Ingenious kids, summer vacation, clever way to make some money? All this and more in the newest from James Ponti (Framed, City Spies). Siblings Alex and Zoe along with their friends and their retired grandfather set out to investigate some unsolved cold cases. When one leads them into a current mystery, danger abounds. The book has lots of trademark Ponti elements: smart kids, fun gadgets and understanding adults but lacks some of the intricacies and suspense of previous novels. However, you’ll want to see it through and enjoy when the bad guys get their just desserts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aladdin books for the E ARC. Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock of Miami, Florida, and their two friends, Lina and Yadi, need summer jobs, but don't want the typical jobs like lawn mowing and babysitting. They decide to open up a detective agency, with the help of their grandfather, a former journalist, who teaches them the art of investigation, and also drives them around in his old car.
Their first case: find Al Capone's hidden money that was buried decades ago in the area. While they search for clues, they stumble upon an illegal dumping site, that is killing animals so they group quickly switches gears to solve this crime instead.

What I liked: The four kids all had unique personalities and skills that made the team work together well. The plot moves along quickly, as the kids stumble across more and more clues using a combination of old and new technology, and the book is at an appropriate length for wide appeal. Ponti's Framed and City Spies are hugely popular in my library so this will be an easy sell. The cover is appealing (in part because the kids don't look like they are third graders, an annoying trend for middle grade books). I have spent a lot of time in Miami, particularly in the areas where the story takes place, and Ponti brought this setting to life. I will purchase a couple of copies of this.
In some ways, this reminds me of Carl Hiaasen's books, which take place in the same area and are environmental mysteries.

This book was a fantastic, fast paced middle grade mystery adventure. I devoured this book in one sitting and plan on purchasing multiple copies for my middle school library. I see classroom teachers being able to utilize this both in deductive reasoning lessons (5 Ws) as well as surrounding Florida History for our Florida schools. I loved this book and cannot wait for book 2!

Even though it's listed as "children's fiction" it was super cute and as a 25 year old, I really enjoyed it. This was a nice change from my usual genres and I can say that I would definitely recommend to everyone whether they are in middle school or my mom's age.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5 STARS

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery

Synopsis:
Kids open up a detective agency to earn some money and try to find Al Capone’s lost treasure.

This is the first book in Ponti’s new mystery series. I love treasure hunt books and this one was no different. This is set in Miami, Florida and the Everglades where the kids use their grandfather’s old cases from when he was a detective to try and find Al Capone’s treasure. I loved the Florida references, especially the Indian reservation on Alligator Alley which I have passed hundreds of times! There were fun facts about Florida sprinkled in like the current Burmese python infestation and the geography which I love in MG books!
The beginning threw me a little bit because you are thrown right into the action and there is no background for the characters so I thought I had missed a book or this was a spin off series. But, you can easily pick up what is going on and who the characters are within the first quarter of the book.
The treasure hunt and clues were fun, creative, & easy to follow! I will for sure continue to follow the series.

If you like middle grade adventure books with treasure hunts, read this one!

Thank you Simon Kids for the ARC! 🐊

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 A brand new series by James Pinti, yes please! With the last name of Sherlock, mystery must certainly be in your identity! This delightful middle grade novel shows us that solving mysteries and manners should still go hand in hand and mama will always remind you! When school is out for summer, the Sherlock Society has their eyes set on solving the mystery of a missing million dollars in the Miami area! This book definitely lived up to the James Ponti expectations, great writing, fantastic plot, exciting setting, and children with amazing potential and abilities!

Guest review from A (age 11):
I just started to read this, and I’m surprised of how suspenseful it is. The story of two kids who keep getting into trouble, and little details of things such as how they know the police from past incidents! This book is about how to become a detective, normal kid or not. A must read for all ages who enjoy adventure and detective fiction, The Sherlock Society is a book to read.


4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️