.jpg)
Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn SoudersPublisher: Sourcebooks for Young Readers
Format Read: Paperback ARC
Number of pages: 272 pages
Publishing: January 6th, 2026
Source: Publisher
Opening Lines: "I stopped my bike across the street from the run-down house and answered the question I knew Clemmie was about to ask."
In the small town of Everson, everyone suspects that Miss Geraldine's run-down house is haunted. Even the old rowboat leaning against the siding has seen better days. The place is in such bad shape that the mayor has threatened to have it condemned.
Tucker has his eye on the rowboat, hoping to fix it up so he can continue his passion for fishing. So, when his friend Clemmie is asked to help clean up Miss Geraldine's property and prepare it for an auction, Tucker agrees to help in exchange for the rowboat.
But when Tucker returns to collect it, he instead finds Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of the stairs. As an amateur sleuth, Tucker quickly recognizes that what everyone assumes is an accident might be a murder instead. Although Miss Geraldine was considered mean by the town, and referred to as Miss fussy gussy, she didn't deserve to be murdered.
After speaking with his father, the chief of police, Tucker gets permission to examine the scene for clues. With help from Sadie and Clemmie, he begins to interview the townspeople and track down leads, determined to uncover the truth about what really happened.
Everson has that small-town charm I absolutely adore. Quiet streets, and a coffee shop and beauty salon serving as the town's hub for gossip. With Clemmie and Sadie's parents working in these two locations, it's easy to gather pieces of information listening in on the townspeople as they speculate on motives and reveal secrets. It's the perfect backdrop for a classic detective mystery, plenty of suspects, quirky townsfolk, and a free-range for curious kids to explore. I'd love to see more adventures with these kids. Ideal for younger mystery fans.
I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE
**A huge thank you to Sourcebooks for the review copy in exchange for an honest review**
Finally, a cozy MURDER mystery for young readers! Loved this one so much! It was perfect that the kids really knew Miss Geraldine, but that she just wasn't particularly nice. I would also be glad to see more adventures with this group.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great read for young mystery lovers!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I are reading Finally, Something Dangerous by Doug Cornett, and she's loving the mystery of it. I don't know if I'm ready for a dead body in a MG story, but this sounds very much like something she'd enjoy! :) I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteDetective mysteries are always popular with young readers (and myself). The characters and small town setting have me adding this one to my future read list. Thanks for being a part of MMGM this week.
ReplyDeleteA cosy murder mystery for kids sounds like a huge hit - I've been surprised by the number of your readers who love murder mysteries! This sounds a read good one, I will add to my TBR. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy cozy mysteries. I just reserved the audiobook at my library based on your review and Ms. Yingling's comments.
ReplyDelete