THE A&A DETECTIVE AGENCY: THE FAIRFLEET AFFAIR, by K. H. Saxton, Union Square Kids, Sept. 19, 2023, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
Young sleuths set out to find a missing millionaire in The A&A Detective Agency: The Fairfleet Affair, by K. H. Saxton.
The celebrated museums of the Fairfleet Institute are known for curating the mysteries of humanity. But they don’t solve mysteries. Luckily, twelve-year-old friends Alex Foster and Asha Singh of the A&A Detective Agency do. Or they will . . . once they get a real case to test their skills as sleuths.
When Dr. Alistair Fairfleet, the institute’s eccentric chairman, disappears on the first day of Alex and Asha’s summer vacation, they receive a letter written by the missing millionaire himself inviting them to a game involving complicated clues and puzzles. It is just the sort of case they’ve been waiting to tackle. But nothing in the Fairfleet case has a simple solution. As the kids track down clues, they uncover art forgeries, archaeological crimes, and Fairfleet family secrets. All of this tests their partnership and forces them to confront the complicated legacies of the people and places they admire most. —Synopsis provided by Union Square Kids
Every once in a while, I come across a middle-grade book that I know my kid will not only enjoy but absolutely love. That’s exactly the case with The A&A Detective Agency: The Fairfleet Affair.
This delightful detective story is smart, funny and full of heart.
At the center of The A&A Detective Agency: The Fairfleet Affair are Alex and Asha, young detectives who got their start from Dr. Alistair Fairfleet himself. These clever kids are bright, inquisitive and determined. Their true friendship is such a pleasure to happen upon, and their detective skills are spot on.
Debut author K. H. Saxton tells the story with the confidence and cadence of a seasoned writer. Her knack for combining an intricate plot, dynamic characters and compelling information into a novel that is perfectly suited to middle readers is commendable. The backdrop of art, theater and natural history provides depth and added interest.
The A&A Detective Agency: The Fairfleet Affair is a fast-moving mystery that’s got wide appeal. It’s one of my top middle-grade reads of the year, and I can’t wait to read more stories from the author.
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