Review Detail

“The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist” by James Ponti is a wonderful sequel to Ponti’s first book in this series. The same characters are back, including Alex, Zoe, and their grandfather, along with their friends, Yadi and Lina. Even though they’re in middle school, they work together, using Grandpa’s connections to solve an old, though newly re-opened, crime.

When Grandpa was only 12 years old, he went with his father to deliver supplies to a hotel before a hurricane. Little did he know that the hotel’s bell captain, who also was a friend to him, would be accused of theft and running from the law after the hurricane was over. Lots of artwork from a movie that was supposed to be filmed on site disappeared that day, and so did the bell captain. Grandpa always maintained the man’s innocence, even though there were times when he questioned himself, much to his chagrin.

Sixty some years later, another hurricane washes up the body of that bell captain, and though it would seem the case is long dead and buried, almost literally, Grandpa and his mentees work to give Grandpa’s friend the justice he deserves. If he was dead all these years, he couldn’t have escaped with the artwork and driven past checkpoints. Little by little, they discover the truth behind what actually happened, using some friends from the FBI and their trusty five Ws (who, what, when, where, why), along with the addition of some H words, as they learn more about how it all happened, from the hotel to the heist to the Hollywood connections.

The story is great for all ages, and the back and forth between the past and present makes the story that much more engaging and delightful. Both books in this series should be on any mystery lover’s must read list!