The Sherlock Society (The Sherlock Society #1)

by James Ponti (Author)

Reading Level: 6th − 7th Grade

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 and sweaty). 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?

Select format:
Hardcover
$18.99

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Inspired in part by their last name, 12-year-old Alex Sherlock and his 13-year-old sister Zoe, joined by their retired reporter grandfather and friends Yadi and Lina, found the Sherlock Society detective agency in a bid to earn money over the summer. When their initial attempts to rustle up business fail, they pivot toward investigating one of Grandpa's cold cases surrounding Al Capone's legendary lost fortune "buried somewhere in south Florida." As they follow decades-old clues across Miami and into the Everglades, the Sherlock Society encounters contemporary crimes pertaining to illegal waste dumping, prompting them to seek out the culprits. While Grandpa instructs the Sherlock Society in the ways of reporting and investigation, Ponti (Mission Manhattan) keeps things authentic with the invocation of laws and proper procedure in their pursuit to take down a powerful, wealthy foe. With an eye for atmosphere, history, and lively humor, Ponti brings the South Florida setting, as well as its quick-witted inhabitants, to vivid life, making for a worthy successor to classic kid mysteries that's entertaining, educational, and exciting. Yadi cues as being of Cuban heritage; other characters read as white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Sept.)

Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Kirkus

An environmental mystery featuring lots of clever detecting, a bit of danger, and real felonies to investigate.

James Ponti
James Ponti is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award-winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy-nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781665932530
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Aladdin Paperbacks
Publication date
September 03, 2024
Series
The Sherlock Society
BISAC categories
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV067000 - Juvenile Fiction | Thrillers & Suspense
Library of Congress categories
Grandfathers
Mystery and detective stories
Detective and mystery fiction
Cold cases (Criminal investigation)
JUVENILE FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stor
JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / Gener
Buried treasure
Miami (Fla.)
Treasure troves
Siblings
Capone, Al

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!