The Impossible Crime (Mac B., Kid Spy #2)

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The Impossible Crime (Mac B., Kid Spy #2)

User Photos (1)

Author(s)

Mac Barnett

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Mike Lowery

Publisher

Scholastic

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

December 26, 2018

ISBN

978-1338143683

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The Crown Jewels are in danger... again! When the jewels go missing from inside a locked room, Mac's spy skills are put to the test. How did the thief break in? Where did the jewels go? And will Mac be able to solve this locked room mystery before the thief escapes? This mystery isn't just a whodunit... it's a howdunit! The action in this new adventure is nonstop, as Mac travels to an ancient Irish castle to solve the mystery. There, he encounters everything from killer king cobras to bizarre ice sculptures... and even a revenge plot dating back hundreds of years! Will you be able to solve the mystery before Mac does? Also features historical facts masterfully woven throughout the plot, and full-color illustrations on every page. Don't miss the newest installment of this totally smart and sidesplittingly funny New York Times bestselling series, Mac B., Kid Spy.

The action in this new adventure is nonstop, as Mac travels to an ancient Irish castle to solve the mystery. There, he encounters everything from killer king cobras to bizarre ice sculptures... and even a revenge plot dating back hundreds of years! Will you be able to solve the mystery before Mac does? Also features historical facts masterfully woven throughout the plot, and full-color illustrations on every page. Don't miss the newest installment of this totally smart and sidesplittingly funny New York Times bestselling series, Mac B., Kid Spy.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Locked Room Mystery

February 20, 2019 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

N/A

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Mac is calmly playing mini golf when the queen of England phones him yet again for help. She is afraid that someone will steal the crown jewels, so wants Mac on the case. He ends up in her castle in Scotland, where all manner of things go wrong, including the jewels being taken from a locked room. That's a new and exciting type of mystery for Mac, who has to use all of his skills to solve it.

Good Points

This is just the right level of 6th and early 7th grade goofy (but would be good for younger students, too), and the formatting is really brilliant. The font is sanserif, there are better-than-average spaces between lines, and the pictures are inserted into the text where they make the most sense. For students with reading problems, this is the best book I have seen yet.

I love that the author made up all of these stories years ago and has decided to finally commit them to paper. They are very much the sort of thing a young writer would embrace, and this history gives these books a very fresh feel.

This reminded of Kin Platt's Big Max: the World's Greatest Detective (1965). Younger readers who can't get enough of Adler's Cam Jansen and Roy's ABC Mysteries will adore Mac, his corgis, and his attempts to help the queen of England solve her mysteries.

Karen Yingling, Staff Reviewer #1 Reviewer 2477 reviews

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User reviews

1 review

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0(1)

Characters

5.0(1)

Writing Style

5.0(1)

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

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Exciting Spy Mystery That Keeps You Guessing

April 24, 2026 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

I found this second book in the series to be really fun, fast-paced, and surprisingly clever. It takes the spy adventure idea from the first book and makes it even more mysterious by turning it into a locked-room puzzle where the question is not just who did it, but how it was even possible in the first place.

Mac B. is such a fun character to follow because he always feels like he is just barely keeping up with how wild everything gets. In this story, he is sent to solve another Crown Jewels mystery, and things quickly become chaotic in the best way. The setting in an old Irish castle adds a cool atmosphere, and every new discovery makes the mystery more interesting.

I really liked how this book challenges you as a reader. It almost feels like you are solving the case alongside Mac. There are clues, strange events, and moments that make you pause and try to figure out what is actually going on before the reveal. That interactive feeling makes it more engaging than a typical adventure story.

I also want to give credit to Mac Barnett for how well he writes these books. His humor is really sharp but still very easy to understand, and he balances jokes with actual mystery in a way that keeps everything moving. He makes the story feel smart without ever making it confusing.

The illustrations by Mike Lowery are also a huge part of what makes this book so enjoyable. The artwork is bold, colorful, and full of personality. The expressions and visual jokes add so much to the humor, and the layout makes the story feel dynamic and fun to read. It honestly feels like the pictures and text are working together as equal parts of the story.

Overall, I found The Impossible Crime to be a really entertaining mystery adventure that keeps you guessing from start to finish. It is especially great for middle school readers because it is funny, easy to follow, and still gives you a real puzzle to think about.

Good Points

- Clever locked-room mystery that keeps readers engaged

- Strong humor and writing style that make the story fun

- Bright, expressive illustrations that enhance the action and comedy

This is a great read for middle schoolers, especially those who enjoy mysteries and fast-moving adventure stories.