September 30, 2025 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Grady wants to do something fantastic with his life, but he hasn’t found it yet. A foray into science ends with a slime disaster, and everything from soccer to being a sushi chef ends the same way. He also starts a career as a rock star only to have his older brother Andy tell him that he’s immature. This all changes when a mysterious woman shows up at his door and asks for Mr. Jones. Since his father died in a car accident five years ago, there seems to be some mistake… until she asks for Mr. GRADY Jones. She hands him a mysterious message from local reclusive millionaire Joseph Bancroft that says he has been murdered and only Grady can solve it. His mother contacts the police, who investigate and think everything is fine, but the next morning Bancroft is dead. In typical bumbling fashion, Grady starts to investigate, even circulating a flyer at school asking for information and promising a $50,000 reward that doesn’t exist. Luckily, he meets new neighbor Mikayla Morales who is much more organized and competent, and offers to help. He and his friend Anwar hatch a plan to deliver food from Anwar’s aunt’s restaurant, Nisha’s Noshes, and the two manage to be let inside by the housekeeper, Hedda. Grady sneaks into the reading of the will and finds out that he will be the beneficiary of the large estate if he can solve the murder. This distracts him from the investigation, but he gets some information. He meets a Detective Grady Jones, and it is fairly clear that the letter was meant for him, and the two work together a bit. When the local Winterfest is canceled because Bancroft funds it, Grady wants to be the one to be able to save this beloved local tradition. Bancroft was poisoned, but who would have done it? Secrets come out about Detective Jones, and Grady manages to finally develop skills and get some answers. Once he solves the mystery, will Ms. Bancroft have another mission for him?
Strengths: Murder mysteries are very popular in the middle school, and I imagine even younger readers are interested in the genre. This does not have any blood and gore, and has a sort of Scooby-Doo level of evil that will resonate with elementary readers. Grady reminds me a bit of Greg Hefley (Wimpy Kid), with his grand plans that he can’t quite bring to fruition. Mikayla is the best character in the book, and I was hoping that she would take Grady in hand and whip him into shape. If you’re looking for a title with the Anti Encyclopedia Brown, this is the book.
Weaknesses: This will probably be more successful with younger readers who look up to Grady even though he is incompetent and misguided. The tone was rather flippant for a story in which someone is actually murdered.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed quirky mysteries like Liebman’s Mr. Grieves and the Grievous Deeds or Millington’s Olivetti.
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