Just So Stories

Riveted Press

Simon & Schuster

April 2025

• ISBN13: 9780645869385

RRP: AU$ 16.99 / NZ$ 18.99

If you have kidlets who are mad for detectives and mystery, and particularly if they’re the ones who love an Enid Blyton ‘find-outer’ adventure, then you are going to need this one.

In a small town of indeterminate location, two boys are best friends. They are quite different but they really ‘get’ each other. They are also pretty uncool and generally ignored by all the other kids. They don’t mind that so much, as they have each other but they would both also like to broaden their social horizons, so to speak. Rocko’s big sister Pen is very cool. She’s even in her own band.

But Rocko and Cosmo just can’t seem to hit on the right formula for attracting even a third into their space. They’ve tried numerous ‘clubs’ but it seems that no one is the least bit interested in a ‘pink polo shirt’ club or a Lego club or the latest – a Scrabble club.

But then the coolest kid in town, Mingus Reid shows up. Mingus is the cool guy in Pen’s band and, it turns out, also a huge fan of the detective stories, Trio of Sleuths – just like Rocko and Cosmo, and amazingly, also really likes Scrabble. So,maybe the new club will take off.

That is, until a random comment about ‘no mysteries’ in Table Cape Bay is overheard by none other than world-famous mystery author, PD Watkins, who happens to be in town and staying on a writing retreat at historic – and reputedly – haunted Hindmarsh Hall. And just like that The Secret Detectives Club is born. Add in a couple of feisty girls, a slightly strange but definitely friendly caretaker, an awesome librarian [naturally!] who seems to be very unhappy with the famous author – and some ultra-weird stuff happening at the old creepy house. Is it haunted? or is there another explanation?

It’s not a hard read so it will suit even those kiddos who are not your keenest beans and it’s well paced. The characters are fun and just quirky enough to be interesting without being off the scale. It’s almost a little bit Goonies, for those kids who are familiar with the movie. All in all, this looks like a promising, undemanding series for your readers around year 3-5 and who can go on to more complex mystery/detective books in your collection. I’m giving it a 3 🔎🔎🔎 rating.