ARC Review: The Secret Key (Agatha Oddly #1) by Lena Jones

Meet thirteen-year-old Agatha Oddly – a bold, determined heroine, and the star of a stylish new detective series.

Agatha Oddlow has been a detective for as long as she can remember – she’s just been waiting for her first big case. And nothing gets bigger than saving the City of London from some strange goings-on.

With a scholarship to the prestigious St Regis School, a cottage in the middle of Hyde Park, a room full of beloved sleuthing novels, and a secret key that gives her access to a whole hidden side of London, Agatha is perfectly poised to solve the mystery of what’s going on. But just who can she trust when no one is quite who they seem…

Disclaimer: I was provided with a Physical copy of the book by Harper Collins India in exchange for an honest review. However, all the thoughts, feelings and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I remember falling in love with mysteries and adventures when I was first introduced to Nancy Drew – I fancied myself to be a detective; seeing secrets to be unraveled everywhere I went – this was the reason why I fell in love with reading; for it gave me a chance to see the world around me with new eyes.

The Secret Key, the first in a new series, reminded me exactly of that feeling – it was a nostalgic moment to be reminded of the reason why I fell in love with reading in the first place!

The Secret Key follows the ambition of Agatha Oddly; a thirteen year old girl who loves solving mysteries; she has even started her own Detective Agency with her best friend, Liam – but her big break comes when she sees an old woman run down by a biker – and find a tattoo of a key on her arm. Soon London discovers that their water supply has been contaminated and that sets her, and she brings along her best friend, Liam, on her adventure.

This was a fun, adventure filled mystery – even at times, to the point of life threatening danger; but since this fiction, I was totally along for the ride! I loved everything about the book; even if there were a few unfinished threads (and one glaring mistake of information!) that were left hanging, not the arching story arc of course; but of this current mystery, that left me a bit without closure!

This is a series that I will definitely recommend every one who is a fan of Nancy Drew, Famous Five & Hardy Boys; a middle grade fiction that is the start to a wonderful new series!