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A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery #3
The Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion
"Take your cookies elsewhere." That's what the note said in neat, block-like print, attached to a box of Girl Scout Cookies. Someone is out to sabotage the new sweet shop in the neighborhood, and Maggie Brooklyn is on the case. If only she weren't so freaked out herself lately. Maggie's new dogsitting gig has her and her twin brother Finn hanging out in what they fear may be a real haunted mansion. And it's hard to solve real life mysteries when you think you're seeing ghosts!
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2013
66 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Margolis
31 books122 followersLeslie Margolis is author of numerous books for children, including the Maggie Brooklyn Mysteries and the Annabelle Unleashed series. Her novel, Boys Are Dogs, was turned into the Disney Channel movie Zapped, starring Zendaya. Leslie’s most recent books, If I Were You, We Are Party People and Ghosted, are published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Leslie lives in Los Angeles with her family. Her two kids have read some of her books, and think they are okay. For more information, please visit www.lesliemargolis.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 4, 2013
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
Broadcast News is one of my favorite films of all time, and in it, Albert Brooks' character Aaron says something along the lines of 'the devil will convince us that we're all just salesmen'. I've always loved this speech (not the least because Brooks so beautifully delivers it), but because I could relate. I was a Girl Scout for many years. I sold cookies. Luckily for me, there wasn't an enormous amount of pressure to sell the most, and I got by. Now, as a librarian, I have kids and teenagers coming in waves selling fruit, candy, wrapping paper and coupons. And all of them have this desperate gleam in their eyes, as if their life depended on every sale. Given the state of school budgets, that's probably not half wrong. The pressure on these kids is enormous.
Now why am I bringing this up in a review about a middle grade mystery novel about a haunted mansion? Read it (yes, please do) and you'll see. Because amidst all the clues and chills and chocolate, Ms. Margolis is saying something important. The pressure to succeed can be crippling, and not just for children. When Maggie Brooklyn's friend Sonya's family opens a new soda shop, and the Grand Opening is marred by a sugar/salt swap, a clumsy (or is she?) soda jerk and a smashed window with a threatening note, Maggie takes up the case. Things continue to go wrong, and Sonya's mother, the proprietor is ready to cut her losses almost immediately, rather than risk being a complete failure. Add to this a new babysitting gig in a supposedly haunted mansion for a lively three-year-old who has a "see-through" friend who sings haunting songs. Pile on top of that a D+ on a history test and a boyfriend who won't talk to her, and it's no wonder that Maggie is starting to crack. But with the help of her twin, Finn and some good old fashion gumption, Maggie manages to save the day, from soda shop saboteurs, ghosts, extra credit and stubborn seventh grade boys.
Ms. Margolis has at least one thing going for her in a very impressive way: she knows middle-schoolers. She knows how they talk, she knows how they think. Between the Maggie Brooklyn mysteries and her Annabelle Unleashed series (Boys Are Dogs, etc.), she almost has the market cornered on smart, funny, realistic girls. Her books are mightily enjoyable, and subtly broadening. You won't even notice you're becoming a more well-rounded person, until you just are.
Broadcast News is one of my favorite films of all time, and in it, Albert Brooks' character Aaron says something along the lines of 'the devil will convince us that we're all just salesmen'. I've always loved this speech (not the least because Brooks so beautifully delivers it), but because I could relate. I was a Girl Scout for many years. I sold cookies. Luckily for me, there wasn't an enormous amount of pressure to sell the most, and I got by. Now, as a librarian, I have kids and teenagers coming in waves selling fruit, candy, wrapping paper and coupons. And all of them have this desperate gleam in their eyes, as if their life depended on every sale. Given the state of school budgets, that's probably not half wrong. The pressure on these kids is enormous.
Now why am I bringing this up in a review about a middle grade mystery novel about a haunted mansion? Read it (yes, please do) and you'll see. Because amidst all the clues and chills and chocolate, Ms. Margolis is saying something important. The pressure to succeed can be crippling, and not just for children. When Maggie Brooklyn's friend Sonya's family opens a new soda shop, and the Grand Opening is marred by a sugar/salt swap, a clumsy (or is she?) soda jerk and a smashed window with a threatening note, Maggie takes up the case. Things continue to go wrong, and Sonya's mother, the proprietor is ready to cut her losses almost immediately, rather than risk being a complete failure. Add to this a new babysitting gig in a supposedly haunted mansion for a lively three-year-old who has a "see-through" friend who sings haunting songs. Pile on top of that a D+ on a history test and a boyfriend who won't talk to her, and it's no wonder that Maggie is starting to crack. But with the help of her twin, Finn and some good old fashion gumption, Maggie manages to save the day, from soda shop saboteurs, ghosts, extra credit and stubborn seventh grade boys.
Ms. Margolis has at least one thing going for her in a very impressive way: she knows middle-schoolers. She knows how they talk, she knows how they think. Between the Maggie Brooklyn mysteries and her Annabelle Unleashed series (Boys Are Dogs, etc.), she almost has the market cornered on smart, funny, realistic girls. Her books are mightily enjoyable, and subtly broadening. You won't even notice you're becoming a more well-rounded person, until you just are.
May 14, 2021
Was looking for a MG mystery sans a murder or kidnapping to be solved. This book has two mysteries that don’t really seem connected. While I could kind of see the culprit at the beginning, the ending felt rushed revealing all the info. For me voice was really lacking. I never connected with Maggie or any of the characters. I didn’t like how she directly reached out to the reader as that felt like something I’d expect from a much younger MC. Also, I missed the inclusion of a side-kick/duo in her mystery.
March 6, 2024
I enjoyed the book as an adult.
However, indicating that this is considered appropriate for ages 7 through 10 years old, I'm not so sure. They will or may be able to read it but this writing language is more formal and what seventh graders organize their dates with other couple. I'm not so sure that grade sevens usually are even permitted to date without supervision.
I hope if younger students are reading this they ask questions or an adult might read it along with them.
I may read more in the series but the 4th grader reading it questioned who gets to do that in middle school.
However, indicating that this is considered appropriate for ages 7 through 10 years old, I'm not so sure. They will or may be able to read it but this writing language is more formal and what seventh graders organize their dates with other couple. I'm not so sure that grade sevens usually are even permitted to date without supervision.
I hope if younger students are reading this they ask questions or an adult might read it along with them.
I may read more in the series but the 4th grader reading it questioned who gets to do that in middle school.
June 11, 2017
I would say this novel is pretty good but it is not enough to be called 'good'. Firstly, Leslie Margolis did not describe much about the characters and for me, as a reader it's a problem. It's like, I can't really play with my imagination because she didn't tell what the characters look like. The good thing is that the ending is not Predictable so I give this book 3 stars
July 14, 2022
I really love this mystery book. I usually don't like reading but when I laid my eyes on this book, I instantly fell in love with it. With every chapter, I couldn't stop reading. This story is about someone who is out for Sonya's candy store. It can be a little spooky sometimes, like when the maid was trapped in an elevator for a month and died. I can't wait to see how the mystery is solved.
February 3, 2019
Maggie's mystery kept me guessing and interested, even as an adult I found her clever. Great plot and perspectives on the "haunted" converted mansion. I honestly this kids book was more fun to read than expected.
September 26, 2025
My *almost* 10 year old was a little spooked by this book in the series and asked if I could read it so I could let her know if it gets “less scary” 😆 super cute mystery with a little ghost story to it.
June 16, 2017
Really liked.
August 15, 2019
This book has a nice twist to the mystery. So fun and exciting that I did not want to stop reading!
November 21, 2019
I really liked the whole series!
April 13, 2020
Still interesting
May 9, 2021
Please make a 4!
January 27, 2015
{originally posted on my blog: Ciao Bella}
Leslie Margolis’ novels have lately been a mixed bag for me. One Tough Chick was most definitely a miss, but the first few books in the Maggie Brooklyn series left me quite impressed! And so, I was willing to give her most recent novel, and the third Maggie Brooklyn mystery, a try. Going in with lower expectations, I’m enjoyed Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion, but that’s not to say it was perfect. With a few problems that were hard to overlook, this novel was a solid read, although I was really hoping for another outstanding middle grade mystery.
Maggie has developed a reputation for not only her dog-walking skills, but also her knack for solving mysteries. When her good friend Sonya’s bakery runs into a multitude of problems, Maggie is put on the case. While the mysteries in this series are predictable, I love the variety of situations Maggie finds herself in. My baking loving self makes it hard to turn down a book with a sweet shop involved. The author clearly excels in developing a middle school environment – due to everything from Maggie’s home life to her interactions with friends, I was completely immersed in the story. However, I have to question how everything works out in the end. I don’t want to give anything away, but there are just too many coincidences for me to believe the solution to the mystery.
Maggie is a strong protagonist, one who is both true to life and memorable. Just as Margolis’ story is well-crafted, I found Maggie’s personality to be realistically developed as well. Her dialogue and actions only strengthen that idea; there’s no doubt in my mind that the author knows her audience. I can’t say the same for all of the secondary characters. While I love Maggie’s twin brother, Finn {who I personally think deserved more time in the book!}, other characters seem to have been last-minute additions to the story, and not in a good way. Many, unfortunately, appear to be weirdly out-of-place!
On a more personal note, one of the supporting characters, a friend of Maggie, shares that she has diabetes about halfway through the book. As a Type One Diabetic, I was surprised and happy to see that, as it is a disease not commonly included in MG and YA books, but further reading led me to disappointment. If you are going to include such a life-changing condition, I would hope that it wouldn’t be mentioned with a very minimal explanation and a confusing one at that. This, along with typos that could easily confuse a reader {I sure was!}, caused my enjoyment of the story to diminish.
Overall, Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion wasn’t necessarily BAD, but I wouldn’t go so far to call it a favorite. I struggled to believe the ending, and some of the characters needed more development. On the positive side, Maggie was a wonderful main character, and I can’t see why the intended audience wouldn’t fall in love with her :) Here’s hoping that the next book in the series is an improvement!
Leslie Margolis’ novels have lately been a mixed bag for me. One Tough Chick was most definitely a miss, but the first few books in the Maggie Brooklyn series left me quite impressed! And so, I was willing to give her most recent novel, and the third Maggie Brooklyn mystery, a try. Going in with lower expectations, I’m enjoyed Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion, but that’s not to say it was perfect. With a few problems that were hard to overlook, this novel was a solid read, although I was really hoping for another outstanding middle grade mystery.
Maggie has developed a reputation for not only her dog-walking skills, but also her knack for solving mysteries. When her good friend Sonya’s bakery runs into a multitude of problems, Maggie is put on the case. While the mysteries in this series are predictable, I love the variety of situations Maggie finds herself in. My baking loving self makes it hard to turn down a book with a sweet shop involved. The author clearly excels in developing a middle school environment – due to everything from Maggie’s home life to her interactions with friends, I was completely immersed in the story. However, I have to question how everything works out in the end. I don’t want to give anything away, but there are just too many coincidences for me to believe the solution to the mystery.
Maggie is a strong protagonist, one who is both true to life and memorable. Just as Margolis’ story is well-crafted, I found Maggie’s personality to be realistically developed as well. Her dialogue and actions only strengthen that idea; there’s no doubt in my mind that the author knows her audience. I can’t say the same for all of the secondary characters. While I love Maggie’s twin brother, Finn {who I personally think deserved more time in the book!}, other characters seem to have been last-minute additions to the story, and not in a good way. Many, unfortunately, appear to be weirdly out-of-place!
On a more personal note, one of the supporting characters, a friend of Maggie, shares that she has diabetes about halfway through the book. As a Type One Diabetic, I was surprised and happy to see that, as it is a disease not commonly included in MG and YA books, but further reading led me to disappointment. If you are going to include such a life-changing condition, I would hope that it wouldn’t be mentioned with a very minimal explanation and a confusing one at that. This, along with typos that could easily confuse a reader {I sure was!}, caused my enjoyment of the story to diminish.
Overall, Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion wasn’t necessarily BAD, but I wouldn’t go so far to call it a favorite. I struggled to believe the ending, and some of the characters needed more development. On the positive side, Maggie was a wonderful main character, and I can’t see why the intended audience wouldn’t fall in love with her :) Here’s hoping that the next book in the series is an improvement!
August 6, 2016
The Maggie Brooklyn Mystery series is a light and fun collection of books for middle grade readers. While nothing in the book is very heavy or dark, kids are treated to a mystery (or two) complete with clues, interrogations, and problem solving. Maggie is a sweet girl and she makes a wonderful heroine for this series.
This particular book is much like the others in the series in that we get to see a bit of Maggie's social life, a teensy bit of her school life, and quite a bit of her after-school working life. Light is shed on each of the mysteries throughout the book as Maggie meets new people and makes connections. Some clues are blatantly obvious, while others are less so. It's a quick and easy read that kids will enjoy. While the book is part of a series, it can be read in its own.
Content: Clean
My blog: Batch of Books
This particular book is much like the others in the series in that we get to see a bit of Maggie's social life, a teensy bit of her school life, and quite a bit of her after-school working life. Light is shed on each of the mysteries throughout the book as Maggie meets new people and makes connections. Some clues are blatantly obvious, while others are less so. It's a quick and easy read that kids will enjoy. While the book is part of a series, it can be read in its own.
Content: Clean
My blog: Batch of Books
January 12, 2014
Maggie's friend Sonya's mother just opened a fabulous old-fashioned soda shop called Sonya's Sweets, but when Maggie and her friends show up for the grand opening, everything is going wrong. Someone switched the salt and the sugar in the pie, the big stain glass window is broken, and an ominous note is found among the shards of glass. When orders go missing and the power goes out, it appears that someone is sabotaging the business. Can Maggie figure out what is going on before it is too late?
This is the third book in the Maggie Brooklyn series. I have not read the first two, but it looks like a fun mystery series. recommended for grades 4-7.
This is the third book in the Maggie Brooklyn series. I have not read the first two, but it looks like a fun mystery series. recommended for grades 4-7.
September 12, 2015
Maggie thinks that her dream is coming true when one her best friend's Mom is opening a soda fountain. But when she and her twin are both going as they should be on Sonya's Sweets opening day. Maggie is confronted with the task of trying to find out who broke the stained glass sign of the shop as well as other smaller episodes that are sabotaging new store. Side plots include a ghost, dog walking babysitting. Margolis does a commendable job of developing each of the twin characters separately. The Brooklyn neighborhood references are enjoyable. The mystery has a wonderful red herring and a believable solution.
January 11, 2014
Clementine isn't your average Girl Scout. She is a sweet little girl who just wants to reach the world record for selling Girl Scout cookies. (In her words) She said she didn't mean to hurt anybody, she just wanted to reach the world record. She could've possibly if there wasn't a bakery one every corner. Not my favorite of the Maggie Brooklyn Mystery books but it's pretty good. Probably my second favorite. But I could never say Vanishing Acts was my least favorite, it sounds like I don't like it. Just all of the books of the series are good!
April 7, 2015
Scary, sinister happenings explained by common sense and a little deductive reasoning. Possible a good book for a child who has lost someone close to them to read, as the end of the book is quite sweet.
February 10, 2014
I loved this book just like the rest of the series!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews