When a category three hurricane hits Miami Beach, it uncovers a body buried at the renowned Moroccan Hotel. The body is identified as the man who served as the hotel’s bell captain sixty years ago…and the presumed culprit of the million-dollar jewel heist that took place just before his disappearance.
Since the bell captain clearly didn’t take off with the goods as had been long believed, the Sherlock Society sets their sights on uncovering the real culprit of the theft. But when the thief may also be implicated in the bell captain’s murder, even sixty years later, there are people who want the truth to stay buried!
The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist is a middle-grade mystery adventure novel. It’s the 2nd book in The Sherlock Society series, and the story picks up shortly after the events of book one. It’s possible to read this book as a standalone, as the author gives detailed backstory as to what transpired in book 1!
The story begins as Hurricane Clyde tears through South Florida, churning up human remains linked to an unsolved 1964 hotel jewel heist and reopening a cold case that pulls The Sherlock Society members back into action. Soon, Alex, Zoe, their grandfather, and friends (Yadi and Lina) follow a breadcrumb trail of codes, ciphers, and long-buried motives in an attempt to solve the decades-old mystery!
The writing is snappy, funny, and surprisingly very intricate for a middle-grade mystery—even more so than the first book! The chapters are short, and many end in mini-cliffhangers that will keep readers furiously turning pages! The story has a dual timeline and dual POV—and both involve major South Florida hurricanes! In 1964, the story is told via 12-year-old Pete’s POV (Alex and Zoe’s grandfather) as he and his father are interrogated by the FBI after their hardware delivery coincides with real-life Hurricane Cleo and a jewel heist at the glamorous Moroccan Hotel! Alex’s present-day animated POV immerses readers as (fictional) Hurricane Clyde hits Miami, unearthing clues that revive the 1964 unsolved mystery!
The Sherlock Society’s dynamic is the real hook of the story, as each member brings something unique to the mystery-solving table—Alex’s incredible pattern-spotting, Zoe’s moxie, Yadi’s tech skills, Lina’s calming presence, and Grandpa’s journalist experience and community ties! Together they manage to come up with a list of suspects—each of whom has motives, dodgy alibis, and suspicious connections that could make them the culprit. It’s very much a puzzle plot mystery that will have even adult readers having a difficult time solving and keeping track of all the connections and intricacies—a makeshift evidence board is helpful here!
Just like in the first novel, James Ponti incorporates lots of interesting Miami/South Florida history and mentions of real-life figures, including Muhammad Ali, Elizabeth Taylor, and Al Capone, to help anchor the past timeline! The original FBI agents from 1964, now living in retirement homes, also make a reappearance late in the book—and the found family trope becomes even more pronounced! The mystery builds and becomes more complex in the second half and includes a few twists readers won’t see coming! The ending is satisfying and exciting—and also shows that The Sherlock Society’s mystery-solving days are just getting started!
Readers who enjoy (all-ages) fast-paced puzzle mysteries with brainy sleuths, teamwork, and a dash of danger will absolutely love this book and series!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook for The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist is read by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who also narrated the first book in this series and is highly acclaimed for his middle grade fiction narration!
Sanderlin brings each of the vibrant characters of the Sherlock Society to life with distinct voices and dynamic pacing. He uses a curious, slightly wry-sounding voice to portray protagonist Alex Riggs, which is perfect for a middle-grade detective. He makes the character very relatable and engaging when Alex guides listeners through puzzles and suspenseful moments! Sandlerin’s performance of Grandpa Pete is a real highlight of the audiobook—he uses a warm, intelligent, slightly gravelly voice to authentically convey the retired journalist and slows the pacing for dramatic effect when Pete becomes nostalgic talking about the past.
The 1964 timeline is another highlight of the listening experience, as Sanderlin subtly shifts his accent and cadence to reflect the era, helping listeners distinguish past events from the modern-day storyline—and nicely captures the 1960s Miami vibe! Sanderlin gives all the suspects and hotel staff distinctive voices that make them recognizable and animated, adding a cinematic feel to the audiobook!
Overall, The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist audiobook offers an incredibly immersive listening experience, enhanced by Mark Sanderlin’s engaging narration and amazing character voices. It’s a must-listen for fans of middle grade fiction, puzzle mysteries, and fans of the series or James Ponti’s other books. If you haven’t listened to Mark Sanderlin’s narrating before, this audiobook is a great example of his engaging narration and impressive voice acting skills—and afterwards you’ll want to check out his expansive catalog of middle grade, young adult, and other genre audiobooks!
Narrator Performance
The audiobook for The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist is read by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who also narrated the first book in this series and is highly acclaimed for his middle grade fiction narration!
Sanderlin brings each of the vibrant characters of the Sherlock Society to life with distinct voices and dynamic pacing. He uses a curious, slightly wry-sounding voice to portray protagonist Alex Riggs, which is perfect for a middle-grade detective. He makes the character very relatable and engaging when Alex guides listeners through puzzles and suspenseful moments! Sandlerin’s performance of Grandpa Pete is a real highlight of the audiobook—he uses a warm, intelligent, slightly gravelly voice to authentically convey the retired journalist and slows the pacing for dramatic effect when Pete becomes nostalgic talking about the past.
The 1964 timeline is another highlight of the listening experience, as Sanderlin subtly shifts his accent and cadence to reflect the era, helping listeners distinguish past events from the modern-day storyline—and nicely captures the 1960s Miami vibe! Sanderlin gives all the suspects and hotel staff distinctive voices that make them recognizable and animated, adding a cinematic feel to the audiobook!
Overall, The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist audiobook offers an incredibly immersive listening experience, enhanced by Mark Sanderlin’s engaging narration and amazing character voices. It’s a must-listen for fans of middle grade fiction, puzzle mysteries, and fans of the series or James Ponti’s other books. If you haven’t listened to Mark Sanderlin’s narrating before, this audiobook is a great example of his engaging narration and impressive voice acting skills—and afterwards you’ll want to check out his expansive catalog of middle grade, young adult, and other genre audiobooks!
The audiobook for The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist is read by award-winning narrator Mark Sanderlin, who also narrated the first book in this series and is highly acclaimed for his middle grade fiction narration!
Sanderlin brings each of the vibrant characters of the Sherlock Society to life with distinct voices and dynamic pacing. He uses a curious, slightly wry-sounding voice to portray protagonist Alex Riggs, which is perfect for a middle-grade detective. He makes the character very relatable and engaging when Alex guides listeners through puzzles and suspenseful moments! Sandlerin’s performance of Grandpa Pete is a real highlight of the audiobook—he uses a warm, intelligent, slightly gravelly voice to authentically convey the retired journalist and slows the pacing for dramatic effect when Pete becomes nostalgic talking about the past.
The 1964 timeline is another highlight of the listening experience, as Sanderlin subtly shifts his accent and cadence to reflect the era, helping listeners distinguish past events from the modern-day storyline—and nicely captures the 1960s Miami vibe! Sanderlin gives all the suspects and hotel staff distinctive voices that make them recognizable and animated, adding a cinematic feel to the audiobook!
Overall, The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist audiobook offers an incredibly immersive listening experience, enhanced by Mark Sanderlin’s engaging narration and amazing character voices. It’s a must-listen for fans of middle grade fiction, puzzle mysteries, and fans of the series or James Ponti’s other books. If you haven’t listened to Mark Sanderlin’s narrating before, this audiobook is a great example of his engaging narration and impressive voice acting skills—and afterwards you’ll want to check out his expansive catalog of middle grade, young adult, and other genre audiobooks!
