"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."
Alex and Zoe Sherlock, their best friends Yadi and Lina, and their grandfather, a retired investigative reporter from the Miami Herald, form an unlikely team of sleuths traveling around South Florida in
a sweet Cadillac convertible named Roberta.
Key series elements include its distinctive South Florida setting, Grandpa's storage unit filled with cold cases from his days as a journalist, and a three-generational family living together.
In a starred review, Publisher's Weekly called the Sherlock Society "a worthy successor to classic kid mysteries that's entertaining, educational, and exciting." It has appeared on more than twenty state award lists and debuted at #2 on the New York Times Bestseller List and #1 on the Indie Bestseller List.
"This series is a celebration of intellectual reasoning's power to solve problems and build connections with others."
- School Library Journal
EXTRAS
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).
Along with their best friends: Yadi, an aspiring filmmaker, Lina, an avid bookworm, and their grandfather, a retired investigative reporter, they start searching for Al Capone's buried treasure.
That leads to a remote island in the Everglades, where they uncover evidence of corporate corruption.Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence, can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?
In a starred review, School Library Journal says the book is, "A must read; Ponti has crafted a delightful tale that combines humor, history, and heart into one captivating adventure. "
Simon & Schuster/Aladdin (2024)
Grades: 3 - 7/Ages: 8 - 12
ISBN13: 9781665932547
When a hurricane reveals new information in a cold case, the Sherlock Society investigates a sixty-year-old heist in this book Kirkus calls, "An engrossing caper with a cerebral tilt."
A category three hurricane hits Miami Beach and uncovers the body of a hotel bell captain buried sixty years ago…and the presumed culprit of the million-dollar jewel heist that took place just before his disappearance.
Since he clearly didn’t take off with the goods as had been long believed, the Sherlock Society sets their sights on uncovering the real culprit of the theft. Sixty years later, there are people who want the truth to stay buried.
Simon & Schuster/Aladdin (2025)
Grades: 3 - 7/Ages: 8 - 12
ISBN13: 9781665932561
The Sherlock Society’s latest case is tracking down stealth graffiti artist Funky Munky—well-known for their artistic statements calling out local politicians—on behalf of a developer who wants them to create a mural for a new hotel. Their investigation leads Alex, Zoe, Lina, and Yadi deep into the very colorful south Florida art scene.
But finding someone who doesn’t want to be found is challenging, and it doesn’t help that Miami Art Week is coming up, bringing lots of attention—and lots of new artists—to the area. The Sherlock Society’s best bet is an elaborate sting operation, which involves them picking up spray cans themselves. Can they trap their quarry without exposing themselves?
Simon & Schuster/Aladdin (2026)
Grades: 3 - 7/Ages: 8 - 12
ISBN13: 9781665983563
Extras
Book Trailer
I like to make book trailers for each of my books with my friend Patrick Devlin, who I worked with in television for nearly fifteen years.
Classroom Case Files Activities - Click to Download
Everything you need to bring The Sherlock Society into your classroom or library in one easy-to-access location! Includes discussion guides, activities, videos, and PowerPoints.
Curriculum Guides
First Chapter Read Alouds
Sherlock Society Map of Miami
For each Sherlock Society book the amazing Yaoyao Ma Van As creates a map of Miami for the endpapers of that book. This one is from Hurricane Heist.
All-Star Authors
Ever since I started writing The Sherlock Society, I asked a number of the biggest names in kid lit (many of whom who are also my friends) to put on a deerstalker hat and strike a Sherlock pose. Here are the results!
