What do you think?
Rate this book
Tangled Mysteries #2
Tangled Up in Nonsense
Sloane and Amelia clash with rival detectives when they travel to a secluded mansion in search of a missing fortune in this “warmhearted, very funny, madcap caper” ( Kirkus Reviews , starred review) that’s the second book in the fun-filled Tangled Mysteries middle grade series perfect for fans of The Book Scavenger and Lemons .
When Sloane Osborn and Amelia Miller-Poe arrive at Tangle Glen mansion, they have one find the two million dollars that went missing on its premises decades ago. Solving the mystery would be just the kind of splashy victory their new detective agency needs to gain traction.
Except that everything from the weirdly intense peony competition to the mansion’s cook who may or may not be hiding murder dolls in the attic seems to get in the way of their investigation. Not to mention Amelia’s obsession with speaking in 1920s slang, which sounds like a whole lot of nonsense to Sloane. And when it becomes clear that Amelia and Sloane aren’t the only ones searching for the missing millions, things start to get downright dangerous.
So, when Sloane finds herself stranded on the edge of a slippery roof as a terrified bloodhound careens toward her, she can only ask
1. Why are adults so obsessed with peonies?
2. Just how far are the other detectives willing to go to find the millions first?
3. Is the rain gutter on a hundred-year-old mansion strong enough to hold the weight of a thirteen-year-old girl and an exuberant dog?
When Sloane Osborn and Amelia Miller-Poe arrive at Tangle Glen mansion, they have one find the two million dollars that went missing on its premises decades ago. Solving the mystery would be just the kind of splashy victory their new detective agency needs to gain traction.
Except that everything from the weirdly intense peony competition to the mansion’s cook who may or may not be hiding murder dolls in the attic seems to get in the way of their investigation. Not to mention Amelia’s obsession with speaking in 1920s slang, which sounds like a whole lot of nonsense to Sloane. And when it becomes clear that Amelia and Sloane aren’t the only ones searching for the missing millions, things start to get downright dangerous.
So, when Sloane finds herself stranded on the edge of a slippery roof as a terrified bloodhound careens toward her, she can only ask
1. Why are adults so obsessed with peonies?
2. Just how far are the other detectives willing to go to find the millions first?
3. Is the rain gutter on a hundred-year-old mansion strong enough to hold the weight of a thirteen-year-old girl and an exuberant dog?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
9 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 28, 2023
A cute kids mystery that takes place largely in a fictional historical mansion in Toledo, Ohio.
Sloane and Amelia are charming young self-styled detectives with a YouTube channel whose latest case involves a missing fortune, bootleggers, a dognappjng, and an orchid show.
If these things sound like they mostly don’t go together, well…you’d unfortunately be right. It’s a bit of a tough sell plot-wise to see how these seemingly disparate elements become cogs in a larger machine. The story doesn’t turn out to be all that cohesive, especially the ridiculousness with the dogs and the flowers.
I assume the author is from Toledo, because that’s the only reason I can think of that someone would set a book like this in the area. While it’s true that it was considered a haven for bootleggers during Prohibition, so were a lot of other Great Lakes cities, nearly every one of which is a more interesting place than Toledo. I can’t help but think this would have been a boon to the sense of place for this book.
I do think the mystery was largely age-appropriate for the target audience and the way the author describes Prohibition to kids is actually pretty funny. And though I thought the family dynamics and backstory were fairly dull and trite, I liked the girls themselves as well as their wacky grannies.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Sloane and Amelia are charming young self-styled detectives with a YouTube channel whose latest case involves a missing fortune, bootleggers, a dognappjng, and an orchid show.
If these things sound like they mostly don’t go together, well…you’d unfortunately be right. It’s a bit of a tough sell plot-wise to see how these seemingly disparate elements become cogs in a larger machine. The story doesn’t turn out to be all that cohesive, especially the ridiculousness with the dogs and the flowers.
I assume the author is from Toledo, because that’s the only reason I can think of that someone would set a book like this in the area. While it’s true that it was considered a haven for bootleggers during Prohibition, so were a lot of other Great Lakes cities, nearly every one of which is a more interesting place than Toledo. I can’t help but think this would have been a boon to the sense of place for this book.
I do think the mystery was largely age-appropriate for the target audience and the way the author describes Prohibition to kids is actually pretty funny. And though I thought the family dynamics and backstory were fairly dull and trite, I liked the girls themselves as well as their wacky grannies.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
December 16, 2022
Long lost millions, an historic mansion, and a race against time...that's the excitement this mystery holds, which offers surprises, hard-to-fit-together clues, and a few peonies, too.
Sloane acknowledges that her and Amelia's latest Youtube mystery movie isn't a winner, and they're loosing viewers fast. When her grandmother's come up with the 'perfect mystery' to get things rolling again, she isn't convinced, but Amelia's not going to et them ignore the chance. Traveling 45 minutes away to an old mansion in search of a lost treasure does sound exciting, but the mystery is stickier than they could have dreamed. Especially since they aren't the only ones on the case, and more than a few situations have become simply deadly.
Starting out with a prologue, which grabs readers completely, this tale shoots off into a fun mystery and a trip back to the 1920's. I did not read the first book in this series, and that didn't matter. This tale can be read all on its own. Sloane is the more serious of the pair, and Amelia's enthusiasm is catchy. The two make a great duo and share a wonderful friendship, which carries all the bumps, fun, and heart it should. But then, all of the characters hold their own flair (especially the grandmothers) to make each one entertaining to meet, whether good or bad.
The writing carries a bit of a more traditional feel and has a very nice flow. Quirky situations mix with tension and surprises to keep the reader on their toes...and boredom far away. It's hard to guess what is truly behind the mystery as clues go this way and that. Add the facts and tidbits thrown in, which also flow right into the tale, and it's an unexpected fun...even if you aren't a peony fan because neither are these two.
It's a fun mystery to sink into with a duo to wish were at your side. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed diving into this mystery quite a bit.
Sloane acknowledges that her and Amelia's latest Youtube mystery movie isn't a winner, and they're loosing viewers fast. When her grandmother's come up with the 'perfect mystery' to get things rolling again, she isn't convinced, but Amelia's not going to et them ignore the chance. Traveling 45 minutes away to an old mansion in search of a lost treasure does sound exciting, but the mystery is stickier than they could have dreamed. Especially since they aren't the only ones on the case, and more than a few situations have become simply deadly.
Starting out with a prologue, which grabs readers completely, this tale shoots off into a fun mystery and a trip back to the 1920's. I did not read the first book in this series, and that didn't matter. This tale can be read all on its own. Sloane is the more serious of the pair, and Amelia's enthusiasm is catchy. The two make a great duo and share a wonderful friendship, which carries all the bumps, fun, and heart it should. But then, all of the characters hold their own flair (especially the grandmothers) to make each one entertaining to meet, whether good or bad.
The writing carries a bit of a more traditional feel and has a very nice flow. Quirky situations mix with tension and surprises to keep the reader on their toes...and boredom far away. It's hard to guess what is truly behind the mystery as clues go this way and that. Add the facts and tidbits thrown in, which also flow right into the tale, and it's an unexpected fun...even if you aren't a peony fan because neither are these two.
It's a fun mystery to sink into with a duo to wish were at your side. I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed diving into this mystery quite a bit.
June 24, 2022
It’s the roaring 20’s…well it IS the 2020’s but in Meryl Wyatt’s newest mystery novel, Tangled Up In Nonsense (Nov 22) we get to solve a mystery dating back to the 1920’s! This peony-perfumed puzzler focuses on plucky middle school heroines Sloane Osborne and Amelia Miller-Poe (from this duo’s first adventure, Tangled Up In Luck) as they tackle the mystery of Ma Yaklin’s missing millions at picturesque Tangle Glen Manor, a creative mashup of several actual Toledo landmarks.
Set against a backdrop of the 100th anniversary of the Ohio Peony Enthusiasts cutthroat competition, our budding YouTube stars are trying to add another “case-closed” to boost their ratings but they may end up cancelled if they don’t keep their wits about them.
This mystery is sure to keep you guessing at every turn as you sort out the clues from the red herrings, which isn’t as easy as might imagine. The hilariously competitive Miller-Poe family as well as Sloane’s wisecracking Grannies also return to bring the nonstop comic relief. Don’t worry if you missed the first book in the series, this could be a stand alone if you don’t want to read book one (but seriously, WHY HAVEN’T YOU READ BOOK ONE!?!)
This book is perfect for the mid-age range Middle Grade reader who loves a good mystery with a hefty dose of style and flair. Don’t know your peonies from your philodendrons? Never fear, the text is chock full of interesting facts and tidbits sure to keep anybody in the know, but knowing your flower facts is not a requirement for enjoying this fun story.
It’s the bee’s knees, as Amelia might say!
Set against a backdrop of the 100th anniversary of the Ohio Peony Enthusiasts cutthroat competition, our budding YouTube stars are trying to add another “case-closed” to boost their ratings but they may end up cancelled if they don’t keep their wits about them.
This mystery is sure to keep you guessing at every turn as you sort out the clues from the red herrings, which isn’t as easy as might imagine. The hilariously competitive Miller-Poe family as well as Sloane’s wisecracking Grannies also return to bring the nonstop comic relief. Don’t worry if you missed the first book in the series, this could be a stand alone if you don’t want to read book one (but seriously, WHY HAVEN’T YOU READ BOOK ONE!?!)
This book is perfect for the mid-age range Middle Grade reader who loves a good mystery with a hefty dose of style and flair. Don’t know your peonies from your philodendrons? Never fear, the text is chock full of interesting facts and tidbits sure to keep anybody in the know, but knowing your flower facts is not a requirement for enjoying this fun story.
It’s the bee’s knees, as Amelia might say!
December 3, 2022
Sloane and Amelia are back to solve their next mystery! This story starts where Tangled Up in Luck left off and takes the girls on an adventure at an old mansion called Tangle Glen where an old bootlegger back in the 1920s supposedly hid two million dollars. The girls are determined to solve the mystery of this missing money while the inn is hosting a big peony flower competition. Full of funny characters (with great names), an adorable bloodhound and twisty turns this was a very entertaining read. Outside of the mystery the book explores emotions that come from Sloane’s father dating someone new and Amelia feeling dismissed by her family. Their deepening friendship is the best part of the book. I hope there will be a next one!
January 2, 2023
What fun! Thirteen year old detectives Sloane Osborn and Amelia Miller-Poe are back in business and looking for 2 million dollars during a booooooring Peony flower show.
I could relate to the boring part, the part where you're dragged along to something that's so filled with snobs and adults that you can't enjoy the cool stuff around you! That's where Sloane and Amelia come in. They are very capable amateur detectives, very believable, and oh so intrepid.
Perfect for teens and tweens and adults of all ages who love a romp and a mystery, dogs, some humor, and too many flowers in an old mansion.
Ah yes, this one is set in Ohio, so even more fun!
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
I could relate to the boring part, the part where you're dragged along to something that's so filled with snobs and adults that you can't enjoy the cool stuff around you! That's where Sloane and Amelia come in. They are very capable amateur detectives, very believable, and oh so intrepid.
Perfect for teens and tweens and adults of all ages who love a romp and a mystery, dogs, some humor, and too many flowers in an old mansion.
Ah yes, this one is set in Ohio, so even more fun!
Thanks to the BookLoft of German Village (Columbus, OH) http://www.bookloft.com for an ARC to read and review.
January 28, 2023
Mystery, Friendship, Family, and Hijinks!
Another well-written YA book from Merrill-Wyatt. The sophomore book in the series is sure to keep any reader on his or her toes! Middle schoolers and adults alike will enjoy this story of friendship, mystery and humor as the Osburn and Miller-Poe girls are at it again, solving their second mystery! The girls are so relatable to any young person as they navigate their way through their early teenage years, dealing with self esteem issues, and family life. As the girls solve the mystery of the missing money, the reader finds himself cheering the girls on, while trying to solve the mystery, even before the young ladies do! I recommend this book to any young reader out there! Well done Merrill-Wyatt!
Another well-written YA book from Merrill-Wyatt. The sophomore book in the series is sure to keep any reader on his or her toes! Middle schoolers and adults alike will enjoy this story of friendship, mystery and humor as the Osburn and Miller-Poe girls are at it again, solving their second mystery! The girls are so relatable to any young person as they navigate their way through their early teenage years, dealing with self esteem issues, and family life. As the girls solve the mystery of the missing money, the reader finds himself cheering the girls on, while trying to solve the mystery, even before the young ladies do! I recommend this book to any young reader out there! Well done Merrill-Wyatt!
November 13, 2022
This was a fast and fun read. It picks up where the last book left off. I like that this book focused more on the girls’ growth as they deal with complicated emotions in addition to searching for the two million dollars. I’m loving this series, and I can’t wait to read the next one!
March 2, 2023
A great story, just nor my fav.
August 22, 2023
Tangled Up in Nonsense
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ :star_half:(3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 8
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ :star_half:(3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 8
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 8
Intrigue - 7
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 6
September 20, 2024
2.75/5
October 16, 2024
Fun Time With Two Perfect Friends
I love these characters! I shared a piece of fun with my 8 year old boy who’s not a fan of books and he couldn’t help laughing. You have to read this series! It’s so fun!
I love these characters! I shared a piece of fun with my 8 year old boy who’s not a fan of books and he couldn’t help laughing. You have to read this series! It’s so fun!
January 12, 2025
An enjoyable romp with good messages about growing up.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews