Release date: DECEMBER 1, 2015
Delacorte Press/ Random House Kids Books
MIDDLE GRADE/ ages 10 and up
ISBN: 978-0-385-74471-3
Authors: Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson
Illustrator: Roman Muradov
Publicity Contact: Samuel Terris [email protected]
thrilled that her family is moving thousands of miles from civilization to the
quiet country town of Ashpot, Connecticut, where she’s absolutely certain
she’ll die of boredom.
As if leaving Manhatten and her best friend,
Lizzy, the only other member of the elite Detective Mystery Squad, weren’t bad
enough, Fairday is stuck living in the infamous Begonia House, a creepy old
Victorian with dark passageways, a gigantic dead willow tree, and a mysterious
past.
Before she can even unpack,
strange music coming
from behind a padlocked door leads Fairday up a spiral staircase and into a
secret room, where she finds an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a curious portrait
of a red-haired lady. These seemingly unrelated items prove to be the first in
a series of clues that takes Fairday, the visiting Lizzy, and their new squad
member, Marcus, on an amazing adventure.
together the puzzle before it’s too late? Or will whatever’s causing trouble
find Fairday and her friends first?
Catch the Book Buzz. . .
“I really enjoyed this book. It was a marvelously
done, debut, thriller novel. Ms. Robinson and Ms. Haight are great authors that really
pull you into their story. I couldn’t get out until that final sentence. And, by then I
wanted more. To say I want a second book is an understatement. The writing style is
compelling, and makes me feel as if I was there with Fairday and her friends. I really
like the illustrations in the book. They are like the ribbon on a present, or the icing
on the cake. I give this book five out of five bookworms!”
~ Erik
Weibel/ This Kid Reviews Books
“Mixing realism and
fantasy, Haight and Robinson’s debut opens with 11-year-old Fairday’s move from
Manhattan to a small town in Connecticut, where her relentlessly cheerful parents
plan to turn a dilapidated Victorian into a bed and breakfast. No sooner has the
family arrived than eerie sights and sounds begin to haunt Fairday. The house turns
out to hold dark secrets that everybody in town suspects but nobody can explain: a
perfect mission for Fairday and her best friend Lizzy’s Detective Mystery Squad
(DMS).”
~ Publishers Weekly
“Fifth-grader
Fairday Morrow’s new home lives up to its spooky reputation, but she and her
companions in the Detective Mystery Squad find out why. At Begonia House, strains
of bagpipe music issue from behind a padlocked door, grains of sand in an hourglass
have stopped falling, and a malevolent weeping willow looms in the backyard. A
magic mirror shows an invisible door; a wardrobe hides secrets and a portal. Ruby
Begonia vanished more than 50 years ago. Is there also a ghost? Fairday has a new,
helpful friend in classmate Marcus, and her best friend Lizzy can visit on weekends
to help solve the mystery. What more could readers want?”
~ Kirkus
Reviews
with a deep desire to be near the ocean and a
love of the four seasons. She enjoys drawing while standing up and cultivating
magic in her garden. She easily floats away in the pages of a good story and is
still waiting for her owl from Hogwarts.
StephanieRobinson lives with her husband in a quiet
town, though not as quaint as
Ashpot. After teaching fifth grade for almost fifteen years, she is now
enjoying her role as a school media specialist.
Shannon Lawrence says
I love the classic mystery setup of this one. Good luck to them, and to you with your sale!
DMS says
Shannon- We love classic mysteries too! Thanks for the good wishes. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
klahanie says
Hopefully, I will be allowed to comment this time. I know I wrote one of my amazingly thoughtful comments and hey presto, I couldn't publish it.
This time, yes, this time I get to repeat myself and say yay to Stephanie and Jess! 🙂
Gary, cautiously pressing publish…..
klahanie says
Yay, it worked. Thank you, Lee.
Your starstruckest fan, Gary!
DMS says
Gary- Thanks so much for the shout out! So happy to see you at another stop on our tour. 🙂 ~Stephanie and Jess
Joylene Nowell Butler says
There really is a lot of book buzz over this book and for good reason. Love the excerpt. I lived these types of stories when I was a kid… in my imagination.
DMS says
Joylene- So glad you enjoyed the excerpt! It is fun to get lost in our imaginations. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Heather R. Holden says
Congrats to Jessica and Stephanie! Their new release sounds like such a fun and spooky read…
DMS says
Heather, Thanks so much! 🙂 Stephanie and Jess
Tyrean Martinson says
Way to go, Stephanie and Jess!!!
DMS says
Thanks, Tyrean! Nice to see you here! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Shooting Stars Mag says
Congrats to Jessica and Stephanie – they are both fantastic and i hope their novel does well. It sounds like loads of fun!
Also, love your quote at the end. So very true. 🙂
-Lauren
DMS says
Lauren- Aww! Thanks for your sweet comment and the good wishes. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Dianne K. Salerni says
Congratulations to Jessica and Stephanie! I don't see how they can go wrong with an antique key and a mysterious portrait of a missing woman!!!
DMS says
Dianne- Glad you like our clues! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Cherie Reich says
Congrats to Jess and Stephanie! The book looks like such a fun read.
DMS says
Cherie- Thanks for the good wishes. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Nicola says
Great post. Wishing Jessica and Stephanie a successful journey.
DMS says
Thanks, Nicole! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
J.H. Moncrieff says
This book sounds awesome. They're doing a great job with the marketing – I've seen a few posts about it already. Good luck, Jessica and Stephanie!
DMS says
JH MOncrieff- It has been wonderful seeing you at so many of the stops on our tour. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Spacerguy says
Sweet youtube presentation. The foggy mist alligators and mystery mansion, Perfect!
Annalisa Crawford says
Congrats to Jessica and Stephanie – you can't beat a haunted house 🙂
DMS says
Annalisa- Thanks for the good wishes and we agree- haunted houses are fascinating. 🙂 ~Jess and Stpehanie
Yvonne Ventresca says
Glad you are back, Lee.
Congrats to Jessica and Stephanie!
DMS says
Yvonne- Thanks! 🙂 ~Jess and Stpehanie
D Biswas says
Love the book, and the quote!
DMS says
Thanks, D. Biswas! 🙂 ~Jess and Stpehanie
Medeia Sharif says
They had an amazing blog tour. I plan on reading this over my holiday break.
DMS says
Medeia- We are so lucky that the blogging community has been helping us spread the word. Such amazing people! Thanks for all your support. 🙂 We hope you enjoy The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow when you read it. ~Stephanie and Jess
Denise Covey says
Love the Anne Frank quote! So true. So welcome back! What a great way to reconnect!
nashvillecats2 says
Seeing this book on another blog, again I say congrats to both Jessica and Stephanie.
Great post Lee.
Yvonne.
DMS says
Nashvillecats2- Wonderful to see you on another blog and thanks for your good wishes! 🙂 ~Jess and Stpehanie
L.G. Keltner says
Congratulations! The book looks and sounds great!
DMS says
L.G. Keltner- Thanks so much! We are so happy this sounds like a good book to you. 🙂 ~Jess and Stpehanie
Elizabeth Seckman says
That sounds like a great read! Reminds me of all the Judy Blume books I loved as a kid.
DMS says
Elizabeth- Thanks so much! We both loved Judy Blume growing up. 🙂 ~Jess and Stpehanie
Pat Hatt says
Great quote indeed, except maybe if you're a cat, they don't share lol
Congrats once more to both at their shore!
DMS says
Thanks, Pat! 🙂 ~Jess and Stpehanie
DMS says
Lee- We are glad you are feeling better. Thanks so much for having us on your blog. It is so much fun to catch up with your readers and we really appreciate all your support. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Sherry Ellis says
I'm in the middle of reading this book. It's really good!
DMS says
Sherry- Yeah! Glad you are enjoying it so far. Happy Reading! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Jemi Fraser says
Yay for the awesome Jess & Steph!!!
Love the reviews!!
DMS says
Jemi- Thanks for the good wishes and enthusiasm. We appreciate your support! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Patricia Lynne says
Congrats to Jessica and Stephanie!
Glad to have you back, Lee.
DMS says
Patricia Lynne- Thanks so much! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Chrys Fey says
They are everywhere! And look at those big reviews. Gosh, that is incredible.
Chrys Fey says
They are everywhere! And look at those big reviews. Gosh, that is incredible.
DMS says
Chrys- Awww! What a wonderful comment. Glad to see you on another one of our stops and thanks for all the kind words. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Ha, ha, Lee. We sure did the same post, except I forgot the pretty red shoes. A great quote too. So true.
Welcome back.
DMS says
Beverly- Thanks for visiting us here too. You did an amazing job on your post! The shoes are there in spirit. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
DEZMOND says
congrats to Fairday Morrow!
DMS says
Thanks, Dezmond! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Lexa Cain says
Yay for Jess and Steph! They worked a long time for this and I'm so happy to see them everywhere! Great deal on the 50% off on your book. I'll tweet you when I can. Have a great week! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks so much, Lexa. You've been very supportive and I appreciate that.
DMS says
Lexa- Thanks for your sweet words and support. We really appreciate it! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Lee- We agree with Lexa- awesome deal! We will help spread the word too! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – good to see you back and sharing Jess and Stephanie's book – it looks to be winning some readers … love the thought of it – cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
Always good to have new books to explore.
DMS says
Hilary- We are thrilled to see you on another one of our stops. Thanks for the good wishes. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Lee- We couldn't agree more! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Kelly Hashway says
Couldn't be happier for Jessica and Stephanie. I know they've been waiting for this release. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
It will be a fun read!
DMS says
Kelly- You are right! We have been waiting for a long time for this release. So amazing that it is here. Thanks for the good wishes. 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Lee- Thanks! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
L. Diane Wolfe says
Congrats to Jessica and Stephanie.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi, Diane!
DMS says
Diane- Thanks! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Christine Rains says
Congrats to Jessica and Stephanie! I've been seeing them everywhere lately. 🙂 Have a lovely week.
C. Lee McKenzie says
They're having a real blast off, aren't they?
DMS says
Christine and Lee- We are having tons of fun visiting blogs and getting to see some readers we know and meeting more of them. We are glad to see you at another stop, Christine! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Big congratulations to Jess and Stephanie!
And I like your quote of the week.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It seems like the right one for this time of year!
DMS says
We agree with Alex- great quote! Thanks for the good wishes, Alex! 🙂 ~Jess and Stephanie