What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shrew Detective #1
The Case of the Pilfered Pearls
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26Wind in the Willows meets Enola Holmes in this exciting, young middle grade mystery series from Newbery Honor–winning author Margi Preus and with art from Junyi Wu
Something that is difficult or impossible to understand.
With a curious mind and a vast vocabulary (thanks to her wallpaper—pages of a discarded human dictionary), tiny Minerva Shrew would love nothing more than to solve the Big Mysteries of Life and the Universe.
Instead, in The Case of the Pilfered Pearls, she’s called upon to help her cousin Tenacity solve a mystery in the most dangerous of a human house. When a string of pearls goes missing, the human owner is sure a “dreadful rodent” has pilfered them—and now the lives of all Minerva’s friends are at risk! Will Minerva find the true culprit before the exterminators arrive?
With wit and warmth, Margi Preus creates a charming woodland world filled with creatures both whimsical and nefarious ( wicked or criminal), along with suspense, intrigue, and, thanks to Minerva’s metabolism, plenty of snacks.
Something that is difficult or impossible to understand.
With a curious mind and a vast vocabulary (thanks to her wallpaper—pages of a discarded human dictionary), tiny Minerva Shrew would love nothing more than to solve the Big Mysteries of Life and the Universe.
Instead, in The Case of the Pilfered Pearls, she’s called upon to help her cousin Tenacity solve a mystery in the most dangerous of a human house. When a string of pearls goes missing, the human owner is sure a “dreadful rodent” has pilfered them—and now the lives of all Minerva’s friends are at risk! Will Minerva find the true culprit before the exterminators arrive?
With wit and warmth, Margi Preus creates a charming woodland world filled with creatures both whimsical and nefarious ( wicked or criminal), along with suspense, intrigue, and, thanks to Minerva’s metabolism, plenty of snacks.
128 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 19, 2026
15 people want to read
About the author
Margi Preus
26 books192 followersMargi Preus is a children's writer. She is a 2011 Newbery Honor winner and won the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Heart of a Samurai.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 4, 2025
With an clever shrew and tons of meals each day, this mystery lures in while building reading skills along the way.
Minerva Shrew's home is wallpapered in dictionary pages, and she loves nothing more than deep mysteries...like the meaning of life and philosophical questions. When one of her friends insists she help out with a real crime mystery and thwart a potential murder, Minerva isn't thrilled to shift her brain gears down to a 'lower level' discovery but doesn't want anyone to die, either. She follows her friend to a dangerous, human house and a complex mystery. But the stakes are very high and the clock is already ticking. Minerva must discover the true identity of the thief before the exterminator arrives and kills all the little animals living in the house.
When I first saw the cover and tale length, I thought this might be a tale for strong chapter book readers and lower middle grade ones, and while it is, it stretches further than that. The tale is short and engaging, and every few pages, Minerva drops a difficult vocabulary word and the definition...and these are mostly not words readers would usually run across. Add that the author tends to sprinkle in more difficult terms anyway, and the vocabulary skills are getting a workout. But thanks to the shorter read, it also relaxes what could be frustrating in a longer novel. The printed text is kept relatively short for a usual middle grade read, and there are lovely illustrations, which often dropped in to enhance the tale. Plus, it's not about depth as much as it is about solving the case. So, it is a true middle grade read...and one that works very well to improve those word skills. I'm thinking homeschoolers and classrooms will want to peek into these pages, too.
As for the story, it holds a quick-paced mystery with vibrant characters and tons of quirks. Of course, Minerva, as a shrew, already gives this book a fun and original twist. Readers learn a little about shrews along the way, too (like they need to eat extremely often to stay alive). The other animals are just as interesting and add a little furry chaos and fun. The first pages give readers time to meet Minerva and learn about her usual life and interests, which then, makes the turn into the mystery that much more interesting. The mystery is well laid and holds several surprises. The ending isn't easy to solve and, of course, there are some messages about friendship, helping others, and reaching beyond the comfort zone as well.
I can only hope that this is the first in many tales to come.
Minerva Shrew's home is wallpapered in dictionary pages, and she loves nothing more than deep mysteries...like the meaning of life and philosophical questions. When one of her friends insists she help out with a real crime mystery and thwart a potential murder, Minerva isn't thrilled to shift her brain gears down to a 'lower level' discovery but doesn't want anyone to die, either. She follows her friend to a dangerous, human house and a complex mystery. But the stakes are very high and the clock is already ticking. Minerva must discover the true identity of the thief before the exterminator arrives and kills all the little animals living in the house.
When I first saw the cover and tale length, I thought this might be a tale for strong chapter book readers and lower middle grade ones, and while it is, it stretches further than that. The tale is short and engaging, and every few pages, Minerva drops a difficult vocabulary word and the definition...and these are mostly not words readers would usually run across. Add that the author tends to sprinkle in more difficult terms anyway, and the vocabulary skills are getting a workout. But thanks to the shorter read, it also relaxes what could be frustrating in a longer novel. The printed text is kept relatively short for a usual middle grade read, and there are lovely illustrations, which often dropped in to enhance the tale. Plus, it's not about depth as much as it is about solving the case. So, it is a true middle grade read...and one that works very well to improve those word skills. I'm thinking homeschoolers and classrooms will want to peek into these pages, too.
As for the story, it holds a quick-paced mystery with vibrant characters and tons of quirks. Of course, Minerva, as a shrew, already gives this book a fun and original twist. Readers learn a little about shrews along the way, too (like they need to eat extremely often to stay alive). The other animals are just as interesting and add a little furry chaos and fun. The first pages give readers time to meet Minerva and learn about her usual life and interests, which then, makes the turn into the mystery that much more interesting. The mystery is well laid and holds several surprises. The ending isn't easy to solve and, of course, there are some messages about friendship, helping others, and reaching beyond the comfort zone as well.
I can only hope that this is the first in many tales to come.
November 13, 2025
Oh no! A necklace of pearls has been pilfered! Can Minerva, an astute pygmy shrew, help her cousin Tenacity recover the missing item?
Minerva lives in the woods that border a house. She has a cozy little nest with walls she has papered with pages from a dictionary. Needless to say, she has taught herself to read and has an impressive vocabulary which is highlighted throughout the book. She is awakened one day by her cousin, Tenacity, who lives in the above mentioned house. The house stood empty for quite some time but a new family has recently moved in. And the lady of the house has just discovered that her beloved pearl necklace is missing! She believes an animal is behind the mischief and so she has called in exterminators. Facing imminent peril and possible annihilation - Tenacity seeks the help of aspiring detective cousin Minerva to solve the case.
Minerva's possible suspects include several mice, a rat, and a family of acrobatic squirrels. There's also a dog and a cat who might be involved. But time is of the essence if the small animals are to be saved from traps and fumigation.
While most of the book is devoted to the action of solving the case, there is also time for some introspection from Minerva on the difference between living in the woods and living in a house. She also ponders the existence of humans. She has always deemed them as the enemy but in the midst of this adventure, she meets the young boy who lives in the house with his mother and finds him to be helpful and understanding.
Readers will learn quite a bit about shrews (they need to eat every fifteen minutes!!) and the author has included a bit more factual information about the animals as an end note.
I hope there is a second book - I enjoyed reading about Minerva. The chapters are short and there are illustrations throughout. It would make a great read aloud for a classroom!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC!
Minerva lives in the woods that border a house. She has a cozy little nest with walls she has papered with pages from a dictionary. Needless to say, she has taught herself to read and has an impressive vocabulary which is highlighted throughout the book. She is awakened one day by her cousin, Tenacity, who lives in the above mentioned house. The house stood empty for quite some time but a new family has recently moved in. And the lady of the house has just discovered that her beloved pearl necklace is missing! She believes an animal is behind the mischief and so she has called in exterminators. Facing imminent peril and possible annihilation - Tenacity seeks the help of aspiring detective cousin Minerva to solve the case.
Minerva's possible suspects include several mice, a rat, and a family of acrobatic squirrels. There's also a dog and a cat who might be involved. But time is of the essence if the small animals are to be saved from traps and fumigation.
While most of the book is devoted to the action of solving the case, there is also time for some introspection from Minerva on the difference between living in the woods and living in a house. She also ponders the existence of humans. She has always deemed them as the enemy but in the midst of this adventure, she meets the young boy who lives in the house with his mother and finds him to be helpful and understanding.
Readers will learn quite a bit about shrews (they need to eat every fifteen minutes!!) and the author has included a bit more factual information about the animals as an end note.
I hope there is a second book - I enjoyed reading about Minerva. The chapters are short and there are illustrations throughout. It would make a great read aloud for a classroom!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC!
November 7, 2025
When Minerva - an exceptionally intelligent pygmy shrew - finds that she has to leave her home in the woods and her demanding feeding schedule to help her cousin Tennie solve the mystery of the pilfered pearls in the house where the latter lives, she gets more than she bargained for!
Along with exciting discoveries like peanut butter, Minerva also finds herself confronted by a series of rather less exciting challenges, such as an array of traps set by contractors who have been brought in by the house owner, furious at the loss of her pearls.
Can Minerva solve the vexatious mystery before the fumigators are called in to eliminate ALL the non-human residents of the house?
This is an exciting and funny story with a ton of information about woodland creatures and the opportunity to learn interesting new words, which are woven into the story so cleverly that the learning is almost automatic. This one is well worth checking out for readers in the target group - and I enjoyed it myself, despite being an adult! It's very cute and has the feel of a classic in the making.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Along with exciting discoveries like peanut butter, Minerva also finds herself confronted by a series of rather less exciting challenges, such as an array of traps set by contractors who have been brought in by the house owner, furious at the loss of her pearls.
Can Minerva solve the vexatious mystery before the fumigators are called in to eliminate ALL the non-human residents of the house?
This is an exciting and funny story with a ton of information about woodland creatures and the opportunity to learn interesting new words, which are woven into the story so cleverly that the learning is almost automatic. This one is well worth checking out for readers in the target group - and I enjoyed it myself, despite being an adult! It's very cute and has the feel of a classic in the making.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am smitten by animal guided mystery stories and this one is the cat's meow! First, the main character is a shrew who I loved from the dictionary wallpaper in her home. She lives out in nature, but is sought for help by her relative who lives in a human home. Immediately, the vocabulary is noticably high, yet the chapters are short with larger print and adorable illustrations to support readers new to chapter books. You cannot downplay the way Preus introduces words through Minerva Shrew (yes Nancy Drew-esque) while meeting the house critters, recognizing the short amount of time in which this mystery must be solved to save the house critters from fumigation, and using her wit and tenacity to solve the mystery of a pearl necklace that the house owner believes has been pilfered. After this fun and witty story are some facts about shrews, flying squirrels, and chipmunks that explain how facts were used to guide this fun series opener. I highly recommend this story for elementary school students. Grateful to Netgalley for the chance to review this book on their screen reader!
I will certainly add this one to both of my school collections when it is published!
I will certainly add this one to both of my school collections when it is published!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A refreshingly witty and adventurous novel that can be read by children and adults alike! Minnerva is an incredibly ambitious and determined shrew, and together with her cousin, Tenacity, she sets off to solve a mystery- so there won’t be murder by the humans in the house.
Humorous jokes, references and characterisations give this mystery book a distinctive edge. Additionally, definitions of complicated vocabulary are given within the story context, helping younger readers learn as they read. Careful research about the different animal species in the book is also integrated to this effect.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the story itself and will be looking out for the sequels.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
- “Now, Tennie,” Minerva began, “you know I don’t investigate ordinary, everyday cases. Life is short and I am small. And yet I want to do big things […]”
Humorous jokes, references and characterisations give this mystery book a distinctive edge. Additionally, definitions of complicated vocabulary are given within the story context, helping younger readers learn as they read. Careful research about the different animal species in the book is also integrated to this effect.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the story itself and will be looking out for the sequels.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
- “Now, Tennie,” Minerva began, “you know I don’t investigate ordinary, everyday cases. Life is short and I am small. And yet I want to do big things […]”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is about Minerva, the shrewd shrew detective, it follows her solving the crime of the missing pearls. This was interesting to read. In the story there are quick vocab lessons written into the story and I loved this. This is definitely a book the child me (that would read the dictionary) would have completely loved. Minerva does faint a lot and she's a great detective still. I can't wait for if there will be another installment in Minerva's detective story. I would love this to be a series. I think you would love this if you like mysteries you can try to solve along with the detective. Where did those pearls go?
I will be posting a video review of this book on my TikTok as well @simonsayshellooo
Thank you Netgalley for providing this book! The opinions are my own.
I will be posting a video review of this book on my TikTok as well @simonsayshellooo
Thank you Netgalley for providing this book! The opinions are my own.
November 8, 2025
This book is nothing short of a delight! It sits at the lower end of middle grade, being quite a short book, but packs a powerful vocabulary punch! The more difficult words are introduced and explained in a sympathetic manner that is in no way condescending to our younger audience.
Minerva is asked by her cousin, Tenacity, to help solve a mystery in the human house. The human house however, is full of dangers like cats, dogs and traps. Can Minerva solve the mystery and save lives before the fumigator arrives? It's a tense ride at the end.
I'd love to see this turned into an audiobook. I can't wait for book 2.
Minerva is asked by her cousin, Tenacity, to help solve a mystery in the human house. The human house however, is full of dangers like cats, dogs and traps. Can Minerva solve the mystery and save lives before the fumigator arrives? It's a tense ride at the end.
I'd love to see this turned into an audiobook. I can't wait for book 2.
November 12, 2025
Thank you Netgalley for this proof.
Think Disney's Basil the Mouse Detective meets Wind in the Willows.
This is very cute book, loved the illustrations and adding what some words mean is a good idea for young readers.
We meet Minerva the Shrew, who is a Detective and she has been called to investigate in a human house for a pearl necklace that has gone missing.
We meet the residents of the house along with Minierva's cousin who try to solve the mystery.
Book is being released 19 May 2026
Think Disney's Basil the Mouse Detective meets Wind in the Willows.
This is very cute book, loved the illustrations and adding what some words mean is a good idea for young readers.
We meet Minerva the Shrew, who is a Detective and she has been called to investigate in a human house for a pearl necklace that has gone missing.
We meet the residents of the house along with Minierva's cousin who try to solve the mystery.
Book is being released 19 May 2026
December 21, 2025
This was a really lovely little book - beautiful illustrations throughout added to the joy and broke up the text in to manageable chunks. The book isn’t long but it’s full of adventure and quirky characters. A perfect book for young mystery lovers and those who love animal tales. I would definitely recommend this book. We also loved the use of definitions throughout the book linking to the dictionary wallpaper. Such a fun way to introduce new vocabulary to young readers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
This was such an enjoyable read. It follows Minerva, the Shrew Detective, who is asked by her cousin to solve a mystery up at the house. A string of pearls has been stolen and if they aren't found, then all of the creatures in the house are going to be in danger. Minerva lives in the wild, in a home wallpapered with the pages of a dictionary, which has given her an extensive range of vocabulary - this is used to introduce higher tier vocabulary to the reader but is done in such a natural way that it doesn't feel like a lesson.
The story moves at pace and isn't too long, making it very accessible to younger readers whilst they learn new words and lots of information about shrews and a few of the other creatures that she meets along the way.
There is lots of wordplay which adults reading to children will pick up on, adding to their enjoyment to the text too.
This was such an enjoyable read. It follows Minerva, the Shrew Detective, who is asked by her cousin to solve a mystery up at the house. A string of pearls has been stolen and if they aren't found, then all of the creatures in the house are going to be in danger. Minerva lives in the wild, in a home wallpapered with the pages of a dictionary, which has given her an extensive range of vocabulary - this is used to introduce higher tier vocabulary to the reader but is done in such a natural way that it doesn't feel like a lesson.
The story moves at pace and isn't too long, making it very accessible to younger readers whilst they learn new words and lots of information about shrews and a few of the other creatures that she meets along the way.
There is lots of wordplay which adults reading to children will pick up on, adding to their enjoyment to the text too.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews