Mysteries are hard to write. Mysteries for kids are even harder to write--you have to do everything you do in an adult mystery but walk the line of not being confusing but also not being patronizing but also not being too gory but also not leaving out the juicy stuff that kids love as much as adults if not more. It's hard, but Taryn Sounders clearly has a knack because she knocked it out of the park in The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle and she did it again here with Secrets of the Broken House. 13 Year old Tucker is the son of the chief of police in the small town of Everson. He has a talent for noticing small details, which is about to come in handy because the most unpopular woman in town was just murdered and everyone has a motive! This story is hits all the beats you'd expect from a mystery, while also managing to squeeze in some authentic small town flavor and a side story about repairing a broken friendship. A strong recommend for young sleuths.

Well suited to upper elementary age kids, this is a solid and engaging mystery. It features an interesting cast of characters, relationships that are authentic and winsome, and the observations of kids who are smart enough to solve this mystery. Well done, Taryn Souders. This book should be added to every school and public library.

Souders is back with another Southern mystery, this time with Tucker and his friends trying to figure out who killed mean Miss Geraldine. Tucker’s dad is the police chief leading the investigation, but Tucker’s powers of observation combined with the fact that he was one of the last people inside her house means he’s on the case both officially and unofficially. A satisfying mystery with plenty of small-town charm and memorable characters.

In an attempt to get a boat that will improve their summer together – a group of friends undertakes a mission to the strangest house in town. The interactions and dialogue seem natural for the age group and will are believable to the reader.

Scene flow from one to the other, keeping the pace at a good flow and keeping the reader interested in the unfolding plot. Then the mystery bolts to the forefront - Ms Geraldine is found dead the morning after their cleaning visit - and a run-in with the antiques appraiser.

The story rolls along introducing quirky characters through dramatic dialogue between characters as the town discovers the murder (or untimely death) of Geraldine. Each of these little interactions and small scenes serve to deepen the mystery and offer just a few clues. Readers will have a hard time parsing out which are red herrings, and which are actual clues that are intended to solve the case.

A classic whodunnit story with the leads playing the part of young Sherlock Holmes, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew. All the mystery and action reach a dramatic high-stakes conclusion no reader will see coming!

Everyone has a Miss Geraldine in their childhood. When Tucker and his friends offer to help her so that they can earn her old boat, they unknowingly become important witnesses in her murder. Kids will enjoy following Tucker and his friends as they question their neighbors and try to solve the mystery of who killed their neighbor. With so many possible suspects it won’t be easy. After all, who hasn’t been a victim of Miss Geraldine’s threats?

This was another great Middle Grade mystery by Taryn Souders. I was intrigued from the start by the dilapidated house and its cranky resident that had the whole town talking. Tucker is determined to get his own boat, so he can take it out fishing. His friend, Clemmie, comes up with a plan to help him get it. The only problem? It requires them entering the possibly haunted old house and helping a 'sue happy' neighbor with a cleaning project. Sadie quickly jumps on board just for the chance to glimpse the inside of the old house. Soon the three of them are wrapped up in a mystery. They discover a body, become witnesses, and their boat....confiscated as evidence.

This book has a great cast of hometown characters. There are plenty of suspects and twists to keep a mystery lover reading. I love how the author creates relationships and situations with the kids and some of the older characters to impart wisdom to the youth. As the story unfolds, we discover the reason Tucker is so desperate for a boat to begin with, and it turns out there is another relationship apart from the mystery that needs some repairing. I will happily add this to my classroom shelves.

Souders masterfully constructs a charming cast of characters – that includes an eyesore of a house – to furnish a puzzling whodunnit in a south Georgia town where nothing bad ever happens. But something does happen – a murder – and Tucker and his friends must dismantle the mystery before someone else gets hurt. Clues take them from the Freeze ‘n’ Breeze where ice cream is chillin’ to Mama E’s Salon where gossip is flowin’ to Bennett’s Beans where coffee is percolatin’ and the mayor is worryin’. Well-paced and delightful, Secrets of the Broken House keeps readers guessing until the end.
- Julie Lavender, author of A Gingerbread House and other books for children and adults

I'm a big fan of this author's work and this book is her best yet. I was hooked immediately and never wanted to stop reading. The characters all felt real and the small town setting took on an important role in this murder mystery as everyone knows everyone, or so they thought they did. Mysteries have always been my favorite and this one is brilliant, bringing in clues that felt natural when discovered as well as plenty of red herrings to place doubts in my mind as to who committed the crime or how it even happened. The pacing is quick and the ticking clock aspect of solving the mystery ratches up more at the end with a heart-racing twist full of danger that reaches the perfect level for middle grade readers.

This is so much more than a murder mystery though. Tucker and his best friend deal with a huge misunderstanding and Tucker must decide if his friendship is worth trying to save. He also struggles with overcoming his hurt and pride, a universal experience readers will take to heart. I laughed out loud many times with the humorous lines throughout and also fell in love with Van Gogh and his love of Tupperware (give me characters that care for animals and my heart fills with joy every time). I'm going to be recommending this book to everyone. Thank you to the publisher and @NetGalley for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Every young reader deserves the joy that is Secrets of the Broken House! An incredible mystery paired with endearing characters make this fast paced story a gem!