Review Detail

5 plus plus.
The moment I got this book I started reading immediately. I loved the description and the cover drew my attention. An absolutely fantastic middle-grade mystery novel that will please all ages. Without spoiling anything it keeps us turning the page for the next twist.

Hope Smith and her brother Gordon see an opportunity to enter a bee contest to help their mother with their bills and living situation. But this is not a novel of a simple contest hosted by the rich. Although Hope is against this game and how the wealthy people generally react around her she can't accept losing her family and going into foster care.

The Smiths accept the challenge only to find out that there is a second game to play in the large Winterton Chalet, filled with secrets and passageways: a scavenger hunt.

The novel is much more complex than a treasure hunt or Clue reference. It is very well-written, being told from Hope's perspective who trusts no one, and who is quite sharp.

This reading of the will by a matriarch who set up the games has a special love for words and famous books. This novel has all the great moments and parts of the great classic mysteries and a very satisfying ending.

It can be read as a standalone but I really wish there would be more because there are so many wonderful characters and so much to explore from this unique and fun large cast. In many ways, I found them quite relatable here and there. There is always something that feels familiar and we all went through it. That is why this book feels detailed and fulfilling.
Thank you, Publisher and NetGalley for this eARC.