
- Publisher: Sourcebooks Young Readers
- ISBN: 172827141X
- Published: July 11, 2023
From the Edgar-nominated author of Coop Knows the Scoop comes an exciting mystery perfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and Holes.
When Grady and his dad learn that the town oddball, Eudora “Kooky” Klinch left something for them in her will, they can only imagine what it might be. When it turns out it’s an old scrap of 300-year-old tapestry, they are bitterly disappointed. But the cloth comes with a note saying, “This is no ordinary piece of needlework. It’s a treasure map. Riddles and Clues. To the victor go the riches.” Grady’s dad dismisses it, but Grady thinks this could be the chance of a lifetime. With the help of his friends Thad, Clemmie, and the town dog Ophelia, Grady is determined to crack the clues and find the treasure.
But when someone tries to break into Grady’s house one night, and then the local antiques expert who examined the tapestry is found unconscious, Grady realizes that he’s not the only one who knows about the treasure map. There’s more at risk than he bargained for, and solving this mystery just got a lot more dangerous.
“Like a sumptuous Sunday supper, Taryn Souders has served up a feast with decidedly Southern flavors. It’s a twisty mystery that reminds us that small towns are built on secrets and adventure lies just outside your window.”
—James Ponti, award-winning author of the Dead City series, FRAMED! series, and City Spies series, and the Edgar Award wining book, VANISHED!
“Taryn Souders has done it again. I loved COOP, so I strongly suspected I’d enjoy this one as well. I was hooked from page one. Fantastic voice, quirky small town dynamics, lovable characters you can’t help but root for and a clever mystery all rolled into one.”
—Lindsay Currie, award-winning author of The Girl in White, Scritch Scratch, What Lives in the Woods, and It Found Us
“The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle is a fantastic mix of mystery, history, friendship, and heart. Taryn Souders is masterful at weaving clues and suspense to create a riveting story that you won’t want to put down!”
—Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of Invisible, The Bluest Sky, and the Edgar Award winning book, Concealed
“Taryn is one of the best mystery writers around, and I think this latest book of hers is her very best. Great characters, a completely unique premise, pacing that makes the book impossible to put down, and — if that wasn’t plenty amazing already — a whole bunch of brilliant wordplay. I read the book in a single day, and only wish I could somehow erase the solution/conclusion from my mind so I could go back and enjoy it all over again!”
—Jarrett Lerner, award-winning author of several award-winning books, including the 2023 Global Read Aloud selection, A Work in Progress
“An entertaining, riddle-focused mystery . . . Themes of family and hope are directly and carefully addressed in this gripping narrative.”
—Kirkus Review
“Souders appealingly intertwines a compassionate community and a grieving boy’s struggle to connect with his father to deliver a rewarding mystery.”
—Publisher’s Weekly
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