In the tradition of Nancy Drew, four kids and one grandfather in Miami tackle a decades-old mystery in this first book in the action-packed and funny Sherlock Society middle grade series from New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award-winning author James Ponti!
Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring andsweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.
The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.
Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?
The Sherlock Society is a fast-paced middle-grade mystery adventure and the first book in a new series by James Ponti, author of the acclaimed City Spies books. The story follows siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock, who, inspired by their surname, establish a detective agency with friends Lina and Yadi to make money over the summer. Under the guidance of their retired journalist grandfather, their inaugural case leads them on a quest for Al Capone’s rumored treasure in Miami, uncovering unexpected evidence of potential corporate corruption along the way. The story cleverly incorporates the use of the five W’s (Who, What, Where, When, Why) in solving each piece of the mystery, making for an intriguing story, especially for young readers!
The story’s characters are all animated, memorable, and enjoyable to listen to. The story is told from the first-person perspective of Alex Sherlock, a very inquisitive and intelligent 12-year-old. His relationship with sister Zoe is stereotypical of children of that age group, and their dialogue involves a lot of sarcasm and sibling rivalry. Alex’s friends Lina and Yadi both have very unique personalities and bring their own insight to each obstacle. There’s most definitely a “Scooby Gang” vibe to the characters that older readers will appreciate. The grandfather is the perfect addition to the children’s detective agency and becomes their guiding force with his abundance of knowledge and investigative experience from a long journalism career. The grandfather treats all the children as equals when discussing the best approach to solving the mystery and takes everyone’s ideas into account, which is very refreshing and a perfect depiction of healthy intergenerational relationships. With some additional scenes that include Alex’s and Zoey’s parents immersed in the mystery, the story becomes a multigenerational tale that’s heartwarming and unique.
The setting of Miami and South Florida’s Everglades provides the perfect backdrop for an adventure story, and interesting historical facts of the settings are incorporated into the captivating dialogue. The highly descriptive prose of the cityscape allows readers to vividly grasp the vibe and culture in Miami. The Al Capone “hidden treasure” narrative is extremely compelling, and many facts of Capone’s life are revealed during the treasure hunt.
Overall, The Sherlock Society is a must-read for anyone who enjoys middle-grade books, and James Ponti has once again solidified himself as the gold standard for middle-grade mysteries! If you enjoy fast-paced, action-packed mysteries with clever detective work, drones, explosions, twists, family, and friendship, you’ll love The Sherlock Society. Narrator Mark Sanderlin does an incredible job providing the characters with distinct personalities and voices that draw listeners fully into the mystery. With a foundation of great characters and intergenerational storytelling in this book, Ponti has the potential to make this series something special. The Sherlock Society Book 2, tentatively titled Hurricane Heist, should be on the radar for all young mystery enthusiasts!
