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The Sherlock Society #1
The Sherlock Society
A New York Times bestseller!
In the tradition of Nancy Drew, four kids and one grandfather in Miami tackle a decades-old mystery in this first book full of “atmosphere, history, and lively humor” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in the 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 a slick gadget or two—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?
In the tradition of Nancy Drew, four kids and one grandfather in Miami tackle a decades-old mystery in this first book full of “atmosphere, history, and lively humor” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in the 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 a slick gadget or two—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2024
About the author
James Ponti
62 books1,661 followersJames Ponti is the New York Times Bestselling author of three Middle Grade book series: the DEAD CITY trilogy about a secret society that polices the undead who live beneath New York City; the Edgar Award-winning FRAMED! series about a pair of Sherlockian tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, D.C.; and the all-new CITY SPIES about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 spy team.
James grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida and lives in Orlando. He's a die hard fan of the Boston Red Sox, the USC Trojans, and the Italian National Soccer Team. He loves travel, writing, and spending time with his amazing family.
James grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida and lives in Orlando. He's a die hard fan of the Boston Red Sox, the USC Trojans, and the Italian National Soccer Team. He loves travel, writing, and spending time with his amazing family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 680 reviews
October 8, 2024
Alex Sherlock, his sister, Zoe, and his friends are trying to find a summer job when Zoe finds the perfect solution - become detectives. While the idea doesn’t quite go as they had envisioned, they are soon on an interesting case looking for a treasure. What will they find?
The book had some issues with the plot, at least to me, including an exciting beginning followed by a flashback to how the characters got there. On the whole, however, it was entertaining, and I’m sure the intended target audience will love it. I definitely loved the characters, the growth we got in one of them, and the bond they formed. I also appreciated the realistic family dynamic. There’s some great laughs along the way as well. I’m sure middle schoolers will rush through this book. Despite my reservations, I enjoyed the book overall and I’ll be back for more.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
The book had some issues with the plot, at least to me, including an exciting beginning followed by a flashback to how the characters got there. On the whole, however, it was entertaining, and I’m sure the intended target audience will love it. I definitely loved the characters, the growth we got in one of them, and the bond they formed. I also appreciated the realistic family dynamic. There’s some great laughs along the way as well. I’m sure middle schoolers will rush through this book. Despite my reservations, I enjoyed the book overall and I’ll be back for more.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read
September 27, 2026With engaging characters and enough plot twists to make you dizzy, this book will hold your attention. I think this book is for kids and adults. I am 68 years old, and I enjoyed it so much. I gave it to my granddaughter after I enjoyed reading it. She loved it also. Highly recommend.
July 18, 2024
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“We are the Sherlock Society. It is our business to know what others do not.”
I've heard relatively favorable thoughts on James Ponti, so I was eager to give him a shot myself. The response -- has been interesting.
Do you remember the 90s cartoons, where there was this kind of voice over that had a slight lilt to it - one not exactly gentle, but kind of - hmmm, not know-it-all, but this how should I put it... Well, if you ever watched Inspector Gadget or Magic School Bus, or even Harriet the Spy, you'll recall that there was this tone to their dialogue that echoed this sentiment of teaching, while also engaging the audience with its relative information - a humorous and slightly daring vibe that was fun and clever. Reading The Sherlock Society reminded me a lot of that feeling - that with each generous factoid, it was being told with that sorta voice - one that was fun and quirky, but also on the precipice of adventure and danger. 🧐
And that's a good thing! 😊
“A journalist and a detective are the same thing. A mystery is nothing more than a story missing its ending.”
At first I was a bit put off at how much attention was being drawn into shaping the history of Miami - a love letter to the city, which I felt at first wasn't quite relevant to the case. But, 'someone once told me that information only goes from trivial to significant when you add the meaning behind those facts.', and when that slowly started to play out, did I start to get invested in the story.
When you grow up devoted to Encyclopedia Brown, there's no better feeling than when you see detectives or mystery writers paying homage to those that defined the norm of children mysteries for me. So, I knew that I was in capable hands; and I liked that it was not just a mystery they aimed to solve, but one that was brought upon by familial bonds that made it feel a lot more personal and intimate. 🥺 One that with each action bagged the question of more doubt and sincerity - and one that had them facing off danger all that much more personal. Uncovering the whereabouts of Al Capone's mysterious missing millions? What could be a better incentive? A more rewarding experience? 😌 So, with that goal in mind, I liked seeing Alex, Zoe, Yadi, and Lina each put their relative skillsets along with tackling the five major W's to work to piece together a possible, if not conclusive target of where the long-lost treasure could be buried. And along the way, if they stumble across a much more sinister plot that is just as beneficial to the cause of unearthing riches beyond the realm of possibilities - that's where the facts of Miami key in.
“Shady people have secrets. Secrets lead to mysteries. Mysteries need detectives. That shadiness is where we’re going to get our business.”
The writing was clever and easy-going; it had this kind of sprint to it, that was on this interactive level of doing its best to draw the reader in to have a good time. Which I appreciated! 😅 I did eventually end up enjoying the delightful ode to Miami - traveling in its midst without really being there, because, well, 'Miami is a sunny place filled with shady people' and it certainly helped them attain the information they needed! 👍🏻 I am a lover of mystery, so its first bait and hook was throwing out so many recognizable names that I felt that I would be provided with lots of clues that would make me think and try to piece together the missing pieces. The repartee between Alex and his co-detectives was witty and quirky and engaging. Their Grandfather was a character all on his own, and throwing in the cautious remarks every now and then tempered their adventurous streak - to some extent, which I found made it a bit more realistic. Well, the start was fairly dramatic, on a comedic note, but then again, that is where the nostalgic 90s cartoonish vibes hit which I related to more. ☺️
I liked the touch of family morals to it, too; it is not without cause the creation of their society, and how that relevance continues throughout was a welcome touch. It doesn't feel like much, but it grounded their efforts, too and made their efforts feel more honest, rather than dubious - 'the reward is doing what’s right, not what’s easy.'. I liked seeing the five Ws at work, and I know the attention mainly shifted from the hunt of retrieving Al Capone's treasures to a more worthwhile scheme, but I liked that the ending neatly brought it back to their search in a believable manner. It was not the finest of beginnings, but it definitely is an intriguing one, with likeable characters that has me curious to see if they will get closer to Al Capone's millions, or if it is a secret that will forever remain a mystery. 🕵🏻♀️
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
“We are the Sherlock Society. It is our business to know what others do not.”
I've heard relatively favorable thoughts on James Ponti, so I was eager to give him a shot myself. The response -- has been interesting.
Do you remember the 90s cartoons, where there was this kind of voice over that had a slight lilt to it - one not exactly gentle, but kind of - hmmm, not know-it-all, but this how should I put it... Well, if you ever watched Inspector Gadget or Magic School Bus, or even Harriet the Spy, you'll recall that there was this tone to their dialogue that echoed this sentiment of teaching, while also engaging the audience with its relative information - a humorous and slightly daring vibe that was fun and clever. Reading The Sherlock Society reminded me a lot of that feeling - that with each generous factoid, it was being told with that sorta voice - one that was fun and quirky, but also on the precipice of adventure and danger. 🧐
And that's a good thing! 😊
“A journalist and a detective are the same thing. A mystery is nothing more than a story missing its ending.”
At first I was a bit put off at how much attention was being drawn into shaping the history of Miami - a love letter to the city, which I felt at first wasn't quite relevant to the case. But, 'someone once told me that information only goes from trivial to significant when you add the meaning behind those facts.', and when that slowly started to play out, did I start to get invested in the story.
When you grow up devoted to Encyclopedia Brown, there's no better feeling than when you see detectives or mystery writers paying homage to those that defined the norm of children mysteries for me. So, I knew that I was in capable hands; and I liked that it was not just a mystery they aimed to solve, but one that was brought upon by familial bonds that made it feel a lot more personal and intimate. 🥺 One that with each action bagged the question of more doubt and sincerity - and one that had them facing off danger all that much more personal. Uncovering the whereabouts of Al Capone's mysterious missing millions? What could be a better incentive? A more rewarding experience? 😌 So, with that goal in mind, I liked seeing Alex, Zoe, Yadi, and Lina each put their relative skillsets along with tackling the five major W's to work to piece together a possible, if not conclusive target of where the long-lost treasure could be buried. And along the way, if they stumble across a much more sinister plot that is just as beneficial to the cause of unearthing riches beyond the realm of possibilities - that's where the facts of Miami key in.
“Shady people have secrets. Secrets lead to mysteries. Mysteries need detectives. That shadiness is where we’re going to get our business.”
The writing was clever and easy-going; it had this kind of sprint to it, that was on this interactive level of doing its best to draw the reader in to have a good time. Which I appreciated! 😅 I did eventually end up enjoying the delightful ode to Miami - traveling in its midst without really being there, because, well, 'Miami is a sunny place filled with shady people' and it certainly helped them attain the information they needed! 👍🏻 I am a lover of mystery, so its first bait and hook was throwing out so many recognizable names that I felt that I would be provided with lots of clues that would make me think and try to piece together the missing pieces. The repartee between Alex and his co-detectives was witty and quirky and engaging. Their Grandfather was a character all on his own, and throwing in the cautious remarks every now and then tempered their adventurous streak - to some extent, which I found made it a bit more realistic. Well, the start was fairly dramatic, on a comedic note, but then again, that is where the nostalgic 90s cartoonish vibes hit which I related to more. ☺️
I liked the touch of family morals to it, too; it is not without cause the creation of their society, and how that relevance continues throughout was a welcome touch. It doesn't feel like much, but it grounded their efforts, too and made their efforts feel more honest, rather than dubious - 'the reward is doing what’s right, not what’s easy.'. I liked seeing the five Ws at work, and I know the attention mainly shifted from the hunt of retrieving Al Capone's treasures to a more worthwhile scheme, but I liked that the ending neatly brought it back to their search in a believable manner. It was not the finest of beginnings, but it definitely is an intriguing one, with likeable characters that has me curious to see if they will get closer to Al Capone's millions, or if it is a secret that will forever remain a mystery. 🕵🏻♀️
*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2026
5⭐️
MY 300TH REVIEW!!! 🎉🎊🥳🍾
The easiest 5 star read ever!!!
My stomach still hurts from all my laughter. 😂😂😂.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** This sounds so fun!!! And I could really use a fun and easy novel right now. 🙃🙃🙃.
MY 300TH REVIEW!!! 🎉🎊🥳🍾
The easiest 5 star read ever!!!
My stomach still hurts from all my laughter. 😂😂😂.
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** This sounds so fun!!! And I could really use a fun and easy novel right now. 🙃🙃🙃.
April 6, 2025
James Ponti doesn't miss. This is a great start to a series. I think it's perfect for individuals that want a little more mystery than espionage in comparison to his City Spies series. With a little bit of historical fiction and conservation mixed in, this is one that you don't want to miss. I'm looking forward to picking up the next one in the series when it releases. If you want to know more of my thoughts, be sure to check out my thoughts in my middle grade March vlog: https://youtu.be/VhWme8U488c
May 26, 2024
With a last name like Sherlock, it seems only natural that a brother-sister duo would begin a detective agency in order to earn some money toward things their parents have declined to pay for. And with a former newspaper investigator for grandfather, who can also handle the transportation needs, it also seems like the right thing to bring him on board. To lighten the individual responsibilities that go with solving a mystery, throwing in friends Yadi and Lina is also wise. But what mystery can this group tackle? While searching for undiscovered money hidden by Al Capone somewhere in Florida, the group stumbles into an illegal dumping operation in the heart of the Everglades and the focus turns away from money and toward the far more important task of finding the perpetrators and shutting down the chemical spills that are destroying the national park’s ecosystem.
James Ponti has already given middle grade readers a zombie series in Dead City and created a teen spy group in City Spies. The Sherlock Society combines mystery and crime-fighting in what looks to be another successful series for readers in grades 4-7. Nestled into the plot of solving a mystery is a bit of friend drama, some disagreements between parent and child, as well as guidelines for organizing research using the 5 W’s. Siblings Alex and Zoe obviously care for one another but do not always see eye to eye and do a bit of realistic bickering. The Yadi and Lina characters provide examples of solid friendship and a little sideline story gives a picture of not so desirable friends. The story moves at a brisk pace and new information comes in steadily to keep the guesses coming as readers try to solve the mystery/crime before The Sherlock Society does. A few red herrings are thrown in to keep the full solution a surprise at the end but many astute middle graders will have much figured out before then.
Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence is primarily that done to nature and while there are explosions, only property is destroyed. Ideal for readers of other Ponti works, titles from Stuart Gibbs and the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon and Schuster.
James Ponti has already given middle grade readers a zombie series in Dead City and created a teen spy group in City Spies. The Sherlock Society combines mystery and crime-fighting in what looks to be another successful series for readers in grades 4-7. Nestled into the plot of solving a mystery is a bit of friend drama, some disagreements between parent and child, as well as guidelines for organizing research using the 5 W’s. Siblings Alex and Zoe obviously care for one another but do not always see eye to eye and do a bit of realistic bickering. The Yadi and Lina characters provide examples of solid friendship and a little sideline story gives a picture of not so desirable friends. The story moves at a brisk pace and new information comes in steadily to keep the guesses coming as readers try to solve the mystery/crime before The Sherlock Society does. A few red herrings are thrown in to keep the full solution a surprise at the end but many astute middle graders will have much figured out before then.
Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence is primarily that done to nature and while there are explosions, only property is destroyed. Ideal for readers of other Ponti works, titles from Stuart Gibbs and the Myrtle Hardcastle Mysteries.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon and Schuster.
May 29, 2024
Thank you Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ebook ARC.
This book was a fast paced middle grade adventure mystery that I absolutely devoured. I read this in one sitting and I am already ready for book 2 to come out! I love the kids relationships with each other and the adults around them, and the consistent use for the 5 Ws. I will absolutely be buying multiple copies for my middle school library once this comes out!
This book was a fast paced middle grade adventure mystery that I absolutely devoured. I read this in one sitting and I am already ready for book 2 to come out! I love the kids relationships with each other and the adults around them, and the consistent use for the 5 Ws. I will absolutely be buying multiple copies for my middle school library once this comes out!
October 9, 2024
Come! The game is afoot…
A James Ponti “game” to be exact. Which means intelligence, humor, and hunting for clues!
The Sherlock Society kicks off a brand-new middle grade series with a brand-new Scooby-Doo crew to follow and love. We have siblings Zoe and Alex Sherlock, Lina, Yadi, and the biggest trouble maker of them all, Grandpa. With a name like Sherlock, Alex and Zoe were made to solve mysteries and that’s exactly what they set out to do for the summer. They form a detective agency of sorts with two Watsons in tow. Grandpa is in on the action as the gang’s Director of Transportation and Logistics. (*whispers* driver). If you’re wondering what the Sherlock Society detects, well… jump in and see for yourself. Because the answer is just about everything! From lost pets to missing treasures to crimes against nature. It’s all in here and more.
This fast moving, easy-to-read mystery is packed with lots of action and thinking. Plus, fun people and places. Like Miami! The city really pops off the page here in the heat, foods, and sites. I loved hearing about Domino Park and Al Capone and the Everglades. There is so much to learn about Florida. Truth be told, maybe a little too much. I felt like I was getting bombarded with facts at times. Don’t get me wrong. I want to learn as I read. Of course, I do! But I don’t want to feel like I’m being hit over the head with the information. Mr. Ponti usually weaves the lessons in seamlessly, but this time out I think his enthusiasm got the better of him. How could it not? Miami is a powerful and colorful place to jet around from place to place chasing bad guys and looking for clues. Our Sherlocks learn that in a hurry!
All of these characters made me smile. Each voice added something new to the story. Especially Yadi’s love for conspiracy theories and food…. ”With baked goods, I’m like 7-Eleven. I’m always open for business.” Haha... My favorite character was Zoe and Alex’s Grandpa though. He is hilarious! And a big presence in their lives. I loved that these young detectives had an experienced voice to teach them AND vice versa. They learned a lot from each other actually. And I think you will too.
Check this mystery out! It’s got family time, true friends, treasure hunting, and maybe even a car chase or two. Maybe.
“Is this a chase?” Yadi asked excitedly, spilling some pico de gallo in the process.
“No, “ Grandpa said. “And if you tell your parents that it was, I’m going to get in a lot of trouble. This is simply a situation of two cars heading in the same direction on the same road at the same time.”
Yadi turned to me and mouthed the words, “Feels like a chase.”
See? Grandpa is pure trouble. :) Highly recommended read.
A James Ponti “game” to be exact. Which means intelligence, humor, and hunting for clues!
The Sherlock Society kicks off a brand-new middle grade series with a brand-new Scooby-Doo crew to follow and love. We have siblings Zoe and Alex Sherlock, Lina, Yadi, and the biggest trouble maker of them all, Grandpa. With a name like Sherlock, Alex and Zoe were made to solve mysteries and that’s exactly what they set out to do for the summer. They form a detective agency of sorts with two Watsons in tow. Grandpa is in on the action as the gang’s Director of Transportation and Logistics. (*whispers* driver). If you’re wondering what the Sherlock Society detects, well… jump in and see for yourself. Because the answer is just about everything! From lost pets to missing treasures to crimes against nature. It’s all in here and more.
This fast moving, easy-to-read mystery is packed with lots of action and thinking. Plus, fun people and places. Like Miami! The city really pops off the page here in the heat, foods, and sites. I loved hearing about Domino Park and Al Capone and the Everglades. There is so much to learn about Florida. Truth be told, maybe a little too much. I felt like I was getting bombarded with facts at times. Don’t get me wrong. I want to learn as I read. Of course, I do! But I don’t want to feel like I’m being hit over the head with the information. Mr. Ponti usually weaves the lessons in seamlessly, but this time out I think his enthusiasm got the better of him. How could it not? Miami is a powerful and colorful place to jet around from place to place chasing bad guys and looking for clues. Our Sherlocks learn that in a hurry!
All of these characters made me smile. Each voice added something new to the story. Especially Yadi’s love for conspiracy theories and food…. ”With baked goods, I’m like 7-Eleven. I’m always open for business.” Haha... My favorite character was Zoe and Alex’s Grandpa though. He is hilarious! And a big presence in their lives. I loved that these young detectives had an experienced voice to teach them AND vice versa. They learned a lot from each other actually. And I think you will too.
Check this mystery out! It’s got family time, true friends, treasure hunting, and maybe even a car chase or two. Maybe.
“Is this a chase?” Yadi asked excitedly, spilling some pico de gallo in the process.
“No, “ Grandpa said. “And if you tell your parents that it was, I’m going to get in a lot of trouble. This is simply a situation of two cars heading in the same direction on the same road at the same time.”
Yadi turned to me and mouthed the words, “Feels like a chase.”
See? Grandpa is pure trouble. :) Highly recommended read.
January 9, 2025
While I wait for my library to get the next City Spies book, I thought I'd give this book a try. ;)
There were less Sherlock Holmes references than I thought there would be, but the same humor and heart I've grown to expect from this author. I also really enjoyed having the parents and Grandpa take an active role in the story, and the things the kids learned from each were really wholesome.
I loved the theme that being a reporter and a detective were the same thing, and how the kids put in so much work to solve their mysteries. All the stuff with filmmaking was especially interesting. ;)
Quite enjoyable, and I can't wait for the Sherlocks next adventure!
There were less Sherlock Holmes references than I thought there would be, but the same humor and heart I've grown to expect from this author. I also really enjoyed having the parents and Grandpa take an active role in the story, and the things the kids learned from each were really wholesome.
I loved the theme that being a reporter and a detective were the same thing, and how the kids put in so much work to solve their mysteries. All the stuff with filmmaking was especially interesting. ;)
Quite enjoyable, and I can't wait for the Sherlocks next adventure!
January 11, 2025
This book was great!! It is by one of my favorite authors James Ponti and I can’t wait for a sequel (hopefully)! I loved how it was with multiple mysteries but still about following the law. It also has so key points about friendship! I would definitely recommend this book!!
September 23, 2025
A good middle grade or younger book with tons of fun and laughs.
April 11, 2025
4.0 | Saw this in a bookstore and it reminded me of the books I used to read on summer vacation when I was 10. Felt like reliving those times.
October 7, 2025
A fun, fast-paced story, but one that had nothing really fresh to offer. Aside from the hilarious and colorful Grandpa Lassiter, I wish more character work was done for the rest of the cast.
September 29, 2024
I am thoroughly convinced that James Ponti is the gold standard for middle grade mystery books! This new series starts on a great foot and has it all…brother/sister plus two friends for our main characters, a quirky and caring grandfather, parents with interesting jobs and real emotions, plus a few mysteries wrapped into one, all on the backdrop of Miami (and done so authentically!). I loved the environmental aspects, the historical mystery aspects, plus the modern technology and local flavors. The endpapers have an awesome map and authentic locations.
I’ll be anxiously awaiting book 2 in this series next year!
I’ll be anxiously awaiting book 2 in this series next year!
September 12, 2024
Great book for the start of a new series. Took a little while to get to the actual story but that’s expected with building characters for a new series. Really enjoyed the book and I am looking forward to the next one!!
September 29, 2026
The first chapter of The Sherlock Society by James Ponti has a twelve-year-old treading water in Biscayne Bay while a luxury yacht burns and sinks behind him. The second puts him in a locked break room at Marine Patrol, negotiating immunity from his mother, who is also his attorney. Only then does the book print "Three Weeks Earlier" and properly begin. That is a cold open, deployed with real nerve in a book for eight-to-twelve-year-olds, and it buys Ponti forty pages of escape rooms and business cards a reader will now sit through, knowing where it ends up.
The Sherlock Society by James Ponti and the Five Ws
The grandfather is a retired Miami Herald man with forty-six years of notebooks in a storage unit, and what he runs for these children is not detective training. It is journalism boot camp. Each of the four takes one question: when, who, what, where, with the old man keeping why. The sister memorises the timeline; the reader of the group tracks names and aliases. They get paper notebooks and are told a phone will not do it.
His thesis is that a reporter and a detective are the same animal, and that a mystery is only a story missing its ending. That is not decoration; it is how the book is built, and why the puzzles feel fair rather than magical. They divide the work, make lists, and check dates.
What The Sherlock Society by James Ponti Does With a Botany Book
The clue sequences are excellent: each is solvable, and each teaches the trick it will use again. A school escape room hides one clue in an anagram of an author's name, another in an acrostic built by stacking five children's mysteries in order, and the last in a homophone: you cannot take a bow out of a case if the case is closed, and it is not the bow that rhymes with wow.
Two hundred pages later the same skills open the real thing. A gardener's copy of a botany encyclopedia, inscribed by Al Capone a week before his tax trial, carries a Bible verse about treasure and the heart, and a map drawn on onionskin and tucked into the spine. The Italian word at its foot means title page. It also means frontispiece. Lay the map over the engraving opposite and an X that pointed at nothing lands at the base of two royal palms. The reader can get there first.
The Grandfather Steals It
The best character in The Sherlock Society by James Ponti is seventy-three, does yoga in half a converted garage, and drives a 1964 Cadillac named after Roberta Flack, because he once met her flight holding a chauffeur's sign in order to steal the interview that made his career. He teaches "getting in the door" as a professional skill, then demonstrates it twice on two gate guards with two different lies, one involving a fictional divorce.
What Ponti does with him in the last thirty pages made me put the book down for a second, and is not played for laughs at all.
Where The Sherlock Society by James Ponti Stops Being a Treasure Hunt
Roughly two-fifths in, the children wade toward what may be Capone's hideout and find three leaking drums, a dead alligator, a wood stork and floating fish. A tribal police officer explains kindly that he has neither the budget nor the jurisdiction to act unless somebody is caught doing it. The sister, who started the whole enterprise to fund a summer camp her parents refused to pay for, announces that the reward here is not money.
The treasure plot is dropped, and the abandonment is the point. What replaces it is a procedural, and a good one: drone footage reviewed frame by frame, a hubcap glinting in flattened sawgrass, a coffee cup with a bait shop's logo, a week of that shop's security tape obtained by pretending to want a time-lapse for a student film, and a microphone somebody forgets to switch off. Every link is made by a child, and the best deduction turns on something not in frame at all: a counterfeit twenty taped to a wall that was not yet taped there.
A Sunny Place Filled With Shady People
Miami is a case in its own right. The city called itself the Magic City in 1897, with no roads, three hundred residents and a hotel open three months a year, because developers and newspapermen were selling swamp to northerners sight unseen. Grandpa's own great-grandfather fell for it. Hence the line he repeats: "a sunny place filled with shady people."
Around that, The Sherlock Society by James Ponti stacks up a ventanita knocked through the wall of a laundromat, Materva, a mess of iguanas, Burmese pythons loose since a 1992 hurricane flattened a breeding facility, and a stop outside the cottage where Marjory Stoneman Douglas lived. The strongest passage belongs to a retired teacher whose grandfather gardened for Capone: the respectable men who wanted the gangster driven out of town were the same men who would not let a Black employee eat in their restaurants, while the Capones fed him at their table. Ponti lets her say it and adds no moral.
Where It Strains
The Capone thread is abandoned rather than solved. It reopens in the last four lines as a series hook, but a reader promised a buried million finishes holding a hubcap.
The adults carry more than they should. Grandpa gets through every gate, the mother runs the decisive brainstorm, the father supplies the laboratory.
The villain has two settings. Charming conservationist who flies drones, then a man who bellows at a thirteen-year-old. Nothing between.
The newcomer is partly a device. A girl newly arrived from Wyoming exists so paella, causeways and pythons can be explained to her, and by the fourth time the seam shows.
The coincidences stack up, and the case finally hinges on whether a signed release makes a recording admissible, which younger readers will take on trust.
Content Notes
The Sherlock Society by James Ponti is gentler than its opening suggests, but not weightless. A boat fire and an explosion, with children going into open water and clinging to debris. Two children hiding from adult men on a moving vessel for hours. An adult shouts at a girl and she is shaken by it. Poisoned wildlife described plainly and sadly, including a dead alligator and a wood stork: the most upsetting pages here. Racial exclusion in 1930s Miami is discussed directly. A character's parents have divorced. A long argument between a mother and a daughter. Trespass and unlawful entry, which the novel argues about rather than assumes.
What Stays With You
The series runs on with Hurricane Heist and then Art Attack, and this volume closes on a dinner table in the Keys, a remark about alligators, and four children asking to be excused. There are shovels in the shed, and the last line is the catchphrase, which it earns.
What lasts is smaller than the explosion. A sister who put the whole thing together to prove to her mother that she is not shallow, and admits it in tears with thirty pages left. A three-member club calling itself a society, described by its founder as aspirational and by his sister as delusional. A grandfather who, offered a way out, does not take it. The Sherlock Society by James Ponti does the ordinary work extremely well and then quietly asks an eleven-year-old to think about who pays for a beautiful city.
On provenance, in a book whose best scenes happen inside a storage unit: the last two cabinets there hold the stories the old man never solved. This review has a slimmer file. Aladdin sent the copy, asked for an honest opinion, and got one. Nothing else was requested or implied, and the folder is thin enough to say so in a line.
The Sherlock Society by James Ponti and the Five Ws
The grandfather is a retired Miami Herald man with forty-six years of notebooks in a storage unit, and what he runs for these children is not detective training. It is journalism boot camp. Each of the four takes one question: when, who, what, where, with the old man keeping why. The sister memorises the timeline; the reader of the group tracks names and aliases. They get paper notebooks and are told a phone will not do it.
His thesis is that a reporter and a detective are the same animal, and that a mystery is only a story missing its ending. That is not decoration; it is how the book is built, and why the puzzles feel fair rather than magical. They divide the work, make lists, and check dates.
What The Sherlock Society by James Ponti Does With a Botany Book
The clue sequences are excellent: each is solvable, and each teaches the trick it will use again. A school escape room hides one clue in an anagram of an author's name, another in an acrostic built by stacking five children's mysteries in order, and the last in a homophone: you cannot take a bow out of a case if the case is closed, and it is not the bow that rhymes with wow.
Two hundred pages later the same skills open the real thing. A gardener's copy of a botany encyclopedia, inscribed by Al Capone a week before his tax trial, carries a Bible verse about treasure and the heart, and a map drawn on onionskin and tucked into the spine. The Italian word at its foot means title page. It also means frontispiece. Lay the map over the engraving opposite and an X that pointed at nothing lands at the base of two royal palms. The reader can get there first.
The Grandfather Steals It
The best character in The Sherlock Society by James Ponti is seventy-three, does yoga in half a converted garage, and drives a 1964 Cadillac named after Roberta Flack, because he once met her flight holding a chauffeur's sign in order to steal the interview that made his career. He teaches "getting in the door" as a professional skill, then demonstrates it twice on two gate guards with two different lies, one involving a fictional divorce.
What Ponti does with him in the last thirty pages made me put the book down for a second, and is not played for laughs at all.
Where The Sherlock Society by James Ponti Stops Being a Treasure Hunt
Roughly two-fifths in, the children wade toward what may be Capone's hideout and find three leaking drums, a dead alligator, a wood stork and floating fish. A tribal police officer explains kindly that he has neither the budget nor the jurisdiction to act unless somebody is caught doing it. The sister, who started the whole enterprise to fund a summer camp her parents refused to pay for, announces that the reward here is not money.
The treasure plot is dropped, and the abandonment is the point. What replaces it is a procedural, and a good one: drone footage reviewed frame by frame, a hubcap glinting in flattened sawgrass, a coffee cup with a bait shop's logo, a week of that shop's security tape obtained by pretending to want a time-lapse for a student film, and a microphone somebody forgets to switch off. Every link is made by a child, and the best deduction turns on something not in frame at all: a counterfeit twenty taped to a wall that was not yet taped there.
A Sunny Place Filled With Shady People
Miami is a case in its own right. The city called itself the Magic City in 1897, with no roads, three hundred residents and a hotel open three months a year, because developers and newspapermen were selling swamp to northerners sight unseen. Grandpa's own great-grandfather fell for it. Hence the line he repeats: "a sunny place filled with shady people."
Around that, The Sherlock Society by James Ponti stacks up a ventanita knocked through the wall of a laundromat, Materva, a mess of iguanas, Burmese pythons loose since a 1992 hurricane flattened a breeding facility, and a stop outside the cottage where Marjory Stoneman Douglas lived. The strongest passage belongs to a retired teacher whose grandfather gardened for Capone: the respectable men who wanted the gangster driven out of town were the same men who would not let a Black employee eat in their restaurants, while the Capones fed him at their table. Ponti lets her say it and adds no moral.
Where It Strains
The Capone thread is abandoned rather than solved. It reopens in the last four lines as a series hook, but a reader promised a buried million finishes holding a hubcap.
The adults carry more than they should. Grandpa gets through every gate, the mother runs the decisive brainstorm, the father supplies the laboratory.
The villain has two settings. Charming conservationist who flies drones, then a man who bellows at a thirteen-year-old. Nothing between.
The newcomer is partly a device. A girl newly arrived from Wyoming exists so paella, causeways and pythons can be explained to her, and by the fourth time the seam shows.
The coincidences stack up, and the case finally hinges on whether a signed release makes a recording admissible, which younger readers will take on trust.
Content Notes
The Sherlock Society by James Ponti is gentler than its opening suggests, but not weightless. A boat fire and an explosion, with children going into open water and clinging to debris. Two children hiding from adult men on a moving vessel for hours. An adult shouts at a girl and she is shaken by it. Poisoned wildlife described plainly and sadly, including a dead alligator and a wood stork: the most upsetting pages here. Racial exclusion in 1930s Miami is discussed directly. A character's parents have divorced. A long argument between a mother and a daughter. Trespass and unlawful entry, which the novel argues about rather than assumes.
What Stays With You
The series runs on with Hurricane Heist and then Art Attack, and this volume closes on a dinner table in the Keys, a remark about alligators, and four children asking to be excused. There are shovels in the shed, and the last line is the catchphrase, which it earns.
What lasts is smaller than the explosion. A sister who put the whole thing together to prove to her mother that she is not shallow, and admits it in tears with thirty pages left. A three-member club calling itself a society, described by its founder as aspirational and by his sister as delusional. A grandfather who, offered a way out, does not take it. The Sherlock Society by James Ponti does the ordinary work extremely well and then quietly asks an eleven-year-old to think about who pays for a beautiful city.
On provenance, in a book whose best scenes happen inside a storage unit: the last two cabinets there hold the stories the old man never solved. This review has a slimmer file. Aladdin sent the copy, asked for an honest opinion, and got one. Nothing else was requested or implied, and the folder is thin enough to say so in a line.
August 23, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you Simon Kids/Aladdin for an early finished copy for review!
THE SHERLOCK SOCIETY was such a fun, quick-paced middle grade read with so many nods to classic mystery stories (including the aforementioned Sherlock).
The story allows the reader to think and get a grasp for the culture and life of Miami - as someone who hasn't been there, I felt like I could really envision (and taste 😋) so much of it!
The characters were also great - this story is as much about true friendship as it is about the love that can be found in a multi-generational family, and everyone brought such a unique perspective to the story!
I can definitely see this series evolving into a classic mystery series among kids!
Publication Date: September 3
Thank you Simon Kids/Aladdin for an early finished copy for review!
THE SHERLOCK SOCIETY was such a fun, quick-paced middle grade read with so many nods to classic mystery stories (including the aforementioned Sherlock).
The story allows the reader to think and get a grasp for the culture and life of Miami - as someone who hasn't been there, I felt like I could really envision (and taste 😋) so much of it!
The characters were also great - this story is as much about true friendship as it is about the love that can be found in a multi-generational family, and everyone brought such a unique perspective to the story!
I can definitely see this series evolving into a classic mystery series among kids!
Publication Date: September 3
February 29, 2024
As a kid who loved murder mysteries, to this day, any middle grade mysteries are books I devour with a vengeance. I loved every minute of this book and will definitely be recommending it to young readers of all interests.
March 25, 2025
This was SO cute. What a perfect middle grade mystery!
The clues were just hard enough, the quirky grandpa being their driver was super fun, and the Miami setting was awesome.
The clues were just hard enough, the quirky grandpa being their driver was super fun, and the Miami setting was awesome.
October 2, 2025
An homage to Miami, this lovely story can be enjoyed at any age. I liked the plucky kiddos and Grandpa is a fun addition to the society of sleuths.
November 13, 2025
This was a cute little mystery. Nothing crazy
July 31, 2024
This was a great middle grade mystery and an amazing start to a brand new series! I loved this book’s cast of characters and thoroughly enjoyed following them on this adventure. I flew through this book in one sitting and loved the mystery and adventure. The Sherlock Society had elements that reminded me of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and I recommend giving this new series a try when it comes out in September.
Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted arc, I loved it.
Thank you Simon Kids for the gifted arc, I loved it.
November 11, 2024
Least favorite of Ponte’s books.
June 12, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. This is another home run series starter for Ponti. Four middle school kids and a former PI grandfather go on a wild ride during the start of their summer break as they investigate a case that has never been involved. It involves Al Capone, the Everglades, and corporate corruption. This story is packed with action and humor (and tacos), and has an excellent audiobook. #mglit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian #audiobook
September 8, 2025
A Goodreads Giveaway physical book win (Sept '24)
Oh boy. There is a lot going on. These kids are different than I was at their age. Without spoiling -- I found the story unreasonable and therefore I couldn't imagine all that took place. The kids are too young for the storyline. With that said it was interesting and entertaining.
I could see this as a family audiobook.
Oh boy. There is a lot going on. These kids are different than I was at their age. Without spoiling -- I found the story unreasonable and therefore I couldn't imagine all that took place. The kids are too young for the storyline. With that said it was interesting and entertaining.
I could see this as a family audiobook.
October 21, 2025
Great start to a new series.
April 4, 2026
3.5 stars!
June 4, 2026
3.5✨
I liked this one and it’s right up there with city spies. While city spies is more middle grade “The Naturals”. This is heavy on Sherlock Holmes but also feels a little Nancy Drew.
I liked this one and it’s right up there with city spies. While city spies is more middle grade “The Naturals”. This is heavy on Sherlock Holmes but also feels a little Nancy Drew.
April 10, 2026
Flowed very nicely, and I was always on the tips of my toes, ecstatic to see what happened next. This is a very good piece.
January 7, 2026
This is my second YA book by Ponti, and I really enjoyed it. Just enough mystery and when you throw in Grandpa as the Director of Transportation (because he can drive and the rest of the Society cannot), the story captured my attention and held it. Ponti mixes real locations and history into his story, and his characters are believable and fun.
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