The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society

by Lindsay Currie

In this exciting series starter, four best friends are trapped in a book-themed inn during an ice storm and they must use each of their special skills, as well as a few tips from an armchair-detective grandma, to figure out who killed one of the regular customer. From #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Mystery of Locked Rooms comes a thrilling murder mystery.

Merrick McGee has been having a tough time. When her Grandma Ida gets sick and moves in, the family can't afford to keep sending Merrick to her beloved private school. So, she spends most of her time in the small room at the back of the bookstore/inn her mother works at being homeschooled, bored out of her mind, and lonely for her best friends.

But when an ice storm hits their town, and fate brings her friends together to ride out the storm at the inn with her, she's stoked to finally be able to spend time with the people she loves the most. Until… the unthinkable happens, and someone is found dead―facedown in a birthday cake sitting right at Merrick's own desk.

With the storm picking up the police remove the body and suggest the victim died of old age. But to Merrick it seems more like a murder. Luckily, she and her friends love solving mysteries, and with the suspects all under the same roof, and her friends eager to crack the case―the Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society is born! As the club begins to investigate, more questions come to light, and Merrick soon realizes her own grandmother may be the key to solving the case...

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Cozy Mystery, Family, Suspense, Crime

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 15, 2026

About the author

Lindsay Currie is a #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of mysteries for young readers, including the Delta Games series and X Marks the Haunt, She grew up on Nancy Drew and loves a good twisty tale. When she's not writing, Lindsay can generally be found looking for an adventure of her own. She loves researching forgotten history and recently relocated from Chicago to a 220 acre farm in downstate Illinois where she finally gets to see stars every night, and take hikes every day.


Coming soon: The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society (September 2026) and Midnight at the Vampire Inn (Winter 2027)!​​ For more details on Lindsay's upcoming books, please visit the My Books tab at the top of the page.

To find out more about Lindsay, please visit her website at www.lindsaycurrie.com. Instagram: @lindsayncurrie

Reviews

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary/horror has been author Lindsay Currie’s go-to genre with middle grade titles including Scritch-Scratch, The Girl in White, Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, It Found Us and more. Then she branched out into the more action-filled, puzzle-solving, mystery type with two installments in The Deltas so far. Now, she’s adding full on murder mystery to her repertoire and that should thrill middle grade readers.

Merrick, Archer and brother/sister Sonny and Miko have been best friends since the four of them began attending private school together, but Merrick’s family has added her grandmother to their home and are helping to cover her dialysis costs so she is now being homeschooled and worrying that, despite their daily FaceTime talks, the friendship will suffer. When an ice storm strands the quartet in the Dog-Eared Inn, a book-themed hotel, along with her mom & grandmother, Aunt Jerrie, Sonny & Miko’s mom, a hiker, a couple visiting their dad, and 3 hotel employees, things take a murderous turn and their mutual interest in sleuthing must be applied to real life.

Currie puts readers right into the action with an older man found face planted in a birthday cake and only the basics of the main characters’ personalities and relationships established, letting the course of the investigation reveal more about them. Each middle schooler brings a unique skill set to the murder mystery-Merrick loves Science with special emphasis on nature’s elements and the periodic table, Archer is a skilled athlete and as captain of the school’s basketball team is used to leading, Miko is a mahjong player of some renown and has learned much about strategy and recognizing “tells,” and Sonny is a gamer extraordinaire who knows how to plan and make quick decisions. When you add a savvy grandmother with a love of Agatha Christie novels, what could go wrong?

Excellent mystery, models of great friendship and cooperation, and enough twists to keep readers guessing, maybe solving, right up to the last page.

*Target age: grades 4-7
*Profanity: none
*Sexual content: none (Little hints of a budding affection between Merrick & Archer but the only physical interaction are a few finger brushes and a joining of pinky finger fingers!)
*Representation: Characters’ racial backgrounds are not a factor in the plot with few physical descriptions or cultural connections noted.
*LBGTQ+: none

Thanks for an eARC, Edelweiss and Sourcebooks.

[Ellen Melson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to the publisher for an advance copy via NetGalley.

I grew up as a fan of the Nancy Drew reboot in the 80s, so I was quite interested to read a new mystery series geared toward pre-teens in 2026.

I thought the book was well written and a clever mystery. I LOVE that the club ends up including a Grandma and we see how the different generations end up getting along famously. I really liked the mystery itself and absolutely did not see the plot twist coming and was delighted when it showed up! No spoliers, but I can say I did not predict the outcome, and I loved that.

I understand that there is a second in the series already greenlit and I look forward to reading that one too!

[reading with rylanne]

A group of friends gets trapped in a hotel with an attached bookstore during an ice storm, only to find themselves getting caught up in a potential murder that happened on the premise. With the help of Merrick's grandmother, the Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society gets to solve their first real mystery together.

A book with bookish elements in it? Sign me up!

A little cliché and repetitive, sure, but overall, a fun ride that kept me flipping through chapters, curious to know who the culprit was. I really enjoy middle grade books, especially ones with mystery and suspense in them. Merrick was an entertaining main character to follow, and while her friends' character traits were pretty stereotypical--the gamer talks about his video games every chapter, the basketball star talks about sports every chapter, etc.--they were still a great crew that provided humor and great detective skills. The way they worked with Grandma Ida was actually heartwarming, especially after learning all that the older woman had gone through, helping her feel like she was a part of something again. I had some guesses about "who dun it" throughout the book, and I was happy about the twist and reveal! I cannot wait to see what happens next with this crew.

CW for death, poisoning, mentions of grief/loss of family, health issues.

Thanks so much to Sourcebooks Kids and NetGalley for the ARC of The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society by Lindsay Currie! All thoughts are my own.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Merrick McGee's life has been complicated recently. Her Grandma Ida has kidney issues, so had to sell her house and move in with Merrick's family while she is undergoing dialysis. Her father is off working in a military lab, and her mother is busy running a bookstore, so doesn't have time to homeschool Merrick, although she's been taken out of her private school, Elkhart, to save money. This means that she has to hang out at the store and doesn't get to see her friends, members of the Sleuth Society, at school. She video chats with Sonny, his sister Miko, and Archer, but it isn't quite the same. When a big storm hits Chicago, a car accident strands her friends and her grandmother at the bookstore. Luckily, the store is attached to the Dog-Eared Inn and its restaurant, Novel Bites, so there is room for them, as well as Miko and Sonny's mother, Merrick' s Aunt Jerrie, the staff of the inn and restaurant, and several guests. Shortly after the accident, however, Merrick goes back to the storeroom to get her things... and discovers a dead man facedown in a cake! It turns out to be a longtime customer, Daniel, whom Merrick refers to as "Pipey" due to the fact he often carries a smoking pipe. Luckily, Officer Carleton is on hand, as are Daniel's son Tim and daughter-in-law, who were at the hotel to celebrate Daniel's birthday. The adults agree that Daniel's health issues no doubt led to his death, but Merrick suspects murder. Luckily, the Sleuth Society has plenty of skills to bring to the investigation; Miko plays mahjong and is good at recognizing "tells", Sonny is a video gamer, and Archer is a sports star and leader. Merrick is interested in chemistry, and is collecting elements. Even Grandma Ida gets involved, since she has recently been reading a lot of Agatha Christie novels and can cover for the kids when other adults ask questions! The group create a spreadsheet of suspects and start their investigations. Who would have wanted to murder Daniel? Avery, a young clerk at the hotel? Mrs. Dain, a local baker? "Everest" a hiker and commercial actress? Or Tim Fielding and his wife? When the power goes out, it's harder to investigate, but definitely more atmospheric. Will the Sleuth Society be able to convince the adults that Daniel was murdered, and to bring the perpetrator to justice?
Strengths: It should not surprise publishers that tweens ask for MURDER mysteries; look at the sheer number of BBC television shows that feature murder investigations, or the legion of adult mystery books where murders are being investigated. When I was in graduate school for library science, I did a project on "cozy" murder mysteries like Braun's The Cat Who mysteries, and there are still a ton of adult books set in bakeries, coffee shops, and bookstores where an inordinate number of people die in mysterious circumstances. Currie gets bonus points for Merrick's STEM interests in elements and chemistry, and for working this science into the investigation. I absolutely ADORED the inclusion of Grandma Ida, and the realistic protrayal of the challenges that her age and health presented. While she might not have wanted to crawl under tables, she kept up with the kids nicely, even if murder was "not on her bingo card". Aunt Jerrie's Britishisms and Ida's vintage phrases (as well as Merrick's translations!) were fun, and the chapter titles were very clever. It's been a while since I've read Christie, but the setting and investigative style seemed very much like the mysteries investigated by Miss Marple or Mr. Poirot. Now that Christie's work is coming into the public domain, I've been trying to get my students to read her work, as well as that of Dorothy Sayers and Patricia Wentworth! Tweens will appreciate the very nascent romance between Merrick and Archer, as well as the happy ending.
Weaknesses: I wasn't as convinced as Merrick was that Daniel's death was murder, and it rubbed me the wrong way that he was referred to as "Pipey" for reasons I can't quite explain. He had a connection to another character that came out of left field; this was interesting, and added quite the history to the characters, but seemed a little more unlikely. Young readers will take all of this in stride, and I am definitely purchasing a copy.
What I really think: This book will be a big hit with fans of Currie's work (The Girl in White, It's Watching, X Marks the Haunt, Mystery of the Locked Rooms), or Souder's new middle grade cozy murder mystery, Secrets of the Broken House. Kids are CONSTANTLY asking for murder mysteries, and I give publishers permission to start killing off elderly, slightly unpleasant neighbors with the same frequency that middle grade parents die to feed the tween appetite for murder. I love Stevenson's Wells and Wong mysteries, which also feature plenty of unfortunate deaths, but the historical setting on books like Murder is Bad Manners is a little harder to sell even when it is phys ed teachers who are the victim!

[JN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Lindsay Currie might be best known for her MG horror, she’s been branching out lately into other genres. Considering how many of her stories seemed to involve a bit of mystery, perhaps it was inevitable that she tried her hand at a murder mystery. The result – The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society – contains a lot of the charm readers loved about her other novels since the voice and characters are both endearing. However, like some of her other novels, the pacing feels off at times and the ending is perhaps a little weak.

As a general disclaimer, I suppose I’m something of a Currie fan at this point, having read six of her books (four of the “paranormal mysteries” (horror), The Mystery of Locked Rooms, and now The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society). I’ve generally enjoyed her writing style, particularly where the MC’s voice is concerned. However, I’ll admit that her paranormal mysteries started to feel like they had a bit of a same-y quality, which is why I appreciate Currie mixing things up a bit with this novel. And I imagine most readers who enjoyed her other work will like this one, too. While I won’t say this is my favorite Currie novel (that’s still What Lives in the Woods), it’s a great addition to her catalog.

The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society tells the story of a group of friends who, thanks to an accident, wind up staying at an inn during a blizzard where a suspicious death just occurred. Although the police write it off as natural causes, the main character notices an unexplained set of footprints before the body is found, suggesting murder. And, if she can’t figure out the culprit before the storm ends, the killer might get away with their crime.

The set-up is simple, but effective. Unfortunately, the mystery feels a little simple as well – most of the suspects have no real motive. However, for younger readers who haven’t read murder mysteries, this probably won’t be an issue. And for everybody else, there’s still the charm of the story and the characters.

It’s an enjoyable novel, although perhaps not quite on par with What Lives in the Woods or Scritch Scratch. However, it’s a welcome change.

(NOTE: I was provided an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.)

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merrick, the main character of Currie’s newest middle grade mystery, has been having a difficult time and misses her friends since she started being homeschooled in the back room of the bookstore her mother manages. Her parents have been having financial problems  as her grandmother has been diagnosed with kidney disease. As a result, they can’t afford Merrick’s private school fees and her sick grandmother has also come to live with them. After a series of strange coincidences, her grandmother and her 3 best friends all wind up in the bookstore during a terrible ice storm.  The bookstorm is conveniently part of a literary-themed hotel so arrangements are made for them to all spend the night. At first this seems like it could  be a great adventure until one of Merrick’s favorite customers is found dead in the store’s back room.  The story unfolds all in one night as the kids (who happen to be part of an afterschool sleuth club) decide that “old man Pipey” did not die of natural causes. And the murderer must still be in the hotel as the storm makes it impossible for anyone to leave. Everyone is a suspect, including the hotel staff and the dead man’s family. With the help of Merrick’s very funny grandmother, they begin the investigation and the Secret Bookstore Sleuth Club is born. 

In the course of their secret sleuthing, we learn that all the friends have been grappling with their own hardships. Merrick has been trying to cope with major changes in her life because of her grandmother. One friend suffers from anxiety, another is still trying to come to terms with her adoption from China as a baby, and one finally shares how difficult things are for him because of his totally absent parents. In classic Lindsay Currie style the reader gets a full cast of unforgettable characters, which adds to the excitement. This is the first book of a projected  new series. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Eule Luftschloss · Rating 3 out of 5]

trigger warnig
grief, loss of a parent

When a storm traps people in a hotel, hanging out with her friends could be so fun, were it not for the murderer in their midst.

Our protagonist misses school. To raise funds for her grandmother's medical treatments, Merrick is now being homeschooled by her mom. Or rather, is sitting in the storage room of a bookstore, helping out with chores there, and researching the elements on the periodic table.
At her desk, a body is found, and since Merrick and her friends are there anyway, and they fear the murderer still is with them, they band together with Merrick's grandmother to do some sleuthing.

I was a bit confused about how fixed they were on the murder method without having more proof than what the body looked like. Most of the investigation rests on one clue they found, which frustrated me a bit when they got distracted and had to go back and look again at a person. Of course, that is realistic for children investigating, and since this novel is relatively short, it wasn't so bad as it could have been.

What I liked most was the setting of a hotel with a bookstore attached, and the hotel rooms are book themed. Merrick for example gets assigned the Sherlock Holmes room that is full of dark wood, hosts a tabacco pipe collection and deerstalker hats one can try on. There are eleven rooms, and I had hopes we'd see every single one or at least get mentions of what the others are. Sadly, that did not happen. At least Mer was interested enough by the Alice in Wonderland room to plan on picking that book up, and I think she'd like it.

I think most of my issues come from it being summer, very hot, and not vibing with a snow storm as much as I could have at another time. It is a solid book and I'd recommend it for readers in the target age range who like crime.
I probably would have loved this as a kid.

The arc was provided by the publisher.

[Christie]

I love the setting for this one and the Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society themselves as well!
I love that they were a club who formed based on shared interest of solving Agatha Christie style mysteries!

One of my favorite parts of this book and the writing is the way several of the chapters end in suspense that is so well done that it feels like they are ending with a “dun dun dun” reveal each time. I seriously heard it in my head (and refrained ... barely... from saying it out loud) each time. Lindsay continues to write characters that are multilayered and interesting, who have varying interests that draw readers in to either connect and see themselves or learn about something new. I love that the characters in this book were interested in video games, sports, mahjong, and science. A little mix of everything that will help readers see how working together and incorporating all the different ways we think can help us thrive at problem solving in all kinds of situations. The mystery and intrigue of this "locked room" style death investigation will keep readers turning the pages to find out who is responsible and why!

My students specifically asked me to find more mysteries and more fantasy to add to our library shelves next year and this is one mystery I will certainly be adding to the collection and recommending widely! (My students are already big Currie fans, so it won't be a hard sell, but they will love this one as much as they have loved her others! And I look forward to seeing which kids move this into their "favorite" spot! It's one sign of a fantastic author that they don't all say the same book when you ask which one is their favorite. Different Currie books take that spot for different kids and I love that so much!)

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published September 15, 2026.

4 stars

Merrick McGee is twelve and is adjusting to being homeschooled in the backroom of the bookstore her mom manages. She’s had to give up going to her private school because her grandmother is sick and is now living with Merrick and her mother, so expenses have made economy necessary. She’s misses her school and her best friends Archer, Sonny and Miko.

An ice storm rolls into town and a number of people get stuck at the bookstore and its attached inn, including Merrick, her mother and grandmother and all three of Merrick school friends.

Even worse than the storm? A man has been found dead in the back room of the bookstore! He’s an older gentleman, one of their regular customers and he’s found facedown in a birthday cake.

Perhaps he died of natural causes, but could it have been murder? The four friends, who love mysteries, and Merrick’s grandmother band together to try to solve the case before the police are able to brave the unrelenting storm to reach them.

This is intended to be the first book in a middle grade series. It was cute and appropriate for younger kids, nine and up is what is indicated by the publisher and I think kids would enjoy it. It’s clever and ticks a lot of boxes; I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone with kids.

[Roben]

A team of four best friends solve a murder mystery during an ice storm - with the help of an Agatha Christie-loving grandmother!

Merrick is have a rough time. Her Grandma Ida is sick and has to move in with them. That means Merrick can't attend private school. Instead, her mom is homeschooling her in the storage room of the bookstore where she works. The bookstore is attached to a book-themed hotel - and it has a lot of quirky customers that Merrick gets to know since she is there all of the time.
One night, a fierce ice storm descends on the hotel just as her three best friends from school stop by for a visit. And then -- a dead body is discovered! In the storage room of the book store! The police decide that the elderly gentleman - "Pipey" - died of natural causes but Merrick and her Grandma Ida have noticed a few odd things about the scene and they believe that he was murdered! And they realize they are all trapped in the hotel until the weather clears.

Can they figure out who the murderer is before someone else gets hurt?
Lots of fun deductive reasoning and more than a few warm fuzzies as the story unfolds. This is the first in a series - I look forward to reading more about this gang of friends. I am guessing future stories will be told from the perspective of one of the other friends.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC | A good mystery for young readers, if a bit off pace | I do love to review a new middle grade mystery, and this one includes all the needed parts: crime, suspects, checking for alibis and motives, time pressure, a detecting team, and a plausible explanation for the scene to be limited in a way that makes the story possible. The actual killer and motive were clear the moment they sat down to dinner, but I'm an adult and I suspect the target audience would find it far less obvious. I did find the pacing to be off, the murder happens so quickly, before we have gotten to know anyone, and all the rest of the action feels like it's taking place over much longer than it actually is. It seemed like dawn would break any moment, and with it the killer's escape, but actually it was just on 11pm. There was a bit of box-checking, where each character had a special skill that perfectly matched the needs and clues for this specific murder, and everyone had their own Very Special Moment in the resolution. But again that's something an adult reader notices more. Overall it's a good example of the genre, and potentially a good start to a series.

Advanced Reader Copy provided free of charge by the publisher, which did not impact my review.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read middle grades novels that often (my students are usually reading YA novels), but some of my favorites of all time are books like The Candymakers, Mr. Lemonchello’s Library, and The Mysterious Benedict Society. I chose this book because I thought it would have similar “puzzle” vibes to those. I was happy to see that it did have some similar elements to the books I’ve enjoyed in the past. However, this book felt slow to me for the first 60% or so. The stakes didn’t feel high enough (mom would find out!), and the clues were coming slowly. The story does pick up toward the ending, and there is one real puzzle that gets worked out. I also struggled somewhat with Merrick a little bit- she has a very negative attitude toward her grandmother for a large portion of the book. I get why the author felt the need to do this, but it still made me sad for the grandmother (who is truly the best part of this novel). Merrick’s friends and all the inn guests/employees are great characters, and the science element was a lot of fun. As an adult reader, I would give this three stars, but since I think 6th/7th graders will enjoy this, and it’s a good entry into the locked room murder mystery genre, I am bumping to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel!

[Cierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, this review is going to be a little different because I'm letting my kids handle the star rating. Honestly, I think that's only fair considering this is a middle grade book.

Ryker: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Yes... six stars.)
"I loved it. It was mysterious and I never knew what was going to happen next, which made it really exciting."

Spencer: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"I really liked that it had science and mystery in it. Science is my favorite subject. I also liked the twists and the tiny bit of romance."

Now for my mom take.

I thought this was a really fun read and a fantastic introduction to murder mysteries for younger readers. It keeps the mystery engaging without feeling too heavy, and I loved watching my kids try to solve it as we read.

I also got quite a few laughs out of the grown-up references sprinkled throughout. There were multiple moments where I felt personally called out... especially the bit about having to feed your sourdough starter.

If you have kids who love mysteries, puzzles, or trying to piece clues together before the big reveal, I think this is a wonderful choice. It gets their brains working while still being a genuinely fun story, and judging by the six-star review from one of my kids, I'd say it was a pretty big hit in our house.

[Caitlin C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great mystery for middle school aged readers. There are just enough twists and turns to keep the readers intrigued, but not so many that you need a flow chart to keep track.

Merrick was attending a private school with 3 of her best friends, until her grandma fell ill and her family took her in. Unfortunately, for Merrick, that meant the money that was spent on her tuition, had to be funneled to grandma's care. Not able to pay her tuition, Merrick had to switch to being homeschooled.

One cold and windy night, Merrick's and her mom were closing up the bookstore when they heard a crash outside. They ran outside, only to find that grandma had crashed into the mini van holding Merrick's 3 best friends. The town was in the midst of a raging storm and Merrick, her friends and her family are trapped in the inn attached to the bookstore. Merrick and her friends stumble upon the body of an elderly Inn guest. Luckily, they already have their own detective club formed and are ready to take on the case.

I enjoyed the outcome of the book. My favorite part was the relationship between Merrick and her grandma and how Merrick realized how much she wants her get to her know her grandma more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Kids for an ARC of this book.

[Aliceson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a middle grade murder mystery book. In general I think it followed the hokey line of murder mysteries- how in the world do all these things happen right in front of the protagonist? Merrick and her 3 friends discover a man that died in her mother’s bookstore. The police rule it a heart attack, but they believe Pipey (as Merrick calls him) has been murdered. I liked the twists and turns of this novel, it kept me interested and wanting to read it. I also like that the sleuth club included grandma and that it helped her and her granddaughter become closer. I’ve read some of the books in Currie’s Delta Game series and I loved the mysteries. In this book, I felt uncomfortable with 12 year olds trying to solve a murder mystery and that a book written for kids includes murder. These kids are trapped in a house with a real murderer and the adult (grandma), doesn’t try to stop them from going around questioning people. There are some parts of the storyline that feel a little reaching- the history of grandma’s first love. Overall it’s a good mystery, but I think some of her other work is better.

Recommended for grades 4-7, for students who can handle murder mysteries.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sleuth Society started out as an afterschool club. When a murder happens during an ice storm at the inn they are all trapped at, the members decide to solve the murder as the Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society.

The guests of the inn are all trapped due to this storm so the kids have a limited suspect pool but that doesn’t make solving this mystery easy!

This book has a cast of characters that will appeal to a wide range of readers (a gamer, a sports enthusiast, a science lover to name a few) and middle grade readers will love the pop culture references (Zelda anyone?). Oh, and a grandma who loves Agatha Christie.

The way the Sleuth Society logically think through the clues makes this a page turner. It’s like a game of Clue in book form.

As the mom of a teenager, I could relate to these characters instantly. The way they interact is spot on.

Perfect for people who love mysteries, who-done-it’s, and Agatha Christie novels.

Publication date: Sep 14, 2026

** Thank you Sourcebooks Kids/Sourcebooks Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.**

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this locked-room murder mystery! It's aimed for middle school kids 9 to 12 years of age, but this senior citizen found The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society great fun to read.

When an elderly man is found dead face-down in a birthday cake, the police dismiss it as natural causes due to old age. Merrick and her friends aren't buying that theory. With guidance from Mer's sharp-witted grandmother who fancies herself an armchair detective, they form the Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society to uncover the truth and identify the killer. It's not like anyone is going anywhere, anyway, since they are trapped together due to a fierce ice storm...

I highly recommend The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society and I'm looking forward to the next book!

Big thanks, #SourcebooksYoungReaders, for providing this book for consideration and review via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society has an expected publication date of September 15, 2026

#LindsayCurrie #Mystery #MiddleSchool #Friendship #Family

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun book to read and a great cozy mystery for middle grade readers! Merrick, Mico, Archer, and Sonny are best friends and amateur sleuths. Merrick helps her mom out in the bookstore she manages, leads story time, and befriends customers. A terrible ice storm leads to a shutdown of the city leaving the four preteens, Merrick’s mom, aunt, and grandmother, along with Mico and Sonny’s mom stranded at the hotel attached to the bookstore. They rush into the bookstore when they hear a scream and find the hotel receptionist has found a dead body in the bookstore!

The four amateur sleuths are planning to investigate after the police rule the death a result of natural causes and Grandma Ida wants to join their investigation since she is an avid Agatha Christie reader. This unlikely group proceeds to interview and investigate without letting the other adults know what they are up to since they are sure their mothers will put a stop to their activities. There are funny, tense, and touching moments throughout the story and the author does a great job of explaining the steps of an investigation and words like alibi in easy to understand manner. Topics like death of family members and parents not being present often enough in their children’s lives are handled tastefully and the four preteens are supportive of each other.

This would make a great gift to a middle grade reader or to a local classroom library.

[Melanie Shurtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay Currie has done a fantastic job again! Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC of this book. We meet Merrick, who has recently had to start homeschooling because her grandma has kidney failure, which is racking up bills, so Merrick's parents have to take her out of the private school she was attending. Merrick studies at the bookstore that her mom manages, which is connected to a book-themed inn. A huge ice storm arrives, and there is a car accident outside the bookstore due to the storm. The people involved are her friends and her grandma; the storm is so bad that everyone has to stay at the inn. When they return from outside, a lady is screaming as she discovered a dead body in the storage room, which is where Merrick studies. While the police think the man died due to poor health, Merrick and her friends think that he was murdered. So, with the help of Merrick's grandma, they decide to investigate to see if they can figure out what really happened to the man. This book has short chapters, so it keeps the story moving.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun middle-grade mystery! I loved how each of the kids brought their own unique strengths to the adventure. Merrick's love of science, Miko's passion for mahjong, and Sonny's video game skills all ended up playing an important role in solving the mystery. It was refreshing to see each character's interests matter in meaningful ways.

I also appreciated the emotional side of the story. Merrick's family is struggling financially, forcing her to leave the private school where she had made such good friends. Her fear of losing those friendships felt very real and added heart to the story. When a storm unexpectedly brings the kids—and Grandma—together, they find themselves caught up in a mystery that had me smiling from beginning to end.

The mystery was clever, the friendships were genuine, and I especially enjoyed that science played such an important role in the solution. This was an entertaining read that celebrates friendship, teamwork, and the idea that everyone's unique talents can make a difference.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The murder mystery case was carefully designed and meticulously presented. clues were built on bit by bit, layer by layer. It seems a little too slow but in the end they found that the murderer was caught on camera. No mention what sentence she got though. Halfway into the story, we learned that Grandma has a love history with Pipey (the victim). The story unfolds a little slower than I might like. For me, one book just one murder seems a little too long. One thing: The teen had to be homeschooled because family lack of funds due to a family member’s illness. I would say that is rather stereotypical. The story used roughly a third of a chapter to complain about homeschooling. With that said, the author did a good job telling the story. Appreciate the ARC copy. Thanks to the author and publisher!

[Fleur Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m an avid Agatha Christie reader and fan of Lindsay Currie’s books, so I was very excited to read The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society. This book was so much fun!

As always, the kid characters are fleshed out, easy to connect to, and make for that real sleuth-team vibe. I loved the STEM connection in Merrick, mixed with friends into mahjong, sports—enough for any kid reader to see themselves in the story. What made this book special was the addition of Grandma, who really added dimension to the cast in the best way. Several suspects, a quirky, locked-room setting, and a murder mystery involving cake, plus a twist… Yes, please.

I highly recommend The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society for your middle-grade readers. It’s Agatha Christie—for kids.

**Advanced copy provided by Netgalley for honest review.

[Susan Lefman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This multigenerational mystery begins when Pipey is found deceased in the storeroom of a combination bookstore and themed hotel. Iced-in by a storm, the Secret Sleuth Society and Grandma Ida are skeptical of the police's "natural causes" ruling, especially after noticing wet footprints in the room.


When the power goes out, the group spends the evening navigating the darkened hotel, searching room-to-room for clues to identify the potential assailant, whom they are sure is a hotel guest.


Packed with everything middle schoolers love, including romance, friendship, overbearing family members, and tiny ducks, this is a fun and engaging mystery that will keep kids following the clues to the end.

[Christine Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advance copy.

I love mysteries, bookshops, and friends that feel like family so I was very ready to love this book.
And I...

did!

Merrick, her best friends, and her grandma turn sleuths to figure out what happened to "Pipey" a regular at the bookstore while they're trapped at the adjoining hotel during an ice storm. Will they figure out the truth before the storm is over and everyone leaves?

I was unsure about Grandma being involved to begin with as I love when kids figure things out by themselves but by the end I was sold and she was definitely needed for the story to work. Highly recommended for middle grade mystery fans.

[Diana of Shelved by Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of Currie’s latest mysteries (Books 1 & 2 of the Delta Games series) will love her latest (which feels like another series starter). Throwing “society” in the title and adding a grandparent to a group of tween sleuths will bring comparisons to Ponti’s Sherlock Society series, but both series are enjoyable in their own way. This one had the tension of being trapped in a hotel without power during an ice storm, leading to a finite list of suspects. There was also the element of a budding 7th grade romance to set this one apart from others in the genre. All said, while the answer to the whodunnit may be a little obvious to adult readers, my middle schoolers should enjoy this one and will likely ask when Book 2 is coming.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I loved the cozy bookstore setting, the mystery, and all the clues woven throughout the story. It kept me guessing until the very end, and I found myself trying to solve it right along with the characters. The friendships, teamwork, and family relationships made it even more enjoyable.

From a conservative perspective, I appreciated that it was a clean read. There are a couple of brief mentions of middle-school crushes, but they’re innocent and never become the focus of the story. I read it with my kids and they loved this one. We can’t wait for the next book!

I’d definitely give this one 5/5 stars. If your kids enjoy mysteries, books, and adventures that keep them turning the pages, this is one I’d happily recommend.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Merrick McGee is stuck at the inn where her mother works since an ice storm has everyone staying put, an elderly man is found dead in a closet that Merrick uses to study. The police say he died of old age, but Merrick thinks he was murdered. With her friends that also staying put at the inn and her grandmother, they decide to investigate on their own and get clues to pass on to the police. What a fun read. I remember when I was a kid and with my friends became amateur sleuths and this story brought back memories.

This story is great for the middle school reader that loves mysteries, friendships and a good time.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never encountered a Lindsay Currie MG novel that didn't immediately engross me! Not only does Ms. Currie create the cleverest plots and adorable settings: she knows her characters in depth and consequently ensures readers understand them too. As soon as I started THE SECRET BOOKSTORE SLEUTH SOCIETY I was immediately wrapped up in the Protagonist and the setting and the situation. I read in one session because no way would I stop before the conclusion!
If Lindsay Currie isn't already a favorite author not-to-be-missed, then hurry up and change that. THE SECRET BOOKSTORE SLEUTH SOCIETY is a wonderful place to start!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to read an ARC from NetGalley of this gem. I love a good mystery and this book was great! Merrick’s mom works in a bookstore attached to an inn. When a storm traps everyone in the inn, a body is found in the storage room; Merrick’s study when she’s there. The police say it was a natural cause, but Merrick, her friends and her grandmother (an Agatha Christy fan) think otherwise. They spend their time following the clues. This had lots of twists and I love the characters; they are completely relatable. The pace and the multigenerational dynamic are perfect. I will definitely add this to my classroom library.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun series opener introduces a likable group of kids (and one Agatha Christie-loving granny) who use their individual skills to work as a team and solve a mystery. Although it's pretty obvious who the killer is, the story is plotted well and includes one surprise that I didn't see coming. It kept me turning pages. Not only did the tale keep me entertained, but I also enjoyed its bookish setting and its cast. Even though I identified more with the elderly character than with the young ones, seeing as I'm not exactly this book's intended audience, I still enjoyed it. I'm up for reading more in the series.

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG for violence and scary scenes