Description

Pick-your-own-path and puzzle-packed mystery collide in the third book in Lauren Magaziner’s hilarious and interactive middle grade series. In the Case Closed books, the reader helps Carlos and his friends hunt ghosts at a haunted hotel.

In this wildly entertaining adventure, YOU pick which suspects to interview, which questions to ask, and which clues to follow. You pick the path—you crack the case!

Carlos Serrano is now officially an apprentice detective at Las Pistas Detective Agency. He finally earned his mom’s trust, but his next case will be his most difficult one yet. Guests at a creepy mountain hotel are complaining of weird disturbances, threatening messages, and hair-raising howls!

Carlos, along with his best friend, Eliza, and her wacky little brother, Frank, arrive on the scene to investigate a . . . ghost? What secrets is this haunted hotel hiding? With tricky puzzles, ghoulish secrets, ectoplasmic enemies, and dozens of impossible choices, these junior detectives need your sleuthing skills!

Can you help Carlos and his friends unravel the mystery before it’s too late? Or will it be case closed?

Middle grade readers will enjoy all four books in this favorite series: Mystery in the Mansion (#1), Stolen from the Studio (#2), Haunting at the Hotel (#3), and Danger on the Dig (#4)!

About the Author

Lauren Magaziner is the author of the Case Closed series, Wizardmatch, Pilfer Academy, and The Only Thing Worse than Witches. She is originally from New Hope, Pennsylvania, and she currently lives in Philadelphia, where she writes full-time. On Lauren’s Pairing Day, she bonded with her purrfect familiar: a warm, cuddly, and charmingly cantankerous cat. You can visit Lauren at laurenmagaziner.com.

Praise For…

PRAISE FOR BOOK 1 IN THE CASE CLOSED SERIES: “The ‘choose your own adventure’ format adds a fun twist, offering readers different options, like whom to interview, what to examine, and which clues to follow. An entertaining romp that will appeal to fans of humorous mysteries.” — School Library Journal

"The characters are real kids dealing with real worries. Carlos is so concerned about money that he takes on the near-impossible task of solving a case for his mother, but it’s this concern that makes him endearing. The various options mean the story takes on a new flavor with every reading. The puzzles are based in learning, so readers work to solve each clue before moving on to the next. Magaziner blends the fun of interactive stories with a suspenseful mystery and delightful characters." — Booklist

PRAISE FOR LAUREN MAGAZINER: “Humorous and engaging.” — ALA Booklist

“Readers will banish themselves from the ordinary world to finish this book in a flash.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“The kids’ slowly forming friendship has real grace and authenticity." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Hilarious, light-hearted debut would be a great read-aloud for middle grade classrooms.” — Library Media Connection