Last summer, my wife and I were traveling through Asheville, North Carolina, so of course we had to stop at the famous Malaprop’s bookstore, where I came across Sisterhood of Sleuths. I recognized the author as my former student at St. Mary’s College of California, Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Jenn was a wonderful writer at St. Mary’s, and she’s made a great career in children’s books, authoring many popular books including the New York Times bestselling Book Scavenger series.
When I went to check out at Malaprop’s, the bookseller told me she’d read Sisterhood of Sleuths, too, and loved it, especially the author’s fresh take on the Nancy Drew series. 
I was proud to say I knew the author. Back at the hotel, I immediately dug in and couldn’t stop reading.
As you can guess, Sisterhood of Sleuths is a mystery. The main character, Maizy, discovers an old photo of her grandmother tucked into a collection of Nancy Drew books that someone left at her mother’s thrift store. As Maizy juggles friendship troubles and a big school project, she investigates the photo and the origin of the books. Her sleuthing turns up lots of very interesting facts about the Nancy Drew series, including its origins and how it changed over the years.
As a character, Maizy is a delight and worthy of the Nancy Drew legacy. In addition to the mystery, the book addresses friendship across generations. Because it’s a mystery, I’m not going to give away its plot. Let’s just say it’s full of twists and turns and surprises—everything you’d expect from a good mystery.
I read some of the Nancy Drew books with my daughter when she was young, and I wish I’d had Sisterhood of Sleuths to read with her back then!
If you’re a Nancy Drew fan—or any kind of mystery fan—Sisterhood of Sleuths is a must. Even if you’re not (and even if you’ve never heard of Nancy Drew), you’ll find this book fresh and fun. Give it a read!
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