Opal Watson, Private Eye

Opal Watson #1

by Brittany J. Thurman

Opal Watson, Private Eye introduces an exciting new middle grade mystery series based on the popular original Pinna podcast that feels like a modern-day version of Harriet the Spy.

Opal Watson loves being a detective. When her neighbor’s cat goes missing or her grandmother loses her cherished cookbook, Opal is on the case. And there is no mystery she cannot solve.

Returning home to Chicago after spending the summer with her Meme Augustine in New Orleans, Opal is nervous to begin school. Despite her parents’ confidence, they worry about her making new friends and dealing with her Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease. When Opal gets paired with a new student, Ivy, to work on their history project together, she is hesitant—after all, she only needs her cousin, Frank, and her best friend, Madison.

But school quickly becomes the least of her worries. Madison has heard disturbances in the apartment building she and Opal live in, the Crescent. Renovations are being done, but it’s unclear where the noises are coming from that are upsetting all her neighbors. Even worse, the old building is the target of developers wanting to tear it down. As Opal begins to investigate, she realizes this will be her toughest case yet.

Can Opal solve the mystery at the Crescent and save her home? And what hidden truths will she uncover along the way?

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Fiction, Disability, Realistic Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

224 pages, Hardcover

Published April 15, 2025

Reviews

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great middle grade. I really liked the main character and her drive. I liked how curious and how smart she was. I loved getting to know her and her friends. I also find the whole mystery plot quite interesting and it kept me on my toes. I didn't really see any of it coming. I also really liked the side characters and the blooming friendship.
I just thought it was a really solid story. It was well written and it made me want more from these characters and this world.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storytide is an imprint of HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After visiting her grandmother, Meme, in New Orleans, Opal returns to her home in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago before the start of 7th grade. Her father is the superintendent of their apartment building, the Crescent, which is undergoing extensive renovations, and her mother is an app developer. While she was gone, Opal heard from her friend, Madison Ling, that there were odd noises behind the bathroom in Madison's apartment. Opal has been spending the last three years solving small mysteries for friends and family, so she jumps right on the case. There are plenty of things going on at the Crescent; the owner, Mr. Vaughn, is trying to hold developers who want to tear the building down at bay, the contractor, Mr. Devlin (whom Mr. Watson found through a pop-up ad on the internet), is dragging his heels on work, and there is a woman named Mrs. Carlowe who is hanging around the building and seems to be up to no good. When Opal's school, L. Hansberry Middle School, has a meet and greet the week before school, Opal attends. Her teacher, Ms. Downey, tells the students that they will be partnered up to work on a video project on a historical event that happened in the 20th century. Opal gets off to a rocky start with new student Ivy, but the two start to investigate the Great Migration. It has some ties to the Crescent, and with everything going on in the building, Opal's investigation turns up some surprising information. Even though she has one set of blueprints from 1965, she finds another from 1905 that seems to hide a secret. Will she be able to contact the right people in order to save her beloved building from being torn down?
Strengths: We learn early on that Opal uses a cane and has some vision issues, and it's great that while this is discussed, it isn't the main focus of the story. We learn quite some way into the story that she suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, and needs some accomodations in low light, and also has taken Orientation and Mobility classes. The Crescent is a great setting, and there is a lot of really interesting Chicago history that is discussed, including Robert Abbott and The Chicago Defender newspaper. The Great Migration is a great topic for middle school students to research, especially those who live in Chicago. I liked Ivy and Opal's somewhat fraught relationship, as well as the great support system and friends that Opal has.
Weaknesses: This almost felt like the second book in a series, and there were a lot of characters to keep straight. There were also some things that didn't seem like they would happen in real life. The father gets a contractor from a pop up ad? No wonder he was sketchy. Also, I can't see a teacher assigning a project before the first day of school; not all students are able to come to meet and greets.
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of Winston's Wednesday and Woof series, where Wednesday, who deals with arthritis, and her dog (Opal has a cat, Bebe) solve similar mysteries, or of McDunn's Trouble at the Tangerine, where characters are also trying to save a historic apartment building.

[Atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Brittany J. Thurman and HarperChildrens for the copy of Opal Watson: Private Eye! 🕵️‍♀️📚✨

This middle-grade mystery had a lot to love! 💕 Opal is a fantastic protagonist—curious, intelligent, and determined. 🧠🔎 Her love for solving mysteries shines through in every part of the story, making her a compelling and relatable character. 😊 I really enjoyed seeing her friendships develop, especially with Ivy, and how she navigated new challenges while still staying true to herself. 👭💖

The mystery itself was engaging and kept me guessing! 🤯 The plot twists and turns were well-executed, and I appreciated how the historical elements tied into the present-day storyline. 📜🏙️ The Crescent was a rich setting, full of intriguing characters and deep-rooted history that added another layer of depth to the mystery. 🏢🧐

🔥 Strengths: 🔥

🕵️‍♀️ Opal is a well-developed, determined character who makes for a great detective.

👭 The friendships and character dynamics felt authentic and enjoyable.

📖 The historical aspects, especially about Chicago and the Great Migration, were woven in seamlessly.

👀 Opal’s experience with retinitis pigmentosa was handled thoughtfully without overshadowing the story.

🔄 A solid mystery with twists that kept me engaged.

⚠️ Weaknesses: ⚠️

😵 There were a lot of characters to keep track of, which sometimes made things a bit confusing.

🤔 Some plot points felt a little far-fetched (like finding a contractor through a pop-up ad!).

⏳ The timing of events at the end felt a bit rushed and hard to believe.

Overall, this was a fun and engaging mystery perfect for middle-grade readers. 🎉📚 While some elements required a bit of suspension of disbelief, the story was still enjoyable, and Opal is a character I’d love to read more about. 💖 I’d happily recommend this to young readers who enjoy detective stories with heart, history, and a touch of adventure! 🕵️‍♀️📜🔍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌟

[Lonna Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opal Watson, a 7th grader who lives with her African-American family in Chicago, is a budding detective. Her grandmother lives in New Orleans, and Opal just spent the summer with her, soaking up the love and the flavorful gumbo. Upon her return, her father, the manager of the Crescent apartment building, and mother, an app designer, are in the middle of a huge renovation project going poorly, and worry that a developer will raze their historic home, displacing the renters. Opal and her friends try to save it and solve the mysteries surrounding its murky past and future. The plot, connected to Black History, Pullman Porters, and the Great Migration is well-constructed, and represents both multicultural issues and Opal’s retinitis pigmentosa visual disability with clarity and compassion. Opal is a savvy protagonist dispute the occasional weak prose, and I would not hesitate to put this book in the hand of any bright 12-year old. Also, this novel would make a terrific pairing with “The Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventures,” set in a museum about history through astonishing miniatures, which takes place in the Chicago Art Institute!

[Susan Faloon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opal has just come home to Chicago after spending time with her grandmother. It's near the end of August and she is a about to start seventh grade. Opal has a condition called retinitis pigmentosa which makes it hard for her to see at night. She has a special cane for people with vision problems and carries a flashlight at night. Opal likes to investigate mysteries. Right now, there is a mystery going on right in her own home. The Crescent, an apartment complex that her father, Ernest, supervises is having strange visitors and her best friend is hearing weird noises in her own apartment.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited opinion about it. I'd recommend it for a middle grade reader like my niece who is nearly eleven. I think she would enjoy it. Is it a perfect book, no. But the story would be interesting for a middle schooler. Are a couple parts a little farfetched, yes. I cannot picture a person this age going off on her on, by bus, to a different part of the city, especially one who is sight impaired.
Opal is a good character, so is her cousin and two friends. I like that the mystery caused the reader to wonder if someone is trying to sabotage the reconstruction of the building to upgrade it. The book also inspires the reader to learn about significant history which is a plus. I give it a 4 rating.

[Selina⚔️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

If this book has an editor, they did it a disservice because the dialogue is so bad and it definitely needed fine-tuning before being published and produced.

To be frank, none of the characters sound like real people that it really dampened my enjoyment.

I read a lot of mysteries in this genre and unfortunately it fell short on the writing aspect.

There was also no character development from our heroine, Opal.

Her voice also is inconsistent.

One chapter she sounds like a formal detective generated from AI writing tool, then on the next she just narrates the outline of the story, from point A to point B with no real personality.

This isn't really a mystery because there's no subtlety in the prose. Everything happens so conveniently that I really only continued reading to know how it wraps up its commentary about displacement and the Great Migration.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opal loves helping friends and family find answers to problems, and now her friend Madison says she can hear noises in her bathroom wall. At the same time Jesse, a contractor, is in charge of renovations in their building, and If they aren’t done in time the building will be sold and possibly torn down. As Opal investigates the noises she finds more residents hear noises, and is someone sabotaging the renovations? Then a secret room is found. Does Opal find the source of the noises? What happens when the owner of the building comes by to check on the renovations and sees a lack of progress? Will the building be saved?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Opal Watson loves solving mysteries, but her current mystery, about why renovations on the apartment building that is her home is worrying her. Mysterious drafts and noises are bad enough, along with the threat of the building being sold, but now there is a mysterious kid skulking around the building, too. With this, her new history project partner is hard to get to know. Is the lady who keeps coming to take photos friend or foe and is the history of the building important enough for historical preservation? Opal is determined to save her home and get to the bottom of the many mysteries that surround her home.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery is intriguing but didn’t really make sense to me, and some of the plotting was clunky. What were the developers doing? What was Ms. C’s goal? Why were the floor plans changed?
And there’s a bit too much explaining.
The author has a successful podcast and her degree is in Drama writing, so perhaps that’s her forté.
Info about the Pullman Porters and the Great Migration are pluses, as are the MC’s matter-of-fact dealing with retinosa pigmentosa and her cane, named “Pinkerton", for occasional low-light situations.
Appealing, driven MC—great cover.

[Neth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5 overall, rounded up to 4 stars. This was a pretty solid middle-grade mystery with some fantastic disability representation! I love an apartment building as a setting and this one had hidden rooms, mysterious tenants, and a reluctant remodeling to boot! I think the mystery itself could have been a bit more exciting but Opal was such a loveable protagonist that I didn't feel bored reading her story.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Chicago, this is a modern update on Harriet the Spy that features a Black middle grade girl with Retinitis Pigmentosa who is determined to solve the mystery of what is going on with her neighborhood apartment building. Full of great information on the period of African American migration, friendships and disability rep, this is a great start to a new middle grade series and I look forward to the next instalment!

[Bunny Bun · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, I took a break while reading this but I still think it’s a complicated. The narrator, which is the Opal is kinda neutral and bland when describing events, so I would want to see more unique styles of writing. As for the mystery I did not like it. There’s a lot of people she interviews and they all start with Mr. or Ms. so it’s hard keep track of everyone and who is talking. The clues turn out to be irrelevant and it’s just hard to follow overall and it means nothing when they solve it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This is a great choice for readers who enjoy a good mystery yet don’t necessarily want to be frightened as they read. Opal is navigating a new school year and friendship while looking into mysterious circumstances around the renovations of her apartment building. I loved the chapter titles and the satisfying conclusion.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very cute story I really liked how it ended with a little cliffhanger for the next book. I do wish the author explained a little bit more about her disability, so that younger audiences can understand what it means, but maybe that was intentional detail that the author did not want readers to overthink on.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to warm up to this book but after that initial struggle, I was hooked! Opal Watson: Private Eye. Smart, curious and confident, Opal does her research, reads the clues, and solves the puzzling crime. Great for middle grade readers. Set in Bronzeville, Chicago. Historical mystery that ties in the Great Migration.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle grade mystery set in Chicago. Struggled to keep track of all the characters (felt like I was walking into a series and hadn’t read the first book, though this IS the first book). Ending suggested a sequel to follow.

[B.P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bizarre storyline composition - not good!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-3.75/5

[Paige Soule · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Chicago setting, a more realistic detective type mystery for kids.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery for 6th graders.
Read chapter 1
Opal,
Frank-
Ivy and her dad, Jesse Devlin

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just fine.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story.

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a good mystery but this didn’t land. Some of the similes were trying too hard. An adjective could’ve expressed the point more clearly than the figurative language. I wanted to love it but parts (especially the timing of everything at the end) was too far fetched; I couldn’t suspend reality enough to believe it.

[Shannonmde]

DeKalb County Mock Newbery 2025.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this character a lot. She approaches her investigations, and even her attitude towards homework and projects at school, with a mindset of a journalist searching for facts, not rumors or ghosts. She is very confident and proactive. I felt like I was missing books 1 and 2, but this is the first one, although it refers to cases she has solved in the past.
This volume focuses on history, ancestry, the Great Migration (a school project), helping her community and family to keep their building, and connecting with a new student. The three themes converge in the end to one single plot, story, and conclusion.

[Yeslech · Rating 3 out of 5]

a lot of emphasis on sound and smells ie: "The closer the woman gets to me, the better I hear her metal drop earrings clash."

"Ivy's words come out so fast, I try to catch them as she walks away."

"Dad's grin seems to be playing hide-and-seek."

[Liz McMillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun middle grade mystery series. Have you ever heard of a paternoster? Learn something new everyday!