The Fairfleet Affair (A&A Detective Agency #1)

A complex, cinematic, and eclectic page-turner.

Tension rises and falls, but the pace of the narrative never falters, and readers will enjoy seeing the puzzle pieces fall into place during the satisfying conclusion. A smart, involving first novel.

Indian American Asha Singh and her best friend Alex Foster, who reads as white, are the 12-year-old founders of A&A Detective Agency, which they run out of Alex's backyard tree house. Though they haven't yet had an official opportunity to exercise their investigative skills, the pair are dedicated sleuths who believe that their knowledge of their town's history--and their rapport with Dr. Alistair Fairfleet, one of Northbrook's most prominent citizens--is the key to legitimizing their agency. When Dr. Fairfleet goes missing on the day of a solar eclipse, Asha and Alex, along with numerous museum directors, receive cryptic messages containing clues about what happened to him. As the tweens decode the messages, many of which include quotes from King Lear, they become embroiled in a wild treasure hunt through the various museums, a local performing arts center, and Dr. Fairfleet's home. But what starts as a missing persons case devolves into something even more nefarious involving blackmail, forgery, and smuggling. Despite thinly characterized protagonists, the intricate plot--jam-packed with brain teasers, convoluted twists, and red herrings--keeps readers in suspense while neatly paving the way for a sequel in Saxton's series-starting debut. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"If you are a fan of The Westing Game, Chasing Vermeer, or The Parker Inheritance, you will love The A&A Detective Agency: The Fairfleet Affair! K.H. Saxton gives readers two whip-smart kid detectives, hands them a mystery worthy of their skills, and mixes in some challenging history that's been hidden for years. It's a delight to see Asha and Alex solve clues and help some clueless adults right a wrong. I can't wait for the next book!" —Margaret Peterson Haddix, New York Times bestselling author of the Greystone Secrets series

"I absolutely adored this book! The A&A Detective Agency: The Fairfleet Affair is a perfectly paced mystery full of humor and memorable characters. The backdrop of curating art and exhibits for museums, and the ethics involved, is fascinating. Alex and Asha are a smart and funny detective duo, and I enjoyed their friendship as much as I enjoyed figuring out the clues alongside them. I hope this is the first of many mysteries with the A&A Detective Agency!" —Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, New York Times-bestselling author of the Book Scavenger series and Sisterhood of Sleuths.

"Saxton reveals a knack for constructing a mystery, planting baffling clues, and creating interesting characters of varied ages. Tension rises and falls, but the pace of the narrative never falters, and readers will enjoy seeing the puzzle pieces fall into place during the satisfying conclusion. A smart, involving first novel."—Booklist