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The Shrew Detective #1
The Case of the Pilfered Pearls
Wind 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
Published May 19, 2026
About the author
Margi Preus
24 books198 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 27, 2026
This was such a delightful start to a new series! The narrator was absolutely ideal for the story, bringing Minerva’s personality and the humor to life.
Minerva and her cousin, Tenacity, make a wonderful detective duo, and I loved following them as they worked the case. The mystery unfolds with little, fun clues sprinkled throughout, making it easy to play along and solve the puzzle.
One of my favorite touches was how the story celebrates words. It has fun with bigger vocabulary by including definitions, and I loved that Minerva’s wallpaper is made from pages of the dictionary. The little mouselings are also surprisingly good at math, adding another charming layer to the story.
This clever, cozy mystery was full of heart, humor, and wordplay. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!
I was blessed with an ALC. Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books Audible Audio. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.
June 9, 2026
Minerva the shrew is an absolute delight, as is this rodent take on the Sherlockian mystery.
Minerva's cousin Tenacity begs Minerva to help her and the other animals who live in a human house; the owner is furious that her string of pearls is missing, and she's convinced that it's some "dreadful rodent". If Minerva can't find the pearls, the owner plans to get exterminators in to rid her home of all of Minerva's and Tenacity's friends.
Minerva investigates, and eventually finds the pearls, saving Tenacity and company from death.
This is such a charming and fun little mystery. Margi Preus injects humour, and vocabulary definitions, when necessary. And lots of snacks.
I look forward to Minerva's next case.
Minerva's cousin Tenacity begs Minerva to help her and the other animals who live in a human house; the owner is furious that her string of pearls is missing, and she's convinced that it's some "dreadful rodent". If Minerva can't find the pearls, the owner plans to get exterminators in to rid her home of all of Minerva's and Tenacity's friends.
Minerva investigates, and eventually finds the pearls, saving Tenacity and company from death.
This is such a charming and fun little mystery. Margi Preus injects humour, and vocabulary definitions, when necessary. And lots of snacks.
I look forward to Minerva's next case.
July 8, 2026
Hilarious fun, with great characters and excellent word play
July 24, 2026
Laugh out loud moments throughout this ingenious story of the "Pilfer" family's mysterious disappearance of Mrs. Pilfer's pearls. Loved it!
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.
May 19, 2026
The Shrew Detective The Case of the Pilfered Pearls
by Margi Preus, author, and Christina Moore, narrator.
This audiobook is such a fun listen. Don't let the kid label fool you. Adults will love it, too!
I just finished listening to this audiobook (it's exactly 2 hours and 49 minutes long), and it was such a fun, cozy listen. It's technically a middle-grade book for kids aged 8 to 12, but it is so witty and genuinely funny that I completely enjoyed it as an adult.
The story is about a tiny shrew named Minerva, who is basically a genius detective. Her cousin Tenacity runs to her for help because a human nearby lost an expensive string of pearls and is blaming a rodent. The human is threatening to call the exterminators, so Minerva has to sneak into a giant human house to solve the mystery, find the real thief, and save all her woodland friends before time runs out.
Characters:
Minerva Shrew: She is hilarious. She has a massive vocabulary because her house's wallpaper is made of old dictionary pages, and she constantly needs to eat bugs because of her high metabolism.
Cousin Tenacity: Her frantic cousin who accidentally drags her into the mess.
The Culprits: A fun mix of sneaky animals and humans that keep you guessing.
Narraror/Author:
The narrator, Christina Moore, does an amazing job bringing Minerva to life. She talks fast and smart, making the funny wordplay and clues really stand out. Plus, the author weaves in cool little science facts about animals naturally without it feeling like a school lesson.
The mystery wraps up with a super clever solution that makes total sense. It doesn't leave you on an annoying cliffhanger, but it definitely leaves things open for more fun sequels.
If you want a short, lighthearted, and clever mystery, whether it's for a kid in your life or just for your own daily commute. I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you, NetGalley, RBmedia, Margi Preus, and Christina Moore, for the audiobook review consideration. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#RBmedia
#MargiPreus author
#ChristinaMoore narrator
#TheShrewDetectiveTheCaseofthePiliferedPearls
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
This is a review of the audiobook.
by Margi Preus, author, and Christina Moore, narrator.
This audiobook is such a fun listen. Don't let the kid label fool you. Adults will love it, too!
I just finished listening to this audiobook (it's exactly 2 hours and 49 minutes long), and it was such a fun, cozy listen. It's technically a middle-grade book for kids aged 8 to 12, but it is so witty and genuinely funny that I completely enjoyed it as an adult.
The story is about a tiny shrew named Minerva, who is basically a genius detective. Her cousin Tenacity runs to her for help because a human nearby lost an expensive string of pearls and is blaming a rodent. The human is threatening to call the exterminators, so Minerva has to sneak into a giant human house to solve the mystery, find the real thief, and save all her woodland friends before time runs out.
Characters:
Minerva Shrew: She is hilarious. She has a massive vocabulary because her house's wallpaper is made of old dictionary pages, and she constantly needs to eat bugs because of her high metabolism.
Cousin Tenacity: Her frantic cousin who accidentally drags her into the mess.
The Culprits: A fun mix of sneaky animals and humans that keep you guessing.
Narraror/Author:
The narrator, Christina Moore, does an amazing job bringing Minerva to life. She talks fast and smart, making the funny wordplay and clues really stand out. Plus, the author weaves in cool little science facts about animals naturally without it feeling like a school lesson.
The mystery wraps up with a super clever solution that makes total sense. It doesn't leave you on an annoying cliffhanger, but it definitely leaves things open for more fun sequels.
If you want a short, lighthearted, and clever mystery, whether it's for a kid in your life or just for your own daily commute. I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you, NetGalley, RBmedia, Margi Preus, and Christina Moore, for the audiobook review consideration. All opinions are my own.
#NetGalley
#RBmedia
#MargiPreus author
#ChristinaMoore narrator
#TheShrewDetectiveTheCaseofthePiliferedPearls
http://goodreads.com/patriciasreading...
http://www.patriciasreadingroom.blogs...
This is a review of the audiobook.
June 29, 2026
A cosy animal mystery, first in a projected series, filled with wordplay and vocabulary lessons. Minerva Shrew lives happily in the forest, dining every 15 minutes on toast spread with larvae pâté or mashed potato bugs. Her tidy lair, papered with dictionary pages, explains her impressive command of the English language while her keen powers of observation and deductive reasoning make her the perfect candidate for solving her cousin Tenacity’s problem. Tenacity lives (horrors, Minerva thinks) in a human house in which a strand of pearls has gone missing. Meanwhile, the homeowner is convinced that thieving animals have made off with the goods and calls in a crew of exterminators. If Minerva can’t retrieve the jewels, the shrews, chipmunks, rats, and squirrels surreptitiously living in comfort face certain death. As readers follow the intrepid pair through the house, they will quickly spot the missing pearls hidden in Junyi Wu’s adorable artwork, but the fun lies in watching the little creature work through the mystery while surviving multiple mishaps. The book is packed with abundant, soft, textured pencil illustrations, alternating between full pages and frequent insets. Minerva’s cap and coat evoke classic Holmesian tropes while the drawings’ many whimsical details will delight animal lovers and encourage close study. Along the way, we learn a lot of two-dollar words (their definitions emphasized typographically through use of a bold font) and many shrew facts (they’re not rodents, must eat three times their body weight every day, and occasionally feign death in stressful situations). A kind boy, who cues as white, helps Minerva escape from a trap and has constructed the intriguing dollhouse that she explores in her effort to recreate the crime. Back matter includes a bit more information about squirrels, chipmunks, and shrews. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
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!
May 29, 2026
What worked:
The story is full of humor, as Minerva’s cousin, Tenacity, asks her to investigate a missing pearl necklace. Much of the humor arises from their lives as shrews, although Minerva lives in the wild and Tenacity lives in a house full of humans. Most of the story is set in the house where the shrews must avoid dangers from mouse traps, humans, a cat, and a security dog. Tenacity distracts the dog by claiming to hear a rubber ball bouncing down the stairs. Wordplay creates levity; for example, Tenacity calls Minerva the Shrewd Detective. Other examples are the result of similar-sounding or misused words, which Minerva sometimes does for her own amusement.
Readers can learn a good deal about shrews, as the author utilizes many facts about them in the story. Readers may be surprised to learn that shrews must eat frequently, which helps explain why they don’t sleep much. Minerva is constantly hungry, so many different types of shrew food are mentioned. More facts are shared after the story concludes, so readers may remember them from earlier in the book. Information about chipmunks and flying squirrels is also shared, as their unique talents are used to solve the problem.
What didn’t work as well:
Minerva has wallpapered her den with pages from a dictionary, so she shows off her large vocabulary throughout the book. The words and definitions are bold-faced to stand out, but they may simply distract some readers. Readers should be able to use context to understand the words. Curiously, this strategy is used in chapter 6 for words like brooch, leverage, simple machine, and fulcrum.
The final verdict:
This book is a wonderful first mystery for young middle-grade readers wanting to explore this genre. The plot is straightforward without any confusing complications. Overall, I recommend you try this book for yourself.
The story is full of humor, as Minerva’s cousin, Tenacity, asks her to investigate a missing pearl necklace. Much of the humor arises from their lives as shrews, although Minerva lives in the wild and Tenacity lives in a house full of humans. Most of the story is set in the house where the shrews must avoid dangers from mouse traps, humans, a cat, and a security dog. Tenacity distracts the dog by claiming to hear a rubber ball bouncing down the stairs. Wordplay creates levity; for example, Tenacity calls Minerva the Shrewd Detective. Other examples are the result of similar-sounding or misused words, which Minerva sometimes does for her own amusement.
Readers can learn a good deal about shrews, as the author utilizes many facts about them in the story. Readers may be surprised to learn that shrews must eat frequently, which helps explain why they don’t sleep much. Minerva is constantly hungry, so many different types of shrew food are mentioned. More facts are shared after the story concludes, so readers may remember them from earlier in the book. Information about chipmunks and flying squirrels is also shared, as their unique talents are used to solve the problem.
What didn’t work as well:
Minerva has wallpapered her den with pages from a dictionary, so she shows off her large vocabulary throughout the book. The words and definitions are bold-faced to stand out, but they may simply distract some readers. Readers should be able to use context to understand the words. Curiously, this strategy is used in chapter 6 for words like brooch, leverage, simple machine, and fulcrum.
The final verdict:
This book is a wonderful first mystery for young middle-grade readers wanting to explore this genre. The plot is straightforward without any confusing complications. Overall, I recommend you try this book for yourself.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This delightful series opener introduces readers to pygmy shrews. In this case, a pygmy shrew who loves words and wants to be a detective. Dictionary wallpaper, anyone? When Minerva's cousin, Tenacity, arrives from the big house and asks Minerva to help solve a mystery, she's reluctant. Yes, she wants to be a detective, but she has no desire to visit the big house. Ultimately though she travels to the big house to help her cousin find some missing pearls before the exterminators arrive to rid the house of all the critters living there (especially the rodents!). But as they travel through the house, first visiting the crime scene and then questioning various residents, the exterminators get to work setting traps. Avoiding cats, tricking dogs, and escaping from doll houses make the task of solving the mystery difficult. But meeting the boy of the house proves intriguing while Minerva gathers clues. Integrating facts about shrews and interesting vocabulary words throughout the story makes the book more informative than one might expect for a story about a tiny little creature solving a mystery. The first in a series, I look forward to reading more about this tiny mystery-solver whose unique characteristics make her a fun character with some serious obstacles to overcome. Appealing black-and-white colored pencil illustrations are scattered throughout the book (one full page and one partial page illustration per chapter). Overall the book is a delightful addition to the mystery genre, a good choice for young animal lovers who enjoy a dash of mystery with their adventures. Highly recommended.
July 31, 2026
I'm on the hunt for really, really good mysteries for middle grade readers (suggestions in comments welcome!) as my 12yo daughter is dying for books with the intrigue of Holes or Harry Potter. Nancy Drew doesn't cut it for her ("Predictable!") and Boxcar Children is too juvenile ("It's like the author purposely wanted you to know nothing actually bad is going to ever happen to them!").
Anyway... This book is on the Boxcar Children side of the scale. Overall I enjoyed it a lot. I'm curious to see what my 6yo would think of the mystery, as it was predictable to the rest of us. (But maybe that's the point?) I do love Margi Preus's writing and characterization, and the clever puns delighted me.
There were a couple disconnects: mostly the book feels delightfully old-fashioned (thank goodness for nary a mention of a cell phone!) but then I was jolted into questioning the believability of the story when the main character is called "it" instead of "she," and mentions she wishes her preferred pronouns had been used. (I think it would have been a good joke if not for the oh-so-21st century phrasing.) And then the definitions of more complicated words added parenthetically to the text didn't work for me. I wish the end papers had been utilized to imitate Minerva the Shrew's dictionary wallpaper so the definitions could be included there in a way that would interrupt the text less! Having spent the last 15 years of my life teaching children to read, I know that's going to be the thing that might frustrate new readers. The complicated words themselves are wonderful, and one of my favorite parts of the story!
Anyway... This book is on the Boxcar Children side of the scale. Overall I enjoyed it a lot. I'm curious to see what my 6yo would think of the mystery, as it was predictable to the rest of us. (But maybe that's the point?) I do love Margi Preus's writing and characterization, and the clever puns delighted me.
There were a couple disconnects: mostly the book feels delightfully old-fashioned (thank goodness for nary a mention of a cell phone!) but then I was jolted into questioning the believability of the story when the main character is called "it" instead of "she," and mentions she wishes her preferred pronouns had been used. (I think it would have been a good joke if not for the oh-so-21st century phrasing.) And then the definitions of more complicated words added parenthetically to the text didn't work for me. I wish the end papers had been utilized to imitate Minerva the Shrew's dictionary wallpaper so the definitions could be included there in a way that would interrupt the text less! Having spent the last 15 years of my life teaching children to read, I know that's going to be the thing that might frustrate new readers. The complicated words themselves are wonderful, and one of my favorite parts of the story!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I decided to read this book for one reason and one reason only...let me explain.
Just before last Christmas, when my Nana was getting her house ready for guests, she saw a CREATURE scurry around her living room and run into the closet. Of course she was freaking out and worrying that it would chew up her blankets, so me and my cousin did some research to try to figure out what it was. We ended up determining, rightly or wrongly, that it was a shrew.
And thus the joke began. The rest of the holiday, everyone kept making jokes about "Nana's Shrew" and it hasn't totally stopped yet. But this is beside the point.
On to the book.
The story is about a woodland shrew who ventures into the human house to help her relative who is in danger. A string of pearls has gone missing, and the animals are being blamed. An extermination crew has arrived and threaten to gas the animals if the pearls are not found.
Overall a very cute book. I really enjoyed it, and think it would be great for the lower end of the middle grade age group. There were a few things plot-wise that didn't make a lot of sense. (How would killing the animals help the woman find her pearls? Why would finding them stop her if she knew they were in her house?), but not anything that would bother a 9-year-old.
I want to give a huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review the digital ARC.
Just before last Christmas, when my Nana was getting her house ready for guests, she saw a CREATURE scurry around her living room and run into the closet. Of course she was freaking out and worrying that it would chew up her blankets, so me and my cousin did some research to try to figure out what it was. We ended up determining, rightly or wrongly, that it was a shrew.
And thus the joke began. The rest of the holiday, everyone kept making jokes about "Nana's Shrew" and it hasn't totally stopped yet. But this is beside the point.
On to the book.
The story is about a woodland shrew who ventures into the human house to help her relative who is in danger. A string of pearls has gone missing, and the animals are being blamed. An extermination crew has arrived and threaten to gas the animals if the pearls are not found.
Overall a very cute book. I really enjoyed it, and think it would be great for the lower end of the middle grade age group. There were a few things plot-wise that didn't make a lot of sense. (How would killing the animals help the woman find her pearls? Why would finding them stop her if she knew they were in her house?), but not anything that would bother a 9-year-old.
I want to give a huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review the 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!
April 25, 2026
This is a delightful middle grade mystery story about a tiny shrew called Minerva who is called in by her cousin to help solve a theft. Minerva lives in the Great Outdoors, where as Tenacity lives inside a human house where a string of pearls has gone missing. The human owner is sure that they've been stolen by a "dreadful rodent" and has called in the exterminators who are setting traps all over the house and promising fumigation if that doesn't work and so Minerva is in a race against to save the lives of Tenacity and all her animal friends.
I think this has got just the right amount of peril for young readers and the outsider perspective that Minerva has on the house means that the explanation for who everyone is and how things work felt very natural. Minerva's house is wallpapered with the pages of a dictionary and she's a big fan of words, which means that when long or complicated words are used the narrative defines them for you which is a lovely device for expanding young readers' vocabularies in a natural way. The illustrations are beautiful too and all in all it was a lovely read. It's set up as the first in a series and I would happily read more of them.
****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****
I think this has got just the right amount of peril for young readers and the outsider perspective that Minerva has on the house means that the explanation for who everyone is and how things work felt very natural. Minerva's house is wallpapered with the pages of a dictionary and she's a big fan of words, which means that when long or complicated words are used the narrative defines them for you which is a lovely device for expanding young readers' vocabularies in a natural way. The illustrations are beautiful too and all in all it was a lovely read. It's set up as the first in a series and I would happily read more of them.
****Copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.*****
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 […]”
June 1, 2026
If you like cute, cozy, animal mysteries which are great for a middle grade audience, I highly recommend this book.
Minerva is a little shrew who's den is wallpapered with dictionary pages so she's always trying to use her large vocabulary and satisfy her curious mind. However, she is more of an outdoor shrew where he cousin is more of a home shrew. When Tenacity comes to her asking for help to find a lost string of pearls, Minerva's drive to solve the case is stronger than her aversion to going inside of a house with humans.
With the help of Tenacity, she interviews various other creatures throughout the house such as flying squirrels in the attic and another creature who lives under the arm chair and thinks of herself as a medium.
The book is a fairly short read which I feel is perfect for a middle grade book and the audiobook goes quickly. It was cute and clever though at times I think it tried to be "too smart" for it's own good.
Minerva is a little shrew who's den is wallpapered with dictionary pages so she's always trying to use her large vocabulary and satisfy her curious mind. However, she is more of an outdoor shrew where he cousin is more of a home shrew. When Tenacity comes to her asking for help to find a lost string of pearls, Minerva's drive to solve the case is stronger than her aversion to going inside of a house with humans.
With the help of Tenacity, she interviews various other creatures throughout the house such as flying squirrels in the attic and another creature who lives under the arm chair and thinks of herself as a medium.
The book is a fairly short read which I feel is perfect for a middle grade book and the audiobook goes quickly. It was cute and clever though at times I think it tried to be "too smart" for it's own good.
June 11, 2026
Children’s books that have an interesting story but in which the child can learn things are amongst my favourites. This book tells the story of Pygmy Shrew Minerva whose help is enlisted the find the pilfered pearl necklace of the lady of the house. There are all sorts of animals living quite peacefully in the house but if she is determined to annihilate them if her necklace cannot be found. We follow the clues with Nervy and her cousin while she tries to sort out the mystery. Since Pygmy Shrews are rather clever creatures, Minerva is able to put it all together and save the day.
Along the way, we learn about different animals including chipmunks and flying squirrels. I love the way the book is written with big words that might be new to the reader and with definition and usage. What a wonderful way to build vocabulary. The art work is fun too. It is just a delightful book and one that will be a happy addition to a young reader’s bookcase. Five purrs and two paws up.
Along the way, we learn about different animals including chipmunks and flying squirrels. I love the way the book is written with big words that might be new to the reader and with definition and usage. What a wonderful way to build vocabulary. The art work is fun too. It is just a delightful book and one that will be a happy addition to a young reader’s bookcase. Five purrs and two paws up.
August 8, 2026
RECOMMEND WITH CAUTION:
I *really* wanted to like this one and it started out strong. It's adorable and cozy and if you want to read it aloud to the family, you can skip the parts listed below. One of my biggest problems were ALL the terms that apparently needed to be defined. It was ok at first, but then they were so many that it took me out of the story and away from the mystery. When Minerva is caught, she is referred to by Mrs. "Pilfer" as an "it." Minerva then says she wished to be called by her preferred pronouns she/her instead of it. Which would be fine if the author had just the "pronouns" instead of "preferred." There is also a mouse who pretends she can see into the future with a crystal ball and says "hmm." It is portrayed as silly nonsense and not serious.
Warnings:
Language: none
LGBTQ content: Minerva wants to be called by her preferred pronouns "she/her" instead of "it."
Violence: none
Magic: features talking animals
Sexual content: none
I *really* wanted to like this one and it started out strong. It's adorable and cozy and if you want to read it aloud to the family, you can skip the parts listed below. One of my biggest problems were ALL the terms that apparently needed to be defined. It was ok at first, but then they were so many that it took me out of the story and away from the mystery. When Minerva is caught, she is referred to by Mrs. "Pilfer" as an "it." Minerva then says she wished to be called by her preferred pronouns she/her instead of it. Which would be fine if the author had just the "pronouns" instead of "preferred." There is also a mouse who pretends she can see into the future with a crystal ball and says "hmm." It is portrayed as silly nonsense and not serious.
Warnings:
Language: none
LGBTQ content: Minerva wants to be called by her preferred pronouns "she/her" instead of "it."
Violence: none
Magic: features talking animals
Sexual content: none
June 9, 2026
Minerva Shrew absolutely does not want to solve another mystery and wishes she could just go back to her cozy home, have a snack, and relax. But instead, she puts her fur coat on overtop of her fur coat, (bwahahaha) and follows her friend into a human house to discover who pilfered the humans' pearls.
This book is so creative with language, both in introducing readers to new words, repeating them in a sentence after they are explained, but also in the way that language is deliberately used in creative ways. Like the fur coat over the fur coat. I listened to the audiobook, so I did not have the pictures that are mentioned by other reviewers, but this was so cute and creative. I would absolutely have used this in my classroom if I had still been teaching. Great introduction to new words and the many ways that we use language.
This book is so creative with language, both in introducing readers to new words, repeating them in a sentence after they are explained, but also in the way that language is deliberately used in creative ways. Like the fur coat over the fur coat. I listened to the audiobook, so I did not have the pictures that are mentioned by other reviewers, but this was so cute and creative. I would absolutely have used this in my classroom if I had still been teaching. Great introduction to new words and the many ways that we use language.
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an electronic ARC from ABRAMS Kids through NetGalley.
Charming start to this new series. Minerva Shrew is a detective and is called on to solve her first case. She only solves big cases and this could easily become one. Her cousin asks her to come to their house and determine what happened to a missing necklace. The two experience danger from the cat, the dog, and the exterminators who set traps everywhere. Through determination and good observation skills, Minerva not only finds the pearls, but, with help from the other occupants, recreates the necklace and leaves it where it will be found. A light, fun read for mid to upper elementary level. Don't miss the informative text about the animals at the end.
Charming start to this new series. Minerva Shrew is a detective and is called on to solve her first case. She only solves big cases and this could easily become one. Her cousin asks her to come to their house and determine what happened to a missing necklace. The two experience danger from the cat, the dog, and the exterminators who set traps everywhere. Through determination and good observation skills, Minerva not only finds the pearls, but, with help from the other occupants, recreates the necklace and leaves it where it will be found. A light, fun read for mid to upper elementary level. Don't miss the informative text about the animals at the end.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A very cute and entertaining story!
I laughed out loud at some of the names, eg: Nancy Shrew and Dalgliesh.
I didn't actually pick the explanation of the mystery, quite clever. Adding in some shrew facts was interesting too.
I found it too moral in parts, we/kids don't need things shoved down our throats. The dictionary definitions were overdone as well, can a shrew really fit an entire dictionary on her wall? It was more plausible at the start when just one letter was used. By the end I got very bored of that. Not really needed, kids can use dictionaries or ask if they aren't sure.
A sweet book I think kids will love! Short and easy enough I think young readers will be able to tackle by themselves.
My thanks to netgalley for an audiobook advance copy.
I laughed out loud at some of the names, eg: Nancy Shrew and Dalgliesh.
I didn't actually pick the explanation of the mystery, quite clever. Adding in some shrew facts was interesting too.
I found it too moral in parts, we/kids don't need things shoved down our throats. The dictionary definitions were overdone as well, can a shrew really fit an entire dictionary on her wall? It was more plausible at the start when just one letter was used. By the end I got very bored of that. Not really needed, kids can use dictionaries or ask if they aren't sure.
A sweet book I think kids will love! Short and easy enough I think young readers will be able to tackle by themselves.
My thanks to netgalley for an audiobook advance copy.
July 22, 2026
💔💔
I know that this book is really popular because I did a bit of research before I started.
DEAR GOD WHY is this book popular??
Genuinely?? It is so badly written I felt like I had whiplash and also needed to get out a red pen to correct the grammar. 😱
And don't get me started on derivative re-hashed storylines (The Borrowers, anyone?) Also, the book has no clear identity. Was it written to tell us non fiction facts about small animals in a fiction context? Or was it teach us some new words (I have a degree in linguistics and LOVE words, but even I was bored with the constant interruptions!)? Whatever it was, it wasn't to develop character, setting, and story.
So disappointing. 😭
Middle Grade
8-11 years
I know that this book is really popular because I did a bit of research before I started.
DEAR GOD WHY is this book popular??
Genuinely?? It is so badly written I felt like I had whiplash and also needed to get out a red pen to correct the grammar. 😱
And don't get me started on derivative re-hashed storylines (The Borrowers, anyone?) Also, the book has no clear identity. Was it written to tell us non fiction facts about small animals in a fiction context? Or was it teach us some new words (I have a degree in linguistics and LOVE words, but even I was bored with the constant interruptions!)? Whatever it was, it wasn't to develop character, setting, and story.
So disappointing. 😭
Middle Grade
8-11 years
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Delightful story that brought some nostalgia back from tiny beings living inside the walls along with humans. I love animal characters, since I discovered Beatrix Potter and Wind in the Willows a child. This is a great detective story to find the missing pearls, before the humans vrong the exterminator for they believe the mice took them. Every one works together to achieve the best for their home and community. The characters and text introduce a lot of new vocabulary and definitions for each words included in the Dialogue. Very sweet and cozy series that is short and easy to read great for beginners or reluctant readers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I simply adorable this chapter book! The plot was intriguing. The characters were so precious. I laughed so many times throughout the book. I thought this book was wonderful! We follow Minerva Shrew as she goes about solving a case of stolen jewels. I loved so much about this book and hopefully start to a series. It was great for young readers how Minerva tells the definitions of harder words. I would so recommend this book and plan to do just that! Can’t wait for the next book. If you are looking for a cute mystery with woodland creatures you must try this one! I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, Netgalley for an advanced copy of this middle grade book for an honest review.
I have always enjoyed reading middle grade books with the adventure and innocence to them
This is if you put sherlock Holmes, with basil the great mouse detective together in a house.
This was a fun detective read & having the nostalgia of reminding me of basil the great mouse detective made me enjoy it more, a female little shrew helping others before a great disaster happens and the way things anf certain words where explained for children who read this was a nice little touch.
A book I think would be highly enjoyable for a lot of children
I have always enjoyed reading middle grade books with the adventure and innocence to them
This is if you put sherlock Holmes, with basil the great mouse detective together in a house.
This was a fun detective read & having the nostalgia of reminding me of basil the great mouse detective made me enjoy it more, a female little shrew helping others before a great disaster happens and the way things anf certain words where explained for children who read this was a nice little touch.
A book I think would be highly enjoyable for a lot of children
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Minerva Shrew is a fun detective with flaws kids can identify with and talents to help her solve mysteries. While stories that insert word definitions often get tiring fast, these weren't too trying. The mystery is silly, but seems age appropriate in its solvability, and the use of animal facts to give each character personality is a fun way to teach science. While I share Minerva's longing for the forest, and hope further mysteries take place there, the house is an interesting setting, bringing all the animals into a community and keeping the mystery on track.
May 10, 2026
What a lovely children’s book, a great mystery to be solved with beautiful illustration. I also really liked the bold words, the means and the pronunciation of them. This was really educational for a child. When the Shrews are called to help find the missing pearls, they must solve it without being caught and there are a lot of obstacles in their way. A perfect children’s book, funny, great characters and a great plot. Also, like the information on the various animals 8n the book. 5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy.
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