tight friendship the three have

The characters are relatable and the adventures the trio has in the amazing fun house as they venture forth to find the purported treasure will hook readers in. Is the adventure fantastical? Absolutely! That's what makes it so fun! The author's creativity shines through and the story moves quickly, keeping the reader engaged.

This is a fast and fun read that will appeal to many middle grade readers. I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

A fun middle grade novel that features three friends who work together to solve an escape-room like funhouse challenge from the 1950s. I didn't find this book amazing. I wanted more options for me, the reader, to be able to solve the challenges. I did, however, love the relationship between the three kids. While there does end up being an actual treasure and a happily ever after sort of ending, the kids themselves realize the special bond they have, standing with each other no matter what struggles they are facing. I may not rave about this book but I would definitely recommend it if anyone asked my opinion.

Lindsay is at it again with another book you “don’t want to put down”, but this time with a mystery/game theme of a novel! Readers will love playing along as the characters explore the funhouse and solve riddles. Will Sarah and her friends win the ultimate prize? Readers will need to pick up this amazing book to find out!

This is quite simply the best middle grade book I've read in a long time! I absolutely loved everything about it!

This gem of a book includes finding clues, cracking codes, and escaping locked rooms in an abandoned funhouse and it is right up my alley!

But the story isn't only a locked room adventure! The kids' backstories create depth, weaving empathy into the narrative as well as providing an appreciation of why solving the funhouse challenge is so important to them. Plus, the friendship between the three main characters is honest, realistic, and quite sweet. I loved Sarah, West, and Hannah in equal measure, and I was invested in their success. The character arcs for all three kids were exceptional and highlighted their growth and vulnerabilities.

The pace of the book was super fast and I raced through it because I felt the same urgency the characters did! I was completely immersed in the adventure!

This book is full of challenges, family problems, fear, growth, danger, and loads of fun. A perfect combination for an outstanding middle grade story. I honestly believe every middle grade reader would absolutely love this book!

Thank you @netgalley and @SourceBooksKids for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed

You will encounter mystery and excitement around every corner as you enter the triplet's Funhouse in The Mystery of the Locked Rooms! I don't know if it is Currie's writing style (as she is specifically known for writing ghost stories) or if it is just the suspense of entering the unknown, but I was constantly expecting something otherworldly to jump out and scare the three friends working through this escape room like funhouse. Locked rooms is an exciting read that I think many youth and adults will enjoy reading for years to come! I loved the themes of friendship, teamwork, and overcoming fears/weaknesses. Sarah and her friends see so much individual growth and growth in their friendships. I love how relatable the characters are with their own struggles as they come to terms with these weaknesses and seek to become better people as they work through a truly dangerous funhouse. Unlike escape rooms that most kids and adults enjoy, this funhouse was built years before safety laws were introduced and so these kids are truly in danger in some of these locked rooms.

This was an excellent middle grade book! I think fans of escape rooms and puzzles will love this one. It is filled with puzzles and riddles that were fun to try to figure out along the way with the main characters.

I did feel like the ending kind of wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly. I know this is for a young audience, but I would have enjoyed a little more out of the ending.

This isn't Currie's usual genre of MG horror, but I think that fans of her previous work will enjoy this one. It is definitely aimed towards the tween audience but with plenty of fun for all ages.

This was just the right amount of fun. Who didn’t want to find a treasure when they were a kid? We buried stuff and made maps to them for each other. So when these kids, escape room enthusiasts, hear about the famous treasure in a never-opened funhouse they are intrigued. When one of them needs that treasure to save her family, they are motivated.

I loved a lot of things about this book. There is the nostalgia for my youth. Our parents never knew where we were. The freedom was almost part of the thrill. I loved the way the characters all know and respect each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I loved how the puzzles were difficult but not impossible. I loved how the characters used previously solved problems to attack the new ones. I love the perseverance.

I am adding this to my classroom library and adding Lindsay Currie to my list of authors to watch for..

Author Lindsay Currie knows her audience. Her readers are thoughtful, clever and love a good adventure.

The Mystery of Locked Rooms offers all that and more.

At the center of the story are Sarah, Hannah and West whose friendship is the backbone of The Mystery of Locked Rooms. These friends depend upon and trust each other in a way that feels absolutely authentic. And even though the story is “about” Sarah, Hannah and West’s personalities are equally realized.

The trio are escape room experts, and the Stein funhouse puts all of their mental and physical skills to the test. Each friend’s specific talents come into play, and they must truly work together to find the treasure.

Currie’s writing is bright and inviting — reading The Mystery of Locked Rooms is almost like revisiting a long-lost friend. Her pacing is spot-on, creating tension balanced with moments of reflection or joy.

The Mystery of Locked Rooms is an engaging middle-grade adventure that should appeal to most kids.

I absolutely loved Lindsay Currie's first foray into middle grade mystery. I have enjoyed many of her horror novels, and this one did not disappoint. I loved this ragtag trio of friends and their love for all things riddles and escape rooms. The way in which each friend brought their unique abilities and insecurities to the story was endearing and had me fully invested in these characters. The premise behind the funhouse and the execution of the concept was masterful. My students are going to love this novel!

What a fun adventure of a book! I was in the edge of my seat wondering if they would make it out if that escape house Alive! The suspense was killing me, absolutely fantastic and will be recommending to both middle readers & adults.

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. I’ve read a few of her other books centered on ghosts. This one has no ghosts, but that’s okay because it is still a fantastic book. We have three best friends: West, Hannah, and Sarah. They are known as the Deltas, as they love math and numbers. Their favorite thing to do together is escape rooms. They are good at them and work perfectly together. Hannah and her family get some bad news. Her Dad has chronic fatigue syndrome and can no longer do much. Her mother is trying to support the family but can’t keep up with all the bills. They get a notice of foreclosure on their house. Sarah is too young as a seventh grader to work but wants to help her family. When her friends tell her about the Triplet Treasure, she convinces them to help her.

The Triplets were separated after their parents died when they were eight years old. They found each other again when they were in their twenties and built this huge funhouse with multiple escape rooms. They were going to open it to the public, but one of the triplets died before that happened, so it never was opened. The house has been abandoned for decades, but the Deltas still want to see if they can find the treasure. A couple of other people have tried, and not only were they unsuccessful, but they were also arrested for trespassing. Will the Deltas be able to conquer the abandoned funhouse? Will they complete it before their parents or the police find out? Will there be a treasure that will save Sara and her family?

I really enjoyed this book; just reading the descriptions of the challenges in the rooms was incredible. I definitely don't think I would do well at an escape room or even this funhouse, but it was a blast to read about it. It reminded me of other books I have read about challenges that people have to solve to get a prize. It sure keeps me on my toes with all of the challenges and wondering if they are going to succeed.