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Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth
Queen of Mysteries Riley Dare has her first real-life case to solve!
Riley Dare is a master of solving puzzles. After all, she helps run her aunt’s beloved escape room, Level Up, and makes it extra special thanks to the flicker of magic she’s gifted with. Need some extra shadows? Some spooky lighting? She’s got it covered.
But when a celebrated author of children’s mysteries vanishes during the latest, greatest escape room she’s designed with her aunt, one themed after the biggest unsolved heist in her small town’s history, things get complicated fast.
Not only is the author missing—and oh, maybe there’s a ghost inside the escape room—but with reservations being canceled left and right alongside the police investigation, there’s a chance Level Up might not survive. Riley will have to team up with her closest friends to figure out what’s going on, and how all this might be tied to that same unsolved heist from twelve years ago. A heist that happened on the day she was born . . .
It’s her greatest puzzle yet, and Riley Dare is on the case.
Riley Dare is a master of solving puzzles. After all, she helps run her aunt’s beloved escape room, Level Up, and makes it extra special thanks to the flicker of magic she’s gifted with. Need some extra shadows? Some spooky lighting? She’s got it covered.
But when a celebrated author of children’s mysteries vanishes during the latest, greatest escape room she’s designed with her aunt, one themed after the biggest unsolved heist in her small town’s history, things get complicated fast.
Not only is the author missing—and oh, maybe there’s a ghost inside the escape room—but with reservations being canceled left and right alongside the police investigation, there’s a chance Level Up might not survive. Riley will have to team up with her closest friends to figure out what’s going on, and how all this might be tied to that same unsolved heist from twelve years ago. A heist that happened on the day she was born . . .
It’s her greatest puzzle yet, and Riley Dare is on the case.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2026
About the author
M.K. England
18 books646 followersM. K. England grew up on the Space Coast of Florida watching shuttle launches from the backyard. These days, they live on a micro-farm in rural Virginia packed with video and board games, plants, D&D books, Star Wars memorabilia, and their preschooler's giant personality. They're probably covered in dirt right now. MK is the author of ten novels for kids, teens, and adults and a forthcoming interactive novel with Choice of Games. You can find them at mkengland.com.
For the latest news, you can subscribe to my irregular newsletter updates at mkengland.substack.com. I'm also on instagram (rarely, @mk_england) and on tumblr more informally (mkengland.tumblr.com)
(Just FYI, I don't accept friend requests because Amazon is weird about reviews but follow me on social media above and we can hang out there!)
For the latest news, you can subscribe to my irregular newsletter updates at mkengland.substack.com. I'm also on instagram (rarely, @mk_england) and on tumblr more informally (mkengland.tumblr.com)
(Just FYI, I don't accept friend requests because Amazon is weird about reviews but follow me on social media above and we can hang out there!)
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 25, 2026
Riley Dare has magical powers. This is really unusual in a world where everyone else doesn’t, or at least not that we know of. There is also a ghost that is trying to communicate with her. Oh, and she lives above a gaming shop that also has an escape room, that she helps to set up.
Riley lives with her aunt, and has never met her parents. She wonders if they have magical powers, but doesn’t know. Oh, and she can also see ghosts, in fact, one ghost is trying to help her solve the first mystery. Riley’s friends know about her powers, but can’t see the ghost.
There are a bunch of mysteries in this first book in the trilogy that is to come of Riley Dare. One, or two, at least, will not be solved at the end, just a warning. That doesn’t mean that the major mystery of the book won’t be solved, because it will, but as I said, it brings up other mysteries to worry about.
A fun story, with twists and turns and problems, as all godo stories have. I especially like that her friends dont’ abandon her, or think she is crazy, or any of those things that so often happen in middle grade stories.
This book is out now. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Riley lives with her aunt, and has never met her parents. She wonders if they have magical powers, but doesn’t know. Oh, and she can also see ghosts, in fact, one ghost is trying to help her solve the first mystery. Riley’s friends know about her powers, but can’t see the ghost.
There are a bunch of mysteries in this first book in the trilogy that is to come of Riley Dare. One, or two, at least, will not be solved at the end, just a warning. That doesn’t mean that the major mystery of the book won’t be solved, because it will, but as I said, it brings up other mysteries to worry about.
A fun story, with twists and turns and problems, as all godo stories have. I especially like that her friends dont’ abandon her, or think she is crazy, or any of those things that so often happen in middle grade stories.
This book is out now. I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
September 18, 2026
This was fine. It's a cute middle grade that sets up a good idea for a series but I was a little underwhelmed. I also fully expected this to be queer and it's not and that was just disappointing for me. Maybe it will get queer as the series goes on since this is an MK England book but I was surprised to say the least.
It's about a kid who runs a game shaft with her aunt that has an escape room and when someone goes missing from the escape room the game store becomes really unpopular and so this whole time she's trying to solve the mystery and get people to come back in so that they don't lose the business. She also has some magic which is a fun element but ultimately underwhelming again because there's no explanation in this book whatsoever for it and you don't even think you're going to get an explanation for it until the very last pages of the book. I would probably still listen to the next one in the series if I can get it from the library or netgalley but I wouldn't buy it.
It's about a kid who runs a game shaft with her aunt that has an escape room and when someone goes missing from the escape room the game store becomes really unpopular and so this whole time she's trying to solve the mystery and get people to come back in so that they don't lose the business. She also has some magic which is a fun element but ultimately underwhelming again because there's no explanation in this book whatsoever for it and you don't even think you're going to get an explanation for it until the very last pages of the book. I would probably still listen to the next one in the series if I can get it from the library or netgalley but I wouldn't buy it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was given to me by NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!
⭐️ 4 Stars ⭐️
Twelve-year-old Riley Dare is an ordinary mystery-loving kid, or at least that’s what most people think. Only her best friends and possibly her Aunt Hayley know the truth: Riley has magic. Riley loves living above her aunt’s game-and-escape-room shop, where she spends her days dreaming up clues, puzzles, and stories for the next big attraction. But on the night of the grand opening of their newest escape room, disaster strikes when a guest, "a well-reknown mystery author," mysteriously vanishes.
As rumors spread and customers stay away, the shop faces the very real threat of closing its doors forever. Things get even stranger when a ghost begins appearing to Riley, determined to help solve the mystery. With the shop's future on the line, Riley teams up with her best friends, Kayla and Mateo, and Aunt Hayley to uncover the truth. To crack the case, she’ll need every clue, every ounce of courage, and all the magic she can muster. Can Riley unravel the mystery before time runs out, or will the secrets surrounding the disappearance shut the shop down for good?
This book was such a fun adventure! I love a good middle grade that can capture mt attention from the first page, and I'm so happy to say that this book did just that!
Riley is such a fun character! I grew up reading the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Books and still do, and this book felt like one of their adventures! Riley felt so real with the emotions of a pre-teen about to lose the only home she knows. Aunt Hayley is such a wonderful character. She is Riley's mother figure since her parents are off working, and she never sees them. I think that Kayla and Mateo could have had a stronger impression on the story. Don't get me wrong, they help a lot, but I wish they were more a part of the story and investigation, especially towards the end. I don't want to say much about "the ghost" since it is an integral part of the story, but I loved the supernatural element and can't wait to see more in future books.
I love that Riley had "a little magic." It made the story that much better, especially with the ghost. I understand, in the context of the story, that she just discovered she had it, but I wish it were fleshed out a little more. I know that this is the first book in the series, but I would love to see more of the magical world, or more clues on why she has it.
Overall, this was such a fun adventure! I didn't put this book down once I started reading! If you love books like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown, and love just the right amount of magic, Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth is the book for you!
⭐️ 4 Stars ⭐️
Twelve-year-old Riley Dare is an ordinary mystery-loving kid, or at least that’s what most people think. Only her best friends and possibly her Aunt Hayley know the truth: Riley has magic. Riley loves living above her aunt’s game-and-escape-room shop, where she spends her days dreaming up clues, puzzles, and stories for the next big attraction. But on the night of the grand opening of their newest escape room, disaster strikes when a guest, "a well-reknown mystery author," mysteriously vanishes.
As rumors spread and customers stay away, the shop faces the very real threat of closing its doors forever. Things get even stranger when a ghost begins appearing to Riley, determined to help solve the mystery. With the shop's future on the line, Riley teams up with her best friends, Kayla and Mateo, and Aunt Hayley to uncover the truth. To crack the case, she’ll need every clue, every ounce of courage, and all the magic she can muster. Can Riley unravel the mystery before time runs out, or will the secrets surrounding the disappearance shut the shop down for good?
This book was such a fun adventure! I love a good middle grade that can capture mt attention from the first page, and I'm so happy to say that this book did just that!
Riley is such a fun character! I grew up reading the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew Books and still do, and this book felt like one of their adventures! Riley felt so real with the emotions of a pre-teen about to lose the only home she knows. Aunt Hayley is such a wonderful character. She is Riley's mother figure since her parents are off working, and she never sees them. I think that Kayla and Mateo could have had a stronger impression on the story. Don't get me wrong, they help a lot, but I wish they were more a part of the story and investigation, especially towards the end. I don't want to say much about "the ghost" since it is an integral part of the story, but I loved the supernatural element and can't wait to see more in future books.
I love that Riley had "a little magic." It made the story that much better, especially with the ghost. I understand, in the context of the story, that she just discovered she had it, but I wish it were fleshed out a little more. I know that this is the first book in the series, but I would love to see more of the magical world, or more clues on why she has it.
Overall, this was such a fun adventure! I didn't put this book down once I started reading! If you love books like Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Encyclopedia Brown, and love just the right amount of magic, Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth is the book for you!
July 27, 2026
This was such a fun middle-grade mystery with great characters and true suspense!
Riley Dare is a spunky 12 year old with a hint of magic and she is known as one of Scarlettsboro’s Queens of Mystery! Her and her aunt own and run an escape room and game shop, Level Up, and she loves to think up new puzzles and figure out ways to solve them! When they debut a new escape room and one of the first guests goes missing, a perfect “locked room” mystery, Riley must figure out what happened and who is responsible before bad press entirely ruins Level Up! The stakes are high and Riley is up to the task with her two friends, Mateo and Kayla, forming a wonderful investigation trio who really give this book so much heart. M. K. England has written an enticing mystery full of twists and turns that I genuinely didn’t see coming, creating a charming and slightly witchy tale of sleuths!
I really enjoyed the touch of magic introduced in the book and don’t want to speak too much on it to prevent spoilers, but it was absolutely wonderful and what I expect from England’s books! I also really appreciated that the central mysteries did not all revolve around magic, so it wasn’t used as a way to just magically explain scenarios away.
The loss of one star is because I felt that none of the mysteries introduced in this book were fully solved by the end of the book, which succeeds in making me need book 2 but is a bit unsatisfactory due to a lack of closure. I still greatly enjoyed all of the mysteries that this book has and can’t wait to read book 2 to find out more!
I recommend this book for young readers who enjoy mystery with a hint of magic! It was a truly wonderful read even as an adult, so adults who enjoy MG/YA should also check this one out! Check it out when it releases Sept 15, 2026!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and M. K. England for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book!
Riley Dare is a spunky 12 year old with a hint of magic and she is known as one of Scarlettsboro’s Queens of Mystery! Her and her aunt own and run an escape room and game shop, Level Up, and she loves to think up new puzzles and figure out ways to solve them! When they debut a new escape room and one of the first guests goes missing, a perfect “locked room” mystery, Riley must figure out what happened and who is responsible before bad press entirely ruins Level Up! The stakes are high and Riley is up to the task with her two friends, Mateo and Kayla, forming a wonderful investigation trio who really give this book so much heart. M. K. England has written an enticing mystery full of twists and turns that I genuinely didn’t see coming, creating a charming and slightly witchy tale of sleuths!
I really enjoyed the touch of magic introduced in the book and don’t want to speak too much on it to prevent spoilers, but it was absolutely wonderful and what I expect from England’s books! I also really appreciated that the central mysteries did not all revolve around magic, so it wasn’t used as a way to just magically explain scenarios away.
The loss of one star is because I felt that none of the mysteries introduced in this book were fully solved by the end of the book, which succeeds in making me need book 2 but is a bit unsatisfactory due to a lack of closure. I still greatly enjoyed all of the mysteries that this book has and can’t wait to read book 2 to find out more!
I recommend this book for young readers who enjoy mystery with a hint of magic! It was a truly wonderful read even as an adult, so adults who enjoy MG/YA should also check this one out! Check it out when it releases Sept 15, 2026!
Thank you so much to Netgalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and M. K. England for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book!
September 17, 2026
🧩🔮 Give me an escape room, a little magic, a ghost, and a mystery tied to a decades-old heist… and I’m absolutely solving it with Riley Dare!
Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth by M.K. England was such a fun, whimsical mystery! I loved the combination of cozy small-town vibes, friendship, puzzles, a sprinkle of magic, and just enough spooky atmosphere to keep things delightfully mysterious.
Riley is already a puzzle-solving pro thanks to helping her aunt run Level Up, their beloved escape room. And with a little magical ability thrown into the mix, she has some pretty impressive tricks up her sleeve. ✨
But when a famous children’s mystery author disappears during the newest escape room experience, Riley’s puzzle-solving skills suddenly become much more than a game. Especially when there might actually be a ghost inside the escape room. 👻
I had so much fun following Riley and her friends as they tried to figure out what happened while also uncovering clues connected to an infamous unsolved heist from twelve years earlier.the very same day Riley was born!
What I enjoyed most was how everything felt connected. The disappearing author, the struggling escape room, the ghostly mystery, the old heist, and Riley’s own history all come together to create one giant puzzle for her to solve. And of course, I loved that Riley doesn’t try to tackle it alone. Her friendships add so much heart and energy to the adventure.
This was exactly the kind of cozy mystery I love: clever puzzles, a charming setting, a touch of witchy magic, a little ghostly fun, and plenty of twists to keep me guessing. 🧩👻✨
If you're looking for a playful middle-grade mystery with escape rooms, friendship, magic, and a spooky-but-cozy adventure, Riley Dare definitely deserves a spot on your TBR!
💌 Thank you to StoryGram Tours, Penguin Workshop, and M.K. England for sharing Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth with me!
Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth by M.K. England was such a fun, whimsical mystery! I loved the combination of cozy small-town vibes, friendship, puzzles, a sprinkle of magic, and just enough spooky atmosphere to keep things delightfully mysterious.
Riley is already a puzzle-solving pro thanks to helping her aunt run Level Up, their beloved escape room. And with a little magical ability thrown into the mix, she has some pretty impressive tricks up her sleeve. ✨
But when a famous children’s mystery author disappears during the newest escape room experience, Riley’s puzzle-solving skills suddenly become much more than a game. Especially when there might actually be a ghost inside the escape room. 👻
I had so much fun following Riley and her friends as they tried to figure out what happened while also uncovering clues connected to an infamous unsolved heist from twelve years earlier.the very same day Riley was born!
What I enjoyed most was how everything felt connected. The disappearing author, the struggling escape room, the ghostly mystery, the old heist, and Riley’s own history all come together to create one giant puzzle for her to solve. And of course, I loved that Riley doesn’t try to tackle it alone. Her friendships add so much heart and energy to the adventure.
This was exactly the kind of cozy mystery I love: clever puzzles, a charming setting, a touch of witchy magic, a little ghostly fun, and plenty of twists to keep me guessing. 🧩👻✨
If you're looking for a playful middle-grade mystery with escape rooms, friendship, magic, and a spooky-but-cozy adventure, Riley Dare definitely deserves a spot on your TBR!
💌 Thank you to StoryGram Tours, Penguin Workshop, and M.K. England for sharing Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth with me!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Riley lives with her Aunt Hayley in Scarlettsboro, Virginia, where they run the Level Up escape room. When a famous children's author who has just moved to town, Richard Rillardson, comes to the facility, Riley is excited, since her Dungeons and Dragons playing best friends, Kayla and Mateo, are big fans. During the course of the game, the lights go out, Rillardson disappears, and blood is found on the floor. This is a big problem for the business, but Riley, who has a few magical powers, decides that she will solve the mystery as well as the mystery that took place the day she was born. Her aunt has never told her what happened to her parents, and whether or not the fact that they are not around is tied to a famous gemstone theft. With the help of Detective Buckley, will the kids be able to solve the mystery? The next book in the series is titled Haunted and Wanted, and will tell us more about the note that Riley has from her parents, telling her she is in danger.
The magic didn't get quite the coverage it deserved, and the mystery wasn't as well developed as I had hoped. It's a good choice for readers who liked mysteries mixed with some paranormal elements like. Russell Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave or Strange's The Island at the Edge of Night.
Riley lives with her Aunt Hayley in Scarlettsboro, Virginia, where they run the Level Up escape room. When a famous children's author who has just moved to town, Richard Rillardson, comes to the facility, Riley is excited, since her Dungeons and Dragons playing best friends, Kayla and Mateo, are big fans. During the course of the game, the lights go out, Rillardson disappears, and blood is found on the floor. This is a big problem for the business, but Riley, who has a few magical powers, decides that she will solve the mystery as well as the mystery that took place the day she was born. Her aunt has never told her what happened to her parents, and whether or not the fact that they are not around is tied to a famous gemstone theft. With the help of Detective Buckley, will the kids be able to solve the mystery? The next book in the series is titled Haunted and Wanted, and will tell us more about the note that Riley has from her parents, telling her she is in danger.
The magic didn't get quite the coverage it deserved, and the mystery wasn't as well developed as I had hoped. It's a good choice for readers who liked mysteries mixed with some paranormal elements like. Russell Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave or Strange's The Island at the Edge of Night.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Riley Dare, slightly witchy sluethe by MK England, Riley couldn’t t be more surprise when the author of some very popular children’s mysteries Richard Rillardson shows up atRiley‘s aunt’s escape room called Level Up. although she’s never read any of his books despite being a prolific reader all her friends are there, they set up a new escape room based on the heist that coincidentally happened the day Riley was born and she’s very excited. soon after the game starts however the author goes missing and although Riley has a touch of magic the magic she felt right before he went missing was definitely not hers. she never wants think about solving the case because the police are on the job but Monday at school everyone already believes due to her great puzzle solving skills that she will solve it and Riley being Riley starts to investigate. Will Riley Kayla and Mateo solve the case of the missing author is there really a ghost in the escape room all these questions or answered in this charming quick read about Riley there her friends and the missing Author I really enjoyed this book I am not a big middle school reader although I was when I was in middle school lol, but I do recommend this book for middle schoolers those in seventh grade and below would really enjoy this book if they like magical realism in solving mysteries. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
September 20, 2026
This book was such a wonderful surprise!
I thought it was going to be a simple paranormal mystery for kids, but it is so much more! I’m 32, and I absolutely loved it!
It hooked me from the very first chapter. I felt so invested in the story, and everyone seemed suspicious at first. It was even a little terrifying at times!
The conclusion is satisfying, despite not answering every question, and that major cliffhanger?! 😱 I need the next book as soon as possible… Otherwise, this is going to be haunting my sleepless nights!
In a nutshell, it’s a fast-paced, thrilling mystery for anyone aged 7 or 8 and up — including the mom who buys the book for her kids. Go grab it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and everyone involved for this ARC.
Please, please, PLEASE send me the next book! 🫣🫣
I thought it was going to be a simple paranormal mystery for kids, but it is so much more! I’m 32, and I absolutely loved it!
It hooked me from the very first chapter. I felt so invested in the story, and everyone seemed suspicious at first. It was even a little terrifying at times!
The conclusion is satisfying, despite not answering every question, and that major cliffhanger?! 😱 I need the next book as soon as possible… Otherwise, this is going to be haunting my sleepless nights!
In a nutshell, it’s a fast-paced, thrilling mystery for anyone aged 7 or 8 and up — including the mom who buys the book for her kids. Go grab it!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and everyone involved for this ARC.
Please, please, PLEASE send me the next book! 🫣🫣
September 15, 2026
4.5 Fun, great for a relaxed mystery read afternoon, not very complex, perfect to introduce the genre to young readers. Mixes magic with mystery/incestigation and it's set around an escape room. High stakes: a famous author disappears during the inauguration game, leaving a bloodied show behind. There is a young girl, a ghost, ready to join the trio of friends to solve the case. Already includes a peek into book 2 presenting a message from unexpected characters. (Not that unexpected eheh)
The cover artwork is gorgeous and with clues. Love the mao inside too.
The cover artwork is gorgeous and with clues. Love the mao inside too.
September 23, 2026
I REALLY loved MK England's middle grade debut that has a board game & DnD loving tween picking up the mantle to solve the murder mystery/missing person case involving her family's Escape Room business. There were great twists, a ghost helper, witchy magic and tarot vibes and a great cliff hanger ending. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and highly recommend it for fans of middle grade aged amateur sleuth detectives!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
When a famous author disappears from an escape room, the proprietor's niece must solve the mystery with the help of her friends, a tarot deck, and a little magic. Clever plotting. After a satisfying solve, a cliff-hanger ending leads to the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.75 Stars
September 28, 2026
Not into all the tarot reading stuff, but it was a cute story. The narrator was very good.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews