If you're looking for a totally fun mystery middle grade book, look no more!

The Secret Key is the very first novel in a brand new series by Lena Jones revolving around the adventures of Agatha Oddlow, a thirteen-year-old girl who's addicted to crime novels and wishes nothing more than to become a detective. And, she kind of is, already!

Due to her father's job, she lives in a small cabin in Hyde Park, which also happens to be the center of a few mysterious happenings. When things escalate and London's water supply is contaminated by a toxin, Agatha steps in to save the day!

An exceptionally-written novel, which kept you the readers in agony about what is going to happen next, how Agatha is going to get past each obstacle and what is really going on behind the scenes.
Considering this was the debut book of Lena Jones, I can't emphasize enough how impressed I was and how excitedly I'm waiting to read on in the series, as well as the future works of the author.

Our heroine is awesome, brilliant and accurately named after Agatha Christie. She is the perfect introduction to the famous crime novelist for young readers, who will grow up reading more mystery adventures!

I know, for one, I was captivated, mesmerized and set on reading the rest of Agatha Oddly's great adventures!

When I first started to read I thought, from the cover, that it was going to be aimed at a younger audience. I thought it was going to be aimed at 7+ and so would have less of the stress, it wasn’t and by George was it good!! I loved the back story or Agatha, loved her spunk and tenacity, loved her friendships and relationship with her dad. I cannot wait to read what happens next in her adventures.

This was utterly brilliant. A super smart, tightly plotted mystery with tonnes of heart. Charming and clever, it gave me serious modern MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE vibes. I sped through this story, and I have already pre-ordered the second book in the series.

A great mystery for middle grade with a heroine called Agatha Oddly who wants to be a private detective. When London's water supple is polluted and strange things appear to be happening Agatha feels it is time for her to try and find out what is going on. A really fast moving adventure with a strong and likeable heroine. Hopefully we will see more of her adventures in the future.

Agatha wants to follow in the footsteps of Hercule Poirot, the creation of her namesake Agatha Christie. So when an old woman is knocked off her bicycle, she begins to investigate. Her detective skills are seriously challenged when a mysterious red algae swamps London's water supply. Can Agatha and her sidekicks Liam and Brianna save the day and defeat the evil entrepreneur that is holding the city to ransom?

Agatha is a likeable and resourceful heroine, (mostly) happy to be a geek, and her friendship with Liam, and the hidden side to the initially cliquey Brianna give the story depth.

As an adult reader I always struggle with the 'child detective outsmarts the adults' storyline - but I'm not the target audience, and I think young readers will really enjoy following Agatha's exploits in future books.

4 1/2 stars My 9 year old bookworm loved Agatha's adventure. She devoured in two days.
She was pleased with the plot twists and the fact that it wasn't a super obvious whodunnit. She liked the supporting characters and the first person narration that helped with the suspense.
Not her usual genre but she would certainly be reading more from this author.

Every so often I change up my reading and read a middle grade book. Almost every time I realise how amazing they are and vow to read more. Never has the case been more true than with Agatha Oddly. This book isn't even released yet and I already want the next one!

This book was just fantastic. I started and finished it in a single day. I just couldn't separate myself from the wonderful, quirky personality that is Agatha. She's a 13 year old girl with more gumption than I had at that age or even have now in my late 20's.

Agatha is named after Agatha Christie and I think her special appreciation for Detective Poirot is going to introduce a new generation to those stories. I know at nearly 30 years old by the second mention of Hercule in this book I was ready to find out what I've been missing by not having ready Agatha Christie yet.

This book made a wonderful and refreshing change from all the romance novels I read. I am so looking to seeing where this exciting new series goes from here.