The Secret of the Goldfish: A Gloria Treddle Mystery

by Mark Guiney

204 pages, Paperback

Published April 20, 2026

About the author

Mark Guiney is the author of "Philomena", which was completed when he was twenty-two. He is currently working on more stories that take place in the Sovereign Nation of Cor Nova, as well as other writing projects. He lives in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

Reviews

[Chandler Penn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A super fun and edifying read for children and adults alike! We read this aloud to our kids before bed, and I found myself wanting to read ahead after they fell asleep. We are all hoping there will be a Gloria Treddle sequel!

[Cory Heimann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent for middle schoolers!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret of the Goldfish shines in its real-life portrayal of both family life, grade school shenanigans, and the drama inherent in both. The author is an astute observer of the details that bring this middle-grade mystery to life.

At the center is a classic whodunit. Who tried to kill Pokey the goldfish at the school science fair? In trying to uncover the answer, Gloria Treddle will cause a commotion at home and at school. Along the way, she'll get a little lesson as to what it means to be "poor in spirit," something even adults have trouble understanding.

The book can be enjoyed directly by young readers or would make an excellent read-aloud in the home or Catholic school classroom.