The Sherlock Society

What worked:
The author presents a dramatic hook as readers meet the two main characters adrift in the water off the coast of Florida. Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock had just survived a boat explosion after sneaking on and hiding from the owner and his crew. The setting then shifts back three weeks to explain how the kids get themselves, and their grandfather, into this predicament. This adventure reveals secrets they never expected, putting them in potentially dangerous situations. The book’s title comes from Alex’s admiration for Sherlock Holmes and his mysteries not from the fact they share the same last name.
The story is told from Alex’s first-person point of view although it doesn’t add significant information or insight. The book reads as a mystery when Zoe joins Alex and his two friends, Lina and Yadi, to form a summertime detective agency. Their mother nixes that plan but Grandpa suggests they try to finish one of the unsolved stories from his reporter days. The article they choose to pursue happens to be about Al Capone and a million-dollar hidden treasure he may have buried around Miami. Grandpa says being a reporter is like being a detective so that’s how they’ll spin it when the mother finds out. They often fall back on the 5 Ws of newspeople (who, what, why, when, where) to guide their investigation.
The plot includes news from the past as the Sherlock Society researches Al Capone’s life and historical events during that time. Capone is best known for living in Chicago but he moved to Miami after being released from Alcatraz prison. Grandpa shares what he knows as a lifelong resident of the area and they visit sites from Capone’s life and interview people who have knowledge about him. As the plot shifts, readers learn additional information regarding nature and science when a new antagonist arises. This new conflict allows the characters to use their detective skills to resolve an important public problem.
What didn’t work as well:
The whole plot is about solving mysteries and readers may want a break at times. There are a couple of subplots concerning Lina and Zoe but it might be nice to develop them more.
The final verdict:
The book begins as an interesting exploration of Al Capone’s past and then transitions to an important investigation about a local, public figure. The characters don’t have super-sleuthing talents but they work well together as a team. Overall, I recommend you give it a shot.

If you have a mystery lover who wants more in-depth information about their middle-grade mystery novels, I highly recommend James Ponti. Every book I have read by this author has been thoroughly filled with factual details woven into a fictional middle-grade mystery. James Ponti takes the mystery of what happened to Al Capone's money. He leads you on a history lesson, but what the kids uncover while tracking this treasure brings to light real-life activities and how to handle them if you encounter them. I wanted to do what was hard and right versus ignoring the situation and thinking someone else would handle it. I learned a lot about Al Capone but also learned a lot about the Florida Everglades and illegal dumping, and I had a thrilling time reading the story. I highly recommend this for kids interested in history, who like mysteries, and those who want to stand up for the environment. This book lived up to my expectations of James Ponti: excellent writing, fantastic plot, excitement, and children with incredible potential and abilities.