This is a wonderful story of friendship, the importance of working together, mystery and suspense. The favorite activity of Sarah and her best friends West and Hannah is escape rooms. Sarah's father becomes ill and life starts to get more difficult for her family. When Hannah mentions a rumored treasure in an old fun house they decide to try to find it to help Sarah's family. Relying on their escape room experience the three start out on their quest to find the treasure. Each one has their best abilities and it will require working together as a team to progress through the house.

This book was engaging and drew me into the challenges. The characters are very likeable and relatable in their own struggles and secrets. I can see this being a very popular book in our school libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me access to this title.

This book was so much fun! As a huge fan of escape rooms myself, I had such a blast escaping through the fun house with Sarah, West, and Hannah, the members of Team Delta and best friends.

Sarah's family has been having a hard time. Her father is terminally ill, her brother is trying to get excited about attending a college he doesn't actually want to go to, and her mother is trying hard to keep the family together. When Sarah comes home one day and discovers a foreclosure notice on her front door, her best friends convince her to try to find the rumored treasure hidden deep inside an old fun house from the 1950s. Sarah and her friends are great at escape rooms and if anybody can find treasure, they can. Together, they embark on the adventure of a lifetime and realize what true friendship really means.

I loved this book. Once I started it, I had to finish it in the same sitting because I had so much fun solving puzzles and working through this crazy house with these friends. I loved how they did research before they got there, and that their parents actually got concerned about where they were. It felt realistic, and Sarah's life as she knew it was at stake. The friendship here was so sweet, and I fell in love with all of the characters. They knew each other's strengths and weaknesses and encouraged each other all along the way. It was so lovely.

This book will be great for fans of mystery novels, adventure, and friendship stories. This is a great book for reluctant readers and younger readers that are reading at an older level.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of The Mystery of Locked Rooms. Since reading Scritch Scratch, I've been a fan of Lindsay Currie's. Her thrills are tame enough for the middle grade set, while also being scary enough to make me nervous if I'm home alone. When I saw her latest listed on NetGalley, I knew I had to give it a try even though the cover was much brighter than her usual fare.

I was not disappointed. As a lover of mysteries and escape rooms myself, I am always fascinated when an author lays out a plan for a room that makes me feel like I'm there. Though I would never categorize the Deltas as the central characters in a horror story, I thoroughly enjoyed their growth as they encountered tense situations. As a story of friendship, this works well. As an escape room story, it shines. As middle-grade fun, it hits every mark, including the ending that's tied with a bow.

Overall, I really did feel like I was reading a modern-day Goonies set in a funhouse. As an adult, I had some questions about the ending, but the target audience won't ask those questions. I can't wait for my son to read it and to share it with our elementary librarian.

To start I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now, onto the review!

This book hit me in a sensitive place. Our main character Sarah and her two friends love escape rooms. They have a team name: the Deltas, and they’ve just beat a difficult room and won a shirt. It’s what Sarah loves to do. She moved here, no friends, found these two, West and Hannah and they’ve been inseparable.

Which is good for Sarah because her father is disabled by CFS. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. And at 12 she’s having a hard time with it. She wants her dad to hang out with her and her mom. Wants him to play games, go outside. Be able to get out of bed. She doesn’t want her mom to have to work so hard. To be stressed and worried.

As someone who had disabled parents growing up, that hit me hard. That sensitive place will never not be too sensitive it seems.

I think the writing was done fairly well. Sarah’s concerns for her father and mother felt real. I remember having those thoughts. That upset. It’s a hard thing to go through.

Made even harder when Sarah comes home, hype of her win with her friends, and learns the house is being foreclosed on. It’s just too expensive and her mom can’t make the bills meet.

This broke my heart. Remember that sensitive thing? Yeah, this book got me bad. Going through a foreclosure is never easy. Add in a disabled parent and the fear of losing everything, your home, your friends, and it’s painful.

Now, there is no diversity in this book. Which is upsetting because I loved the characters. Each of them had their own faults and those faults played a big part in the story. They caused issues as the kids are trying to pursue their goals.

It was nice seeing all three of them grow. So many side characters get left behind when it comes to growth but not these two!

And what is their goal? To find the treasure hidden in an abandoned fun house. It’s Sarah’s plan to save her family’s home.

This book was really good. I think a lot of kids will enjoy it. I really loved it and it healed a little part of me I think. I appreciated it.

So I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

Lindsay Currie’s “The Mystery of Locked Rooms” is her latest middle grade novel. It follows three friends, Hannah, Sarah, and West, known as The Deltas, as they navigate their way through the mother of all escape rooms, a very large unfinished structure built by triplet siblings in the 1950s that is rumored to have hidden treasure available to whomever is smart and brave enough to endure the challenges of what they saw as their funhouse.

Sarah, Hannah, and West are three best friends who love escape rooms. They’re also extremely good at solving them. They stumble upon an unfinished funhouse that they simply must try, even though there are “No Trespassing” signs all around and 2 other people who attempted to get inside were arrested trying to do so. But that doesn’t deter The Deltas. They are determined to get through this funhouse and find the hidden treasure that Sarah desperately needs to save her family from foreclosure and a possible move away from her friends.
If you like escape rooms, then this novel is for you. The Deltas love, support, and encourage each other, which is what true friendships are. They work together as they attempt to solve each new challenge that they incur as they work through each room, determined to save their friend’s future. This book has a lot of positivity that all young teenagers can learn from set in a backdrop of adventure and mystery as each one confronts and conquers fears they have while also learning about the power of friendship. The ending is satisfying as well.

However, you don’t have to have any knowledge of escape rooms to enjoy this fast-paced novel. The chapters flow together very well, and although geared toward middle grade readers, adults reading will have a hard time putting this one down. Each chapter seems to end on its own little cliffhanger, begging the reader to continue until the end. Parents reading with their kids can challenge them to guess what the next move the Deltas can do to improve their odds before embarking on reading the next chapter, sparking great conversation, which is what a good book should do.

So do yourself a favor and pick this one up, either to read for yourself or to read with your children. You won’t be disappointed, and you might even want to tackle that real escape room your kids have been bugging you to try once you get to the end of the book.

This page-turning Escape Room adventure features three 7th graders who are whizzes at figuring out clues to get them out of the town’s Escape Room game locations. But this time, there’s more at stake than just getting out before the buzzer; this time there’s a treasure that could save one of their families from losing their home. Whether or not you’re a champion riddle solver or just love a good “can they do it” book, this one should be on your list.

Beware of wrong choices; for those you shall pay. Be wise and choose carefully; strategy saves the day.


The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie

Release Date: April 2, 2024


QUICK SUMMARY
Sarah Greene and her friends have a knack for Escape Rooms in town. But her struggling parents receive a foreclose notice leaving Sarah with the very real possibility of leaving her friends when he family will be forced to live with her grandparents until they're back on their feet.

Feeling helpless, Sarahs friend mentions a treasure rumoured to be in the walls of an abandoned fun house that was never opened.

Sarah and her friends decide this is the only way to save Sarahs family from being forced to move. The quickly realize they're in the toughest Escape Room ever.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Thank you @NetGalley & SOURCEBOOKS Kids for this copy of #TheMysteryOfLockedRooms by @LindsayCurrie.
This book is now in my top three faves by Lindsay, it was so much fun even though I felt my age with some of the comments from these kids.... SOMEONE NAMED INDIANA JONES?!

This book is filled with puzzles and mysteries and some tough topics done in a way young people can understand. I love the friendships of these three kids, they're real and they're so relatable to kids that age.

I also just found out today, there will be a book two to this series so even better!

This story is perfect for those students who are fans of Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library or even just escape rooms in general. Engaging story about three seventh grade friends who are obsessed with solving escape rooms and use those skills to try to solve their most challenging one yet and claim the treasure. Sarah, Hannah, and West each bring a special talent to their group which helps them excel at solving riddles. When Sarah’s house is threatened to be foreclosed on, and they hear of a fun house/escape room that offers a prize, they decide this is their chance to use their skills and save her home.
This would be perfect for third through eighth grade. The characters are well developed, likable and relatable and the story itself is filled with puzzles, mysteries and adventure. I can’t wait to add this to our school library!

The Deltas, 3 friends in 6th grade, have just beaten one of the hardest local escape rooms. Due to difficult times in Sarah’s family’s life, her family needs money. The Deltas turn to a fun house that has been rumored to contain treasure - but it’s been abandoned for decades.

I loved the relationship between the Deltas - how they cared for and supported each other through sharing a deeper aspect of each of their stories. They had such kindness and grace for each other.

I would definitely read this one aloud to a class or recommend it to my students.

#TheMysteryofLockedRooms #NetGalley

Meet the Deltas: three seventh grade self-proclaimed "math nerds" who love puzzles and escape rooms. When Sarah learns one day that her family might lose their house to foreclosure (her dad has CFS and her mom works two jobs) and have to move to Michigan to live with her grandparents, she is desperate. Her fellow Deltas, Hannah and West, decide they need to do something. When they hear about a possible treasure waiting to be claimed in an abandoned 1950s funhouse, they decide to put their prodigious escape room skills to good use. Determined to find the treasure so they can stay together, the three friends sneak into the abandoned building, despite the No Trespassing sign. But, this house isn't your run-of-the-mill escape room and there's not just one room to get through. To top it off, none of their phones have service so they can't check in with their parents. When they go the wrong way and one of them gets trapped, will they be able to figure things out, or will they be trapped forever, leaving their families to wonder what happened.

Filled with puzzles and mysteries and adventure, this is an awesome middle grade book! If you enjoy escape rooms or riddles or puzzles, you will enjoy this book. I also appreciated the characters being realistic and the friendships playing out in realistic ways. The ultimate ending was a bit of a surprise, too! 4 enthusiastic stars!

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Fun! Fun! Fun!

I will read everything Lindsay Currie creates… known for her spooky novels… don’t let this one fool you it is an adventure that still evokes a sense of that eerie and some what unsettling feeling that I think her readers will appreciate.

Following three friends… AKA The Deltas… escape room enthusiasts, make a plan to tackle the legend of a local abandoned/never opened funhouse… rumored to have a treasure for whoever completes it. With great reasons… they NEED that treasure. It was a grand adventure… with claustrophobic moments, twists and turns, puzzles and mind bending riddles this is a quick read I’m sure many will enjoy! The comps of Willy Wonka and The Goonies are spot on!

Can’t wait to hear what the kids think!

Thank you Sourcebooks Young Readers
Releases 3/2

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The Mystery of Locked Rooms is a fun romp! Three friends: Sarah, Hannah, and West spend their free time trying to beat every escape room in town. When Sarah's house goes up for foreclosure the friends come up with a plan to save Sarah's house and family. A rundown fun house at the edge of town had been built years ago by triplets who wanted to create the most complicated and spectacular funhouse ever. Additionally, rumor has it that whoever is able to complete the funhouse will receive a treasure. The characters are well developed and likable. The solutions to the rooms and riddles--very imaginative. There are occasional moments of unbelievability, but overall Currie provides readers with an entertaining read.

One Sentence Summary: Three friends solve the ultimate escape room to stay together.

Reminds Me Of: The Westing Game meets 39 Clues series

Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1) Fun middle grade book set in a "escape room" style house that's been abandoned for years
2) There are lots of clues for you to try to solve as you go
3) A good mix of emotional moments, realistic struggles, and adventure

One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick This Up:
This MG novel deals with some serious topics including a family that is struggling in more way than one. Please reading the warnings if you have sensitivities.

Content Warnings:
Anxiety, Grief, Hardship, Eviction/Losing Home, Chronic Illness (CFS), Financial Strain, Struggles with self confidence, Neurodivergence, Facing Fears

Favorite Quote:
Fortune favors the bold.

Fun quirky book that I think kids will enjoy. I loved the relationship between the 3 main characters and how they encourage and support each other throughout the story. I couldn't wait to find out what challenge was next as they went through the fun house.

This was such a fun story and such a fun step away from Lindsay's usual spooky middle grades.
It felt like a modern day Goonies retelling and I love The Goonies. Main character Sarah's family is in danger of losing their house after her dad is diagnosed with CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and cannot work. Sarah along with her friends Hannah and West LOVE escape rooms. When Hannah mentions the long running rumor that an abandoned funhouse built in the 1950's has a hidden treasure in it, the group decides to try to find it to save Sarah's house. It's the biggest and oldest "escape room" they have attempted. And not only that, it's got No Trespassing signs all over it. They will need to sneak in and find their way out without getting caught.
First of all, these 3 characters are so cute. They have such a bond and such a (non-romantic) love for each other. They all have things they are really good at, and things they are self-conscious about that they end up sharing with the others and overcoming.
The plot is obviously very fun. The house is just so imaginative. Every room is completely different and has so many twists and turns to figure out how to get out of them, I never saw anything coming. There was one line towards the beginning that (to me) made it obvious how it was going to end, but I think if I was the targeted middle grade audience, I probably would have missed it and been very surprised. The ending was really fun and had a cute little twist at the end.
I will definitely be recommending this one to any middle grade friends!

I absolutely loved 'The Mystery of Locked Rooms' by Lindsay Currie. Main character Sarah, and her friends West and Hannah, love the challenge of escape rooms. When Sarah's family is threatened with losing their home, the three band together to try to tackle the ultimate escape room - a whole 'fun' house created by triplets who promised a fortune if anyone could complete it. Breaking into the fun house in search of the fortune is one thing but the three must also get out of the house successfully. It will test their puzzle and reasoning capabilities as well as the bonds of their friendship. With lots of twist and turns, the book keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they try to figure out the puzzles along with Sarah, West, and Hannah. All three are likable characters with strengths and flaws that come out as they work together.

This would be a fun book to read with a class or a book club as the book inspires so many activities that could bring it to life. Hand this one to readers who love puzzles, escape rooms, and mysteries. They'll be asking for more!

Team Delta consists of best friends Sarah, West and Hannah and they have just beat the second hardest escape room in Escape City history. Their victory places them among the topmost elite teams that have ever completed this level. Together Team Delta feels invincible. That is until the team experiences a major setback when Sarah finds a foreclosure notice in her mailbox. Sarah's mom has been working two jobs, as her dad was recently diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and hasn't been able to work. Sarah's older brother Sean is supposed to head off to college soon, but her parents are worried about where the money is going to come from. Now with the foreclosure notice, they need to get some money fast, otherwise Sarah and her family might have to move in with her grandparents in Michigan, which would end up breaking up the team.

Then Hannah remembers a story about an old, abandoned funhouse from the 1950's. As the story goes, the funhouse was constructed by triplet brothers, Karl, Stefan and Hans Stein. The brothers were orphaned at the age of eight and ended up separated, only reuniting later as adults. They had always dreamed of building a funhouse together to share with the public. Unfortunately, they all died before the funhouse opened. According to the legend, hidden somewhere in the house there is thought to be the Triplet's Treasure, a reward for whoever can survive the house's secret passages and riddles. Many have tried, but none have been successful in making it past the mirror mazes and optical illusions. Since then, the funhouse's treasure has gone unclaimed. Hannah, Sarah and West believe that finding the treasure is the answer to all of their worries and so they make plans to enter the funhouse to solve its mysteries, as losing each other is too great of a risk.

Once inside the funhouse, Sarah, West and Hannah begin to feel some success but also make a couple of wrong guesses, for which they suffer a penalty and have to change their plans and redo a few steps. The trio also begins to worry that trying to solve the funhouse's mystery was a bad idea as they didn't tell anyone where they were going and now, they can't even get a phone signal to call for help if something goes wrong. But going back is also not an option so the team continues on. As the trio ventures further into the various rooms they face even more difficult tasks and begin to wonder if the triplets were really diabolical and whether they have what it takes to solve this puzzling house, as this place is unlike any escape room that they've ever attempted before.

I just adore Lindsay Currie's books and The Mystery of Locked Rooms was a fantastic read, part suspense, filled with puzzles, riddles and precarious hidden passages that pose potential dangers around every corner. Highly recommend it for fans of Goonies, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and even Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library. And oh, my what a task this trio faced navigating through these sixteen rooms with only a hope that there was going to be a treasure waiting at the end. I quite enjoyed Sarah, Hannah and West, and the friendship that they share. The way that they start confiding some of the secrets that they've been hiding. How Hannah feels like she's failed as a dancer, and how West feels burdened by his exceptional memory. I really liked how Currie highlights each character's worries, and skills while giving them an opportunity to show their strengths, be it Hannah's agility and balance, to West's ability to solve riddles and his memory skills, to Sarah's decision-making skills, ability to keep track of the time and determine the probabilities of risks. There was such a nice balance in seeing each of them have a moment of success. I also really enjoyed learning about the history of the Stein triplets. It added a layer of mystery to the story which was fun. It was also exciting to see what strategy the trio used to solve each riddle and how important attention to detail played in some of the clues and how at other times they had to just make a choice, come what may. Taking a leap of faith. Overall, this was creative, exciting with just the right length and perfect pacing to entertain a sleuth who enjoys escape rooms, riddles and solving puzzles. **A huge thank you to Sourcebooks for the E-ARC via NetGalley**

I love the escape room idea! The entire house escape room was really fun. I loved the characters and thought they were well-developed. While I would love a series with these characters, I thought the book wrapped up well and seemed like a standalone (and that's okay, too!). I will look for others by this author!

A fun, escape room mystery. Very plot-based with lots of cute problem solving. There's also a good, overarching message about friendship and perseverance—trying your best, no matter the situation.

While I really liked the premise, I thought the character development was a bit thin. The MC just wasn't very interesting. And the conclusion of the book leaned toward lackluster and uninspired—too fairy-tale perfect to maintain any semblance of believability.

Still, for those interested in escape rooms, there is some good material in this book. And the writing, itself, is solid.

Mystery of Locked Rooms is a fun, riddle filled mystery centered around three friends and an abandoned house full of puzzles and secrets that may or may not end with a treasure. I enjoyed every page and loved each of the Delta’s! Each character stood apart and had their own motivations and growth throughout the book. I can’t wait to put this book in student’s hands and I know they are going to devour it as quickly as I did!