#MMGM : Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders

 

SECRETS OF THE BROKEN HOUSE

written by Taryn Souders

Sourcebooks, 2026

ISBN: 978-1-4642-4497-1

Source: publisher for review (Thanks!)

Ages 9-12

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads,.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In the small, southern town of Everson, goats can run for mayor, the mail is always late, and nothing all that bad ever happens. That is, until thirteen-year-old Tucker finds Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of her stairs. At first glance, it looks like an accident. But Tucker has always had a knack for noticing details that others overlook, and the details surrounding Miss Geraldine's death just aren't adding up.

Miss Geraldine was miserable and mean. Miss Geraldine was murdered.

The whole town seems to have reason to want her dead, which makes Tucker's search for the truth nearly impossible. The more he investigates for clues, the more danger he finds himself in, and the more he realizes that maybe Everson was never as safe as he once thought it was. Anyone could be the killer, and in a small town that loves to gossip, if Tucker isn't careful, he could be the next one to have an "accident".

REVIEW

Taryn Souders' new mystery makes for a delightful read. Thirteen-year-old Tucker wants a boat really badly. With the help of his friends, Clemmie and Sadie, he agrees to help Miss Geraldine clean some old furniture she wants to sell. Unfortunately, Miss Geraldine's known throughout the small southern town as a nasty, lawsuit-filing neglectful homeowner. And finding Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of her staircase wasn't in Tucker's plans for the old rowboat he hoped to get from her. But he won't be able to get the boat until Miss Geraldine's death, which he knows was not an accident, gets cleared up. The only thing to do then is to find the killer himself. Using his unusual observation skills and his friends, Tucker sets out to discover who had the motive, means, and opportunity. The stakes rise even further when Sadie's aunt seems to be the most likely suspect. 

In addition to delightful characters, Souders tells an interesting, entertaining story. Tucker and his friends feel realistic with real-life concerns and interests. The conflict between Tucker and his 'former' best friend, Aiden adds an interesting subplot to the main mystery. I loved how the town as a whole came to life, feeling like a character in and of itself. With plenty of suspects and an unsympathetic victim, questions abound, and as one would expect in a small town, rumors spread like wildfire. The book read quickly and is bound to be enjoyed by young mystery lovers. And just when the reader feels like they know what's going on, the author throws in the unexpected. A thoroughly engaging mystery with fun characters and enough excitement to keep the pages turning. Highly recommended.