Skip to Main Content

The Sherlock Society

LIST PRICE $18.99

PRICE MAY VARY BY RETAILER

Free shipping when you spend $40. Terms apply.

Buy from Other Retailers

See More Retailers

About The Book

In the tradition of Nancy Drew, four kids and one grandfather in Miami tackle a decades-old mystery in this first book full of “atmosphere, history, and lively humor” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in the Sherlock Society middle grade series from New York Times bestselling, Edgar Award–winning author James Ponti!

Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.

The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.

Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?

Appearances

APR 26
12:00:00
in person
Old Town Books
In Person
130 S Royal St
Alexandria, VA 22314
SEP 2
17:30:00
in person
Books & Books
In Person
In conversation with Christina Diaz Gonzalez
265 Aragon Ave
Coral Gables, FL 33134
SEP 3
18:00:00
in person
Little Shop of Stories
In Person
133 E Court Square #A
Decatur, GA 30030
SEP 4
18:00:00
in person
George Washington Middle School
In Person
In conversation with Jason Reynolds
1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301
SEP 5
18:30:00
in person
Parnassus Books
In Person
In conversation with Christina Soontornvat
3900 Hillsboro Pike #14
Nashville, TN 37215
SEP 6
18:00:00
in person
An Unlikely Story
In Person
In conversation with J. A. Dauber
111 South St
Plainville, MA 02762

Excerpt

Chapter 1: Biscayne Bay 1 Biscayne Bay
MAYBE IF OUR LAST NAME was Baker, we would’ve sold cupcakes. Or if it was Walker, we might’ve taken care of people’s dogs while they were on vacation. But it’s Sherlock, so starting a detective agency just seemed like the thing to do. Especially compared to more traditional middle school moneymaking schemes like babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty).

My name is Alex Sherlock. I’m twelve years old, and my sister, Zoe, is thirteen. We’d had enough of bratty kids and weed-filled yards and wanted something new and exciting for summer. Tempted by the lure of adventure, we jumped at the chance to become detectives.

Then, three weeks later, we had to jump into Biscayne Bay. That’s because we were passengers on a yacht that exploded. (Okay, maybe we were more like “stowaways” than “passengers,” but let’s not focus on that part yet.) Just know that while Sweet Caroline was sinking to the ocean floor, we were clinging to floating debris and trying to figure out how to make it back to land. In every way imaginable, we were in over our heads. And as we treaded water with the acrid stench of burning fiberglass in the air, boring and sweaty suddenly didn’t sound so bad.

“We should’ve mowed lawns,” I said, looking up at the plume of black smoke spiraling into the sky.

“Ya think?” Zoe responded, giving me the stink eye as she tried to wrap her arms around a cooler that was bobbing up and down in the water. “What gave it away? The explosion? Or the sinking ship?”

“Technically, it’s a ‘boat,’ not a ‘ship,’?” I replied, instantly regretting my words.

“Are you seriously correcting my vocabulary out here in the ocean?” she exclaimed. “Who are you trying to impress?”

Even in this stressful situation, I couldn’t help myself. “Whom.”

Her face scrunched up like she was trying to stop her head from exploding, and I thought she might drown me right then and there. “Do you know what your problem is? You don’t know when to—”

Plonk.

She was interrupted by a bright orange life vest that bopped her on the head. Another one landed right in front of me, splashing my face.

“Stop arguing and put these on,” our grandfather said as he dog-paddled toward us. “You’re wasting energy, and we’ve got real problems to solve.”

“Problems, plural?” Zoe asked. “You mean there’s something more to worry about than making it to shore without becoming shark bait?”

“Sharks aren’t a concern. If you run into one, all you’ve got to do is punch it in the snout and gouge out its eyes,” he said, as if that was no big thing. “The apex predator that worries me here is your mother. She’s going to blame me for this.”

He had a point. Even though it had been our idea to sneak onto the yacht, as the responsible adult in the room where the plan was hatched, he probably should’ve at least tried to talk us out of it.

According to the business cards Zoe insisted we have professionally printed, Grandpa was Director of Transportation and Logistics for the Sherlock Society. This was a fancy way of saying he drove us around in his old-school Cadillac convertible. But Grandpa being Grandpa, he did more than just drive. He was great at problem-solving in the field (he figured out where to hide on the yacht) and often noticed things Zoe and I overlooked (hello, life preservers).

“What about you?” I asked, while trying to wriggle into mine. “There’re only two vests but three of us. Why don’t Zoe and I share one so you can have the other?”

“I don’t need a life preserver,” he scoffed, his pride wounded. “I’m like a fish. I’ve told you I swam the four-hundred individual medley in college. They called me the Barracuda.”

“We know,” I said, because he mentioned it at least once a month. “But it’s a lot farther than four hundred yards to the shore.”

“Besides,” Zoe added, “that was, like, nine presidents ago.”

He shot her an indignant look and was no doubt about to make his oft-repeated claim of being the healthiest seventy-three-year-old in Coconut Grove when we heard the shrill sound of an approaching siren.

“And the hits just keep on coming,” Grandpa moaned. “Now we’ve got cops.”

Zoe and I turned to see a Marine Patrol boat racing to the rescue. We were elated, but Grandpa seemed dismayed.

“You two get your vests buckled and wave them over,” he said, his voice quickening. “They’ll pluck you out of the water and get you back to safety.”

“Don’t you mean pluck us out and get us back?” I asked, confused.

“You’re minors, they’ll go easy on you,” he replied. “But I’ve got something of a checkered history with the Miami Police Department. I’m going to swim for it.”

“Swim for it?” Zoe asked incredulous. “You think you can outrace a Marine Patrol boat?”

“Four minutes, thirty-seven point two seconds,” Grandpa replied, proudly reciting his best time from college. “This stretch of water is the old boat racecourse. I’m going to speed through it just like those powerboats did when I was a kid.”

Before we could try to reason with him, he began swimming toward a hulking concrete grandstand known as Miami Marine Stadium. Long abandoned and covered with graffiti, it was where fans had once come out to watch boat races.

“Powerboat?” Zoe called out to him. “More like pedal boat!”

He gurgled back an unintelligible retort and kept on swimming.

As the police neared the wreckage, we got their attention by waving our arms and blowing on whistles attached to the life vests. There were two officers onboard, Sanchez and Del Castillo. (I know their names because our mother made us send each of them thank-you notes for saving our lives, as well as handwritten three-hundred-word essays titled “I Promise Not to Be Stupid Around the Water Again.”)

Sanchez was driving. As they got close, she put the engine on idle as Del Castillo leaned over the side and reached out to us with a long pole called a boat hook.

“Are either of you hurt?” he asked.

“No,” Zoe answered as we grabbed it, and he pulled us in. “We’re fine. No injuries.”

Sanchez came over to help. “What about the others? Is anyone still onboard?”

“They escaped on Jet Skis right before the explosion,” I answered. “It’s just us.”

The officers shared a confused look, and Del Castillo asked, “Why’d they leave you?”

“Uh, they may not have realized we were onboard,” I admitted sheepishly, not wanting to delve too deeply into the Pandora’s box of our stowaway status. “It’s complicated.”

“What about him?” Sanchez motioned toward Grandpa, who was moving through the water at a very un-barracuda-like speed. “Is he complicated too?”

“More than you can possibly imagine,” Zoe replied.

Once we were onboard, they ran us through a quick battery of tests to make sure we weren’t in shock and didn’t have concussions. Then they began what was undoubtedly the slowest chase in the history of the Miami Police Department. We puttered alongside Grandpa until he finally gave up his swim for freedom and raised his hands in surrender. He’d only made it about 150 yards, not even half the distance he swam in college and nowhere close to reaching the stadium.

After receiving some emergency oxygen and chugging a bottle of Gatorade, he managed to catch his breath long enough to proclaim, “We answer no questions without our attorney present.” He started to say something else, but instead decided to lie down on a padded bench and stay quiet.

Reading Group Guide

Reading Group Guide

The Sherlock Society

By James Ponti

About the Book

Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency must be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases. The group’s first target is a long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown, Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption. Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?

Discussion Questions

1. As The Sherlock Society begins, Alex tells readers, “Maybe if our last name was Baker, we would’ve sold cupcakes. Or if it was Walker, we might’ve taken care of people’s dogs . . . But it’s Sherlock, so starting a detective agency just seemed like the thing to do.” (Chapter one) What does this opening indicate about the motivation, interests, and personalities of the Sherlock siblings?

2. At the start of the book, readers find Alex, Zoe, and their grandpa in the waters of Biscayne Bay, clinging to debris after evacuating a boat before its explosion, and Alex declares, “‘We should’ve mowed lawns.’” (Chapter one) Based on what you learn about Alex and the adventures had by the Sherlock Society, do you believe his statement to be a true indicator of how he feels? Why or why not?

3. While Zoe offers her concerns about becoming shark bait, Grandpa wisely tells her, “‘Sharks aren’t a concern. If you run into one, all you’ve got to do is punch it in the snout and gouge out its eyes. . . . The apex predator that worries me here is your mother. She’s going to blame me for this.’” (Chapter one) In what ways is Grandpa wise to fear his daughter’s reactions to their current situation?

4. After getting life preservers to Alex and Zoe and upon the realization of the impending arrival of the Miami Marine Patrol, Grandpa tells his grandchildren that he has a “checkered history” with the police. Based on what you’ve learned about him, what might be some reasons for his complicated relationship with the police?

5. What are some ways that the group’s prior experiences in an escape room might give them useful skills to help solve the mysteries they encounter? Have you ever participated in an escape room, and if you have, what was the experience like?

6. At the beginning of the novel, Zoe is difficult, seemingly quick to anger, and generally frustrated and unhappy with those around her, especially her parents. Based on your reading of The Sherlock Society, how does her participation in this investigation and working with her brother and newfound friends change her?

7. Which character do you most identify with throughout the novel? Using examples from the book, explain why you relate to this character.

8. Though Grandpa’s official title is Director of Transportation and Logistics for the Sherlock Society, besides driving around his grandkids and the other members of the society as they investigate, what are his other contributions to the group’s efforts?

9. After setting up a meeting with the Sherlock Society as a possible client named Desperate Dan, Alex and Zoe’s mom approaches them with one of their flyers and asks, “‘Who is the mastermind behind this colossally bad idea?’” (Chapter seven) Consider her reaction to learning of their business venture. Do you think their mom is overreacting or do you think she is right to be concerned? Explain your answer.

10. Grandpa tells the group, “‘A journalist and a detective are the same thing. A mystery is nothing more than a story missing its ending.’” (Chapter ten) In what ways do you agree or disagree with Grandpa’s statement?

11. Considering what they find in there, why does Grandpa’s vault, with his forty-six years of materials saved from his time as a journalist, seem so appealing to the Sherlock Society?

12. After a conversation about whether to continue looking for Capone’s money or to pivot to a search for the culprits of the environmental damage done in the slough, Zoe tells Yadi and the group that, though there is no reward, “‘This just happened, and we need to find out who did it. . . . The reward is doing what’s right, not what’s easy.’” (Chapter eighteen) How does Zoe’s statement help Alex realize that his sister has returned to the caring and kind person she was before? If you were in a similar position where you had a chance to search for a treasure or to try to find the culprit in a crime, which would you choose?

13. What makes Grandpa’s 1964 Cadillac, “Roberta,” so special to him? Do you have something you own that you’ve treasured for much of your life? If so, what is it, and what makes it so special to you?

14. Based on what you witness throughout the novel, what are some of the specific ways Yadi and Lina prove themselves to be good friends to Alex and Zoe?

15. After discovering the ecological damage being done in their community, the Sherlock Society makes it their mission to find the culprit and help see them brought to justice. Have you ever been witness to a wrongdoing? Did you handle the situation in a manner you are proud of? If not, what would you do differently now?

16. After considering Morris Kane’s behavior toward them during his video interview, Yadi shares his doubts that Kane could be the type of person okay with hazardous waste being dumped into the Everglades. Zoe retorts and shares, “‘That’s because you don’t hang around with the same people I do. . . . You’re honest, so you expect others to be honest too. . . . You’d be amazed at how phony people can be. He talks a good game, but he’s only concerned with himself.’” (Chapter twenty-six) Based on what you’ve learned about her school friends, what do you think Zoe is trying to tell him?

17. After Zoe states, “‘You know what they say about Miami,’” Yadi, Lina, and Alex reply in unison, “‘A sunny place filled with shady people.’” (Chapter thirty-two) Why do you think Miami has such a colorful reputation? Have you ever had a chance to visit? If so, what was your impression?

18. Given what she’s had to do to keep them out of legal trouble, do you believe the Sherlocks’ mother is too hard on Alex and Zoe, or is her reaction justified? Why or why not?

19. Consider the conclusion of the novel. What do you predict will happen in the next installment of the Sherlock Society series?

Extension Activities

1. From the events in The Sherlock Society, readers are introduced to the US Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security and their work in investigating crimes here in the United States. Have readers use what they learned to create a short essay, presentation, or debate about the best and worst parts of these jobs.

o What are the primary functions of the Treasury Department and the Department of Homeland Security in the United States?

o What are their primary duties, and what types of investigative campaigns do these organizations undertake?

o What are the criteria for working as an agent?

o What other types of crime do these organizations investigate?

o What other agencies have dedicated departments that investigate crimes similar to those committed in The Sherlock Society?

2. As the Sherlock Society decides what their first investigation should be focused on, they agree to search for Al Capone’s missing one-million-dollar treasure, believed to be buried. Alex says, “‘The game is afoot.’” (Chapter nine) Have readers investigate the meaning and origin of this expression: How does it tie back to the fictional character of detective Sherlock Holmes and the legacy of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic character, including the ways his legacy lives on in modern media and entertainment? After gathering these important connections to the Sherlock name, ask readers to apply what they’ve learned to the Sherlock siblings and their friends. What are the ways in which the Sherlock Society functions under similar motivations as the legendary Sherlock Holmes?

3. While reading The Sherlock Society, readers learn that Florida’s coastal ecosystem, such as the Everglades, and the world’s oceans are in danger from a variety of human-led activities. Working in groups, examine the National Wildlife Federation and the Environmental Protectional Agency website resources here: https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Waters/Great-Waters-Restoration/Everglades and https://www.epa.gov/sourcewaterprotection/how-can-you-help-protect-source-water. While reading and examining these resources, have students journal or create a “What I’ve Learned” notes page, detailing what information is new to them, and why they believe it to be significant. After finishing, be sure they share their findings with others.

4. As the Sherlock Society works on their inquiry about Capone, they learn about Jack Roland Murphy, a jewel thief believed to have stolen the Eagle Diamond from the American Museum of National History. The gem was never recovered. Have readers learn more about Jack Roland Murphy by first reading coverage in Smithsonian Magazine and the New York Times: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-three-amateur-jewel-thieves-made-new-yorks-most-precious-gems-180949885/ and https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/05/nyregion/murph-the-surf-jewel-heist.html.

After discussing as a class or group what was learned from the articles, ask readers to use library and internet resources to learn more about the American Museum of Natural History:

o Where is the American Museum of Natural History located?

o When was it established?

o What’s the museum’s size, and how many items are in its collection?

o How many visitors does it have annually?

o What are some of the most celebrated treasures in the collection? Why was the theft of the Eagle Diamond and other gems noteworthy?

After completing their research, have students share their knowledge with their peers. For an extension, similar to the interest in Capone’s missing treasure and the Eagle Diamond, are there other missing treasures that pique their interest? Allow readers to explore and share.

5. As Grandpa gets the group started in their training to do detective work, he takes them through a journalism bootcamp, focusing on the five Ws: who, what, when, where, and why. Then he teaches them that solving a mystery is like a story missing its ending. Give readers a chance to conduct their own investigation on a topic of high interest to them using the five Ws framework. After time spent “investigating,” allow them to share what they learned in a manner of choice.

6. In the novel, the Sherlock siblings, along with their friends Lina and Yadi, focus their energy by solving the mystery of a missing treasure believed to be the property of notorious gangster Al Capone during his time in Miami and Southern Florida. Begin by reading the FBI’s famous case report here: https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/al-capone.

After reading, ask readers to summarize what they learned about the gangster and then focus their own research on Capone’s life after prison and specifically on the time he spent in Palm Island, Florida. Upon completion, lead a discussion about their collective findings.

7. Special Agent Eliot Ness remains one of the most famous federal agents, and he led a team known as “The Untouchables.” Begin by learning more about Ness here: https://www.atf.gov/our-history/eliot-ness.

After reading and discussion, work in pairs to make a list of additional questions you have about the Capone case or any other interesting work Ness and his team participated in during their tenure as agents. Exchange questions with another team, and see if they can find answers to the other team’s questions. After conducting more research, have readers report back what they learned to one another.

8. In addition to being fascinated by conspiracy theories of all kinds, Sherlock Society member Yadi shares a fascination with the existence of cryptids, such as the skunk ape, Florida’s version of Bigfoot. Learn more about cryptids here: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/cryptids.htm.

After an examination of cryptids that are believed to be located in the Florida region, offer readers a chance to do more investigating on other cryptids around the world. Have individuals share more about their favorite cryptid finds and the local lore behind these creatures.

9. In The Sherlock Society, author James Ponti goes to great lengths to help readers better understand the complexity of the biodiversity of the geographic region of South Florida. Using the library and trusted internet resources, learn more about the Florida Everglades, being sure to focus on this unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species, as well as the Everglades National Park. Alternatively, have readers look at photos and Google images to create a map of the specific locations mentioned in the book, such as Domino Park, Biscayne Bay, Palm Island, and more, making sure to denote any specific descriptions of the area.

This guide was created by Dr. Rose Brock. Rose is an associate professor in the Library Science Department in the College of Education at Sam Houston State University and holds a Ph.D. in Library Science, specializing in children’s and young adult literature.

This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.

About The Author

Elena Seibert Photography
James Ponti

James Ponti is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida. Find out more at JamesPonti.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Aladdin (September 3, 2024)
  • Length: 352 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781665932530
  • Ages: 8 - 12
  • Fountas & Pinnell™ W These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System

Raves and Reviews

* "A must-read; Ponti has crafted a delightful tale that combines humor, history, and heart into one captivating adventure."

–SLJ, starred review

"An environmental mystery featuring lots of clever detecting, a bit of danger, and real felonies to investigate."

Kirkus Reviews

* "With an eye for atmosphere, history, and lively humor, Ponti brings the South Florida setting, as well as its quick-witted inhabitants, to vivid life, making for a worthy successor to classic kid mysteries that’s entertaining, educational, and exciting."

–Publishers Weekly, starred review

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: James Ponti