SECRETS OF THE BROKEN HOUSE, by Taryn Souders, Sourcebooks Young Readers, Jan. 6, 2026, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
A trio of friends set out to solve the murder of their town’s most disliked resident in Secrets of the Broken House, by Taryn Souders.
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.” —Synopsis provided by Sourcebooks Young Readers
Secrets of the Broken House is a fast-moving middle-grade mystery that has as many quirks as it has twists.
At the center of the story is Tucker, a kid who has a knack for observation. He’s so good, in fact, that his skills often impress and even stump adults. He’s a bright, engaging character who finds himself at the center of a murder mystery. And you can’t help but be glad he did.
In Secrets of the Broken House author Taryn Sounders has crafted a smart narrative that kids will immediately be drawn to. Sounders knows her audience, and her bright writing really draws you in. This would be a fun classroom read.
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