The Secret Key (Agatha Oddly)

Good book for middle school kids

The Secret Key by Lena Jones follows Agatha Oddlow as she embarks on her first real case.Will Agatha Oddlow solve her first big case?Agatha Oddlow has read all of Agatha Christie's novels, including Hercule Poirot, who is her favorite of Agatha's characters, and like him, wants to be a detective. Her mom encouraged this, but with her mom being gone, her dad wants Agatha to try and not get into any more trouble. She has been going to St. Regis School on a scholarship for a whole year and is finishing her second year when she starts being a troublemaker for her teachers.Agatha isn't afraid of being who she is; I admire that in a thirteen-year-old. With this knowledge, she has met Liam Lau, who she befriended last year, and may have also befriended someone new this time. Agatha and her friend(s) are on the case of London's water being tainted.The MysteryOn her way to school one day, Agatha witnesses a hit-and-run with an old lady and a motorbike. Agatha sets out to see why someone wants to target the old lady, a professor studying water for a living. Later that same day, she finds, along with the rest of London, red algae coming through the septic system of the City of London. Oddlow Agency is on the case as Agatha doesn't want to let this go despite the many threats she has received herself and about the people she cares about, especially when her mom had known the old lady who was hit. Also, the key Agatha finds connects her mom and the old lady. Will Agatha and her friend(s) solve the case before she gets hurt? Or anyone else?Five StarsI am giving The Secret Key by Lena Jones five stars and recommending it to any middle grader to read. It's a great tale that makes you think you are in London with Agatha, Liam, and everyone else trying to solve this mystery. The collaborators who make up Lena Jones did a fantastic job crafting this story. I had a suspicious feeling about a character that keeps turning up when the Oddlow Agency doesn't except it.I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Secret Key by Lena Jones.Until the next time,Karen the Baroness

Amazing book, always going to touch peoples hearts, I wish there were more books like this published, well doneBy the way,loved it

Es el libro que buscaba para el colegio de mi hijo. Lo recomiendo!

I would say that this is an Action-Adventure-Mystery book, not just mystery. And Agatha is a good attractive character, and she saves London against evil. In another couple of books, she just might save the world.

Wow wow WOW. This was so epically AMAZING. Such a great detective mystery MG, & I love the way this was done. Meet 13 year-old Agatha Oddly – a bold, determined heroine. 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, & 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…Agatha is a PHENOMENAL MC. I fell absolutely in love with her. She is named after THE Agatha lol, & she definitely lives up to the name. She is smart, resourceful, sneaky, charming, calculating, imaginative, kind, brave, & so much more..not to mention interesting & highly entertaining. She has a need for adventure, & a love for investigating. She definitely isn’t afraid to take risks. I love that she has a wardrobe of disguises too. I love the way she “changes channel”, can flip through her “memory filing cabinets”, so to speak lol, with her photographic memory. I loved the secondary mystery we slowly learn about concerning her moms past & her death, & of course absolutely loved the main mystery with the water, the mystery attacker, etc. Everything was so intriguing & gripping from the mysteries, to the key, the underground tunnels, & more. I LOVED her dad. What a great guy. Loved his job, & the setting of their little “garden cottage”, especially Agatha’s room-such vivid writing I could picture myself there. Her best friend Liam is also the absolute BEST. I loved their dynamic, & he really grounds her(as much as Agatha can be lol). They made an amazing team. Great humor in here as well. This is full of danger, adventure, mystery, suspense, friendship, intrigue, imagination, & more. HIGHLY recommend! BEAUTIFUL cover by Alba Filella too.💜

School girl detective investigates real mystery. Very standard plot for young readers. Nicely done, but not special in any way. Do like the current art work on the cover.

*This review is based on an advanced copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.Agatha Oddly: The Secret Key is delightful fun from beginning to end. And truth be told — I haven’t been this excited about a series in a long time. It first appeared in the UK last year, and it looks like Books 2 and 3 of the Agatha Oddly series are scheduled for release in January and June of 2020.I received a UK version for review, and I hope the US one doesn’t differ too much. British English is slightly different than American, but I think changing it would remove the charm. After all, Agatha is British. Her adventures play out around London. Context here is key.I read The Secret Key in one sitting. Agatha is an engaging character who you want to see succeed. Her supporting characters are equally as interested, and I can’t wait to see what other scrapes this young detective gets into.