Carlos and his friends must uncover who is sending death threats to a wealthy eccentric or Carlos' mother may lose her business, and the reader decides which clues they will follow. - (Baker & Taylor)

Complemented by interactive puzzles, a choose-your-path series debut introduces a budding young detective and his friends, who need the reader's help deciding which suspects to interview, which questions to ask and which clues to follow. Simultaneous eBook. - (Baker & Taylor)

Pick-your-own-path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in the first book in Lauren Magaziner's hilarious and high-stakes three-book middle grade series in which the reader must help Carlos and his friends put together the clues to save his mom's detective agency.

In this wildly entertaining and interactive adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path'you crack the case!

Carlos Serrano has never solved a mystery in his life. But when Carlos's mom gets sick with a flu on the morning of an investigation that could save her failing detective agency, Carlos takes on the case.

With the help of his best friend, Eliza, and her wild little brother, Frank, Carlos must uncover a mystery involving an eccentric local millionaire, anonymous death threats, and a buried treasure. But with tricky riddles, cagey suspects, hidden secrets, and dozens of impossible choices, they need your help!

Can you help Carlos and his friends find the culprit and save Las Pistas Detective Agency? Or will it be case closed?

Middle grade readers will enjoy all three books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), and Haunting at the Hotel (#3)!

Pick-your-own-path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in the first book in Lauren Magaziner’s hilarious and high-stakes four-book middle grade series in which the reader must help Carlos and his friends put together the clues to save his mom’s detective agency.

In this wildly entertaining and interactive adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path—you crack the case!

Carlos Serrano has never solved a mystery in his life. But when Carlos’s mom gets sick with a flu on the morning of an investigation that could save her failing detective agency, Carlos takes on the case.

With the help of his best friend, Eliza, and her wild little brother, Frank, Carlos must uncover a mystery involving an eccentric local millionaire, anonymous death threats, and a buried treasure. But with tricky riddles, cagey suspects, hidden secrets, and dozens of impossible choices, they need your help!

Can you help Carlos and his friends find the culprit and save Las Pistas Detective Agency? Or will it be case closed?

Middle grade readers will enjoy all four books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), Haunting at the Hotel (#3), and Danger on the Dig (#4)!

Booklist Reviews

Carlos doesn't know how to solve mysteries, but he'll do anything to help save his mom's detective agency. When a flu prevents her from taking up a big case, Carlos turns to his best friend, Eliza, and her little brother, Frank, to solve the mystery. From here, the mystery becomes an interactive choose-your-own-adventure: readers can help them interview suspects, find clues, close the case, and save Carlos' mom's career. The characters are real kids dealing with real worries. Carlos is so concerned about money that he takes on the near-impossible task of solving a case for his mother, but it's this concern that makes him endearing. The various options mean the story takes on a new flavor with every reading. The puzzles are based in learning, so readers work to solve each clue before moving on to the next. Frank's personality is spot-on for a six-year-old; he lights up every scene with his sincere innocence. Magaziner (Wizardmatch, 2018) blends the fun of interactive stories with a suspenseful mystery and delightful characters. Grades 5-8. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.