Review by Booklist Review
If Only Murders in the Building were a book starring 12-year-olds, this would be it. Roya and Amin are a podcasting duo who report on mysteries in New York City. When their neighbor, Thea, knocks on their door, they learn of a message hidden in the wall that leads them on a scavenger hunt created by Thea's grandfather, Errol. Errol is still alive but dealing with failing memory from dementia, so the hunt is a way for Thea to learn about her family's past while solving a mystery. As the only nonartist in her family, she often feels alone, and readers will see her start to open up as she gains two new friends and heals some of the issues with her family. There are callbacks to the previous book (The Queen of Ocean Parkway, 2024) that will entice readers to go back, but it is not necessary to understand the plotline. With more complex clue gathering than the average middle-grade mystery, this is a good choice for readers who enjoy puzzling through a challenging case.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--In this charming follow up to The Queen of Ocean Parkway, 12-year-old Thea Lim-Lambert is home in Brooklyn for the summer while her artist parents prepare for a new gallery show. Even though the Queen is technically her home, Thea doesn't feel like she belongs there since her family spends most of the year traveling. With her older sister off at college and her parents busy with their show, Thea is feeling lonely. When she stumbles upon the first clue in a treasure hunt addressed to "the Lambert of the future," she decides to reach out to her neighbors for help. Podcasters and sleuths Roya and Amin are thrilled at the prospect of another mystery to solve right inside their building. The trio teams up to solve a series of tricky clues left by Thea's grandpa Errol, who has Alzheimer's and can't really help decipher them. Part mystery, part journey of self-discovery, part lesson on how to let others in when you've gotten used to going at it alone, this is a delightful story of friendship, family, and community featuring a diverse array of characters. Errol's Alzheimer's and its impact on Thea's family is an important part of the plot and character development, offering readers a vital window or mirror for similar family dynamics. VERDICT A definite first purchase that can be read as a standalone or as part of its series.--Dana West
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two New York City friends have a new mystery to solve in their venerable apartment building in this sequel to 2024'sThe Queen of Ocean Parkway. Roya's grief over the loss of her beloved Baba is slightly abated by keeping busy solving mysteries with her friend Amin and recording their podcast. Their neighbor Thea Lim-Lambert has discovered her great-grandfather Declan's fantastical secret room hidden behind a closet containing intricately carved wooden doors and drawers, her grandfather Errol's boyhood journal, and a note addressed to a "Lambert of the Future," which provides a clue for a scavenger hunt in the building that leads to a valuable treasure. After Thea asks the two sleuths to help her solve this complicated mystery, the friends use their considerable skills to decipher Errol's baffling clues, dealing with setbacks and triumphs and supporting each other through side adventures along the way. Thea sees herself as inadequate and unseen in her talented, artistic family and has difficulty accepting that Roya and Amin could be her real friends. In a nice twist, Errol, who has Alzheimer's, has some heart-tugging lucid moments that help provide further information. The mystery is compelling, with lots of surprises and a very satisfying conclusion. Readers will love visiting Brooklyn with these exceedingly clever, kind, and compassionate characters. Thea is cued Korean and white, Amin presents Indian American, and the previous book established Roya as Iranian American. Final art not seen. An inventive puzzle filled with tenderness and warmth.(Mystery. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
