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Hayley Mysteries #1
The Hayley Mysteries: The Haunted Studio
The start to an exciting new middle grade mystery series from Youtube sensation Hayley LeBlanc! When Hayley is cast as the lead in a Nancy Drew like kids TV show, strange things start happening around the studio and she becomes a real life sleuth.
When Hayely LeBlanc is cast as the lead of a new Nancy Drew-like TV show, she's so excited...even if there are rumors of hauntings surrounding the Silver Screen Studios. It's LA, she thinks—there are ghost stories everywhere!
But to her surprise, strange things actually start happening as production ramps up. Lights flicker, cold blasts of air come out of nowhere, and one day the electricity is cut to the studio entirely with no clear cause. Can Hayley and her two best friends solve the mystery of the haunted studio...before it means curtains for their show?
When Hayely LeBlanc is cast as the lead of a new Nancy Drew-like TV show, she's so excited...even if there are rumors of hauntings surrounding the Silver Screen Studios. It's LA, she thinks—there are ghost stories everywhere!
But to her surprise, strange things actually start happening as production ramps up. Lights flicker, cold blasts of air come out of nowhere, and one day the electricity is cut to the studio entirely with no clear cause. Can Hayley and her two best friends solve the mystery of the haunted studio...before it means curtains for their show?
176 pages, Paperback
Published July 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
May 10, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
The first book of the Hayley Mysteries series is about Hayley and her friends Aubrey and Cody, three young actors on the TV mystery show "Sadie Solves It". While filming the second season of the show a ghost is sighted on the set and other strange things start happening around the studio. Is the studio really haunted or is someone trying to sabotage the production? The three kids start investigating trying to stop the show from getting cancelled.
It's a cute middle grade mytery about three kids being friends on and off stage who not only play detectives on a TV show but also find themselves solving a real mystery.
It is a good start to the series and I enjoyed the story, the cover art and the illustrations. The setting of the filming of a TV show is also an interesting background to the story.
However, in my opinion, there is still room for improvements.
First of all, it irritated me that the story is written in the present tense. I'm so used to books written in the past tense that it took me some time to stop stumbling upon every „I say“, „he goes“ or „she rolls her eyes“. Well, but maybe that's just me.
The characters are a little flat and the mystery could have been better elaborated with more clues along the way to build up suspense.
All in all, this is a good start into the series written by Hayley LeBlanc who is only a teenager herself. So hats off to the author for writing such a book at the age of 13. This is quite an accomplishment!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher SOURCEBOOK Kids for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.
The first book of the Hayley Mysteries series is about Hayley and her friends Aubrey and Cody, three young actors on the TV mystery show "Sadie Solves It". While filming the second season of the show a ghost is sighted on the set and other strange things start happening around the studio. Is the studio really haunted or is someone trying to sabotage the production? The three kids start investigating trying to stop the show from getting cancelled.
It's a cute middle grade mytery about three kids being friends on and off stage who not only play detectives on a TV show but also find themselves solving a real mystery.
It is a good start to the series and I enjoyed the story, the cover art and the illustrations. The setting of the filming of a TV show is also an interesting background to the story.
However, in my opinion, there is still room for improvements.
First of all, it irritated me that the story is written in the present tense. I'm so used to books written in the past tense that it took me some time to stop stumbling upon every „I say“, „he goes“ or „she rolls her eyes“. Well, but maybe that's just me.
The characters are a little flat and the mystery could have been better elaborated with more clues along the way to build up suspense.
All in all, this is a good start into the series written by Hayley LeBlanc who is only a teenager herself. So hats off to the author for writing such a book at the age of 13. This is quite an accomplishment!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher SOURCEBOOK Kids for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.
April 15, 2022
3.5 round up to 4.
When Hayley LeBlanc is cast as the lead of a new Nancy Drew-like TV show, she's so excited...even if there are rumors of hauntings surrounding the Silver Screen Studios. It's LA, she thinks-there are ghost stories everywhere!
But to her surprise, strange things actually start happening as production ramps up. Lights flicker, cold blasts of air come out of nowhere, and one day the electricity is cut to the studio entirely with no clear cause. Can Hayley and her two best friends solve the mystery of the haunted studio...before it means curtains for their show?
First of all let me say how impressed I am that this series has been created and written by a teenager!!! Wow go you girl and what a fantastic series written for other middle grade/YA readers.
Hayley Mysteries gave me Gooseumps, Nancy Drew/Scooby gang vibes and was a fun and exciting read trying to figure out (alongside Hayley and the gang) what was going on and who or what the culprit was.
My only qualm was at times the story was a little too ‘casual’ and chatty and I would have liked to have seen more descriptive flair to build up the tension and suspense.
But otherwise a great quick read that I am sure will be a hit!
When Hayley LeBlanc is cast as the lead of a new Nancy Drew-like TV show, she's so excited...even if there are rumors of hauntings surrounding the Silver Screen Studios. It's LA, she thinks-there are ghost stories everywhere!
But to her surprise, strange things actually start happening as production ramps up. Lights flicker, cold blasts of air come out of nowhere, and one day the electricity is cut to the studio entirely with no clear cause. Can Hayley and her two best friends solve the mystery of the haunted studio...before it means curtains for their show?
First of all let me say how impressed I am that this series has been created and written by a teenager!!! Wow go you girl and what a fantastic series written for other middle grade/YA readers.
Hayley Mysteries gave me Gooseumps, Nancy Drew/Scooby gang vibes and was a fun and exciting read trying to figure out (alongside Hayley and the gang) what was going on and who or what the culprit was.
My only qualm was at times the story was a little too ‘casual’ and chatty and I would have liked to have seen more descriptive flair to build up the tension and suspense.
But otherwise a great quick read that I am sure will be a hit!
January 1, 2022
When the whole production moves to a new set, strange things begin to happen. Weird people are seen, accidents that were never a problem now become one. Is the new set haunted?
Fair disclaimer: I know nothing about the author, since I tend to be in different corners of YouTube. I wanted to read this because it ticked the right boxes: Middlegrade, crime solving, possible ghost haunting.
I can say nothing about how this ties in with her content, but I can say that I have my doubts about this being written by a thirteen year old, based on what my own writing looked. And the whole marketing screams franchise, just look at the title.
Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the book itself.
The book is illustrated, and the illustration were one of the things I liked most about this. Black and white, heavy use of white liners, but cute.
Another thing I liked was that the two boys one girl group was changed to two girls one boy, and that the boy in case happened to have two mothers. It's just how it is, it was no big deal.
That's the queer rep we need.
Onwards to the problems I had, and the first one is what ruined this for me: The characters are flat. They don't feel like real people. The plot was straight out lifted from Scooby Do, but where Scooby and the Gang have comedy, this story had nothing. So I guess cardboard cut-outs were also lifted out of Scooby Do, but again, Scooby brought something else to the table so you could ignore that.
I think this might be the case of middlegrade where it will appeal to the target audience, but if you're outside it, you won't have much fun. Which is okay. But since I was the reader this time, this is my review, this is my rating.
Won't read more from the author and recommendations only for young readers.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
Fair disclaimer: I know nothing about the author, since I tend to be in different corners of YouTube. I wanted to read this because it ticked the right boxes: Middlegrade, crime solving, possible ghost haunting.
I can say nothing about how this ties in with her content, but I can say that I have my doubts about this being written by a thirteen year old, based on what my own writing looked. And the whole marketing screams franchise, just look at the title.
Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about the book itself.
The book is illustrated, and the illustration were one of the things I liked most about this. Black and white, heavy use of white liners, but cute.
Another thing I liked was that the two boys one girl group was changed to two girls one boy, and that the boy in case happened to have two mothers. It's just how it is, it was no big deal.
That's the queer rep we need.
Onwards to the problems I had, and the first one is what ruined this for me: The characters are flat. They don't feel like real people. The plot was straight out lifted from Scooby Do, but where Scooby and the Gang have comedy, this story had nothing. So I guess cardboard cut-outs were also lifted out of Scooby Do, but again, Scooby brought something else to the table so you could ignore that.
I think this might be the case of middlegrade where it will appeal to the target audience, but if you're outside it, you won't have much fun. Which is okay. But since I was the reader this time, this is my review, this is my rating.
Won't read more from the author and recommendations only for young readers.
The arc was provided by the publisher.
April 26, 2022
Review to Come closer to publication.
July 15, 2022
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
I just HAD TO HAVE this book! It features many things that I so so love. Like movie sets, a mystery (is it a haunting or not), strange things going bump during scenes and the art (going by the cover) seemed to be WOW and hoped there would be more of it in the book. And after reading… well I can tell you that this is one series I need more of in my life. So much fun to read!
Meet Hayley a girl who is part of a fun TV-show for a while and she is looking forward to the new season and all the fun things she will do! I really liked Hayley from the start. She was fun, strong, brave, and I loved how she could become the character. I can imagine that she is the leader of the trio and she shows that even more later on in the books when things get really spooky and a bit more scary. I loved that even if it gets scary she stays brave and thinks of a plan, involves her friends, and tries all she can to save her show!
Next up with her two friends: Aubrey and Cody! I really liked both of them and I was very much rooting for Cody! That the show would go on, that his future is pretty much secure, and that his moms and his little brother would move over to LA. Because for now one of the moms is in Texas with the little brother whereas the other mom is with Cody. But you can imagine that this is just not working. Everyone is missing everyone. It is not a permanent solution. So I was hoping that Hayley and her friends would be able to save the show!
I loved that we get to see parts of the show. Both in being acted out and also by having Hayley read parts of the script. I also love how the book integrated the mystery at the moment with the mystery in the story and I loved seeing Hayley pick some reference points from there. Things to do. That there are always twists and turns.
The mystery was a delight! Was it really a haunting? Was it something else? As the story went on and things got a bit more creepy I started forming some theories and with those theories came suspects! I don’t want to go in it too deep, but it was great puzzling and figuring out things along with Hayley and her friends. See what was really going on!
I did think that the blurb should be adjusted. The story is about Hayley being part of the show, yes, a Nancy Drew-like show, yes. But she isn’t cast, it isn’t new, it isn’t just starting. Actually, this is the second season of the show and all that is new is where they are shooting the show from. Namely a study near Hollywood instead of a tiny study further away.
I am not sure how I feel about Amelia. Especially in the beginning I just wanted to yeet her off the set and into the Hollywood Hills. A little drama-queen, nosy, and OH LORD that my horoscope this and you are such an ARIIIIESS rolls eyes. She did get better as the story continued and she showed some good sides to herself that she should show more often. I would have rather liked her to be more a background character and not a part of the our trio when the mystery thickens. I think it would have worked for me if she was part in let’s say books 2 or maybe even 3, but right from book 1? While I am still getting a feel on this friendship trio and what makes them tick? Too soon in my eyes.
I absolutely LOVED LOVED the illustrations! They were just fantastic and oh so much fun. I loved how detailed they were.
All in all, this book got quite spooky! I loved the mystery! I would highly recommend this one and I am looking forward to the next book. And yes, I will be adding both books (and whatever comes) to my shelves when they come out!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I just HAD TO HAVE this book! It features many things that I so so love. Like movie sets, a mystery (is it a haunting or not), strange things going bump during scenes and the art (going by the cover) seemed to be WOW and hoped there would be more of it in the book. And after reading… well I can tell you that this is one series I need more of in my life. So much fun to read!
Meet Hayley a girl who is part of a fun TV-show for a while and she is looking forward to the new season and all the fun things she will do! I really liked Hayley from the start. She was fun, strong, brave, and I loved how she could become the character. I can imagine that she is the leader of the trio and she shows that even more later on in the books when things get really spooky and a bit more scary. I loved that even if it gets scary she stays brave and thinks of a plan, involves her friends, and tries all she can to save her show!
Next up with her two friends: Aubrey and Cody! I really liked both of them and I was very much rooting for Cody! That the show would go on, that his future is pretty much secure, and that his moms and his little brother would move over to LA. Because for now one of the moms is in Texas with the little brother whereas the other mom is with Cody. But you can imagine that this is just not working. Everyone is missing everyone. It is not a permanent solution. So I was hoping that Hayley and her friends would be able to save the show!
I loved that we get to see parts of the show. Both in being acted out and also by having Hayley read parts of the script. I also love how the book integrated the mystery at the moment with the mystery in the story and I loved seeing Hayley pick some reference points from there. Things to do. That there are always twists and turns.
The mystery was a delight! Was it really a haunting? Was it something else? As the story went on and things got a bit more creepy I started forming some theories and with those theories came suspects! I don’t want to go in it too deep, but it was great puzzling and figuring out things along with Hayley and her friends. See what was really going on!
I did think that the blurb should be adjusted. The story is about Hayley being part of the show, yes, a Nancy Drew-like show, yes. But she isn’t cast, it isn’t new, it isn’t just starting. Actually, this is the second season of the show and all that is new is where they are shooting the show from. Namely a study near Hollywood instead of a tiny study further away.
I am not sure how I feel about Amelia. Especially in the beginning I just wanted to yeet her off the set and into the Hollywood Hills. A little drama-queen, nosy, and OH LORD that my horoscope this and you are such an ARIIIIESS rolls eyes. She did get better as the story continued and she showed some good sides to herself that she should show more often. I would have rather liked her to be more a background character and not a part of the our trio when the mystery thickens. I think it would have worked for me if she was part in let’s say books 2 or maybe even 3, but right from book 1? While I am still getting a feel on this friendship trio and what makes them tick? Too soon in my eyes.
I absolutely LOVED LOVED the illustrations! They were just fantastic and oh so much fun. I loved how detailed they were.
All in all, this book got quite spooky! I loved the mystery! I would highly recommend this one and I am looking forward to the next book. And yes, I will be adding both books (and whatever comes) to my shelves when they come out!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 4, 2022
The book is interesting
July 25, 2022
Three tweens filming a kid's tv detective show find a mystery on the set for their second season. Will a ghost scare everyone away? Will "accidents" injure the lead actors? Will delays and cost overruns cancel the show?
Hayley, the star of Sadie Solves It, and her co-stars (and best friends) Aubrey and Cody have a giant task ahead.
Everything depends on solving this mystery and saving the show--before the old Hollywood studio comes crashing down around them!
This is a fun behind-the scenes view of 12 and 13 year old kids filming a tv series (not too bogged down in minutiae), plus lively sifting through suspects to find the most suspicious subjects. (A chapter book and quick read!)
Recommended for any reading age that can understand the subject, and I hope Miss LeBlanc writes many more for the series!
4/5 Stars Nearly 5.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this free and fun preview ebook! The review is voluntary.
#TheHayleyMysteriesTheHauntedStudio
#NetGalley
#TheHayleyMysteriesBook1
#SourcebooksKids
#SourcebooksYoungReaders
#HayleyLeBlanc #HayleyLeBlancAuth
#MiddleGradeMysteryandThrillers
#ChildrensMysteryandThrillers
#ChildrensFictionTravelMystery
#ChildrensPerformingArtsFiction
#ChildrensSpineChillingHorror
#ChildrensMysteryDetectiveSpy
#MiddleGradeSpineChillingHorror
#MiddleGradeMysteryDetectiveSpy
Notes:
More details like the water tower that make the places and people more real to us. People's imperfections, incidental sounds--just occasional touches. Try to include more senses than just visual. More happening, less telling us what is happening.
(When Aubrey was making cookies, the scene was a disaster, but the description was scattered and confusing. I've made hundreds of cookies and never had flour spilled on me anywhere; it's very difficult to get it in ones hair. Virtually impossible to get it on the ceiling without special talent. No rolling pin needed for oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies, and a typo says some are "cooking" on a rack in the corner.)
Hayley, the star of Sadie Solves It, and her co-stars (and best friends) Aubrey and Cody have a giant task ahead.
Everything depends on solving this mystery and saving the show--before the old Hollywood studio comes crashing down around them!
This is a fun behind-the scenes view of 12 and 13 year old kids filming a tv series (not too bogged down in minutiae), plus lively sifting through suspects to find the most suspicious subjects. (A chapter book and quick read!)
Recommended for any reading age that can understand the subject, and I hope Miss LeBlanc writes many more for the series!
4/5 Stars Nearly 5.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this free and fun preview ebook! The review is voluntary.
#TheHayleyMysteriesTheHauntedStudio
#NetGalley
#TheHayleyMysteriesBook1
#SourcebooksKids
#SourcebooksYoungReaders
#HayleyLeBlanc #HayleyLeBlancAuth
#MiddleGradeMysteryandThrillers
#ChildrensMysteryandThrillers
#ChildrensFictionTravelMystery
#ChildrensPerformingArtsFiction
#ChildrensSpineChillingHorror
#ChildrensMysteryDetectiveSpy
#MiddleGradeSpineChillingHorror
#MiddleGradeMysteryDetectiveSpy
Notes:
More details like the water tower that make the places and people more real to us. People's imperfections, incidental sounds--just occasional touches. Try to include more senses than just visual. More happening, less telling us what is happening.
(When Aubrey was making cookies, the scene was a disaster, but the description was scattered and confusing. I've made hundreds of cookies and never had flour spilled on me anywhere; it's very difficult to get it in ones hair. Virtually impossible to get it on the ceiling without special talent. No rolling pin needed for oatmeal or chocolate chip cookies, and a typo says some are "cooking" on a rack in the corner.)
March 20, 2022
The Hayley Mysteries: The Haunted Studio by Hayley LeBlanc was a fun quick read and I hope there will be more books in this series. Make sure to grab your copy on August 19th! Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Kids for this advanced copy.
January 22, 2023
For a very young rider, this isn't bad. However, I'm not a fan of when authors write themselves into a story. Overall, not my kind of book, and I don't think it's because it is targeted for a younger audience since I do read kids books. The story itself just didn't hold my interest.
April 9, 2025
I read this in one sitting last year. I just forgot to post a review. I forgot all my thoughts on the book except I think it was a fun plot and I do recommend reading. 👍
Happy reading
Happy reading
July 6, 2022
For starters, I recived this book as an eARC from Netgalley. The publishers were nice enough to turn on auto-approvals for me for all their Netgalley titles. This was the first book I chose to use that gift on and I was not dissapointed. Before I get into how good this book was, let me say the one negative thing about this story. It was too short. It ended too quickly and would've liked it to be 50 more pages. Now that the ONE negative is out of the way, let me tell you why I loved this book.
Aside from being an avid reader and reviewer who dabbles in writing I love to act. This book delves deep into what being an actor is really like, especially if you are a child actor. So from page one, when the author describes the setting, I was in love and it only got better from there.
Loving mystery, this was a perfect ode to the iconic teen sleuth, Nancy Drew. I am a big fan of mysteries and ghost stories, and this was a perfect blend of both. It was a modern take on ND for the modern person. But the characters aren't as generic as ND. Each of the characters in The Hayley Mysteries are fleshed out and well developed. Hayley, the main girl, is everything you would want in a child. Smart, brave, talented, and witty. The characters were not mean to one another, and all had the same passion, acting, so it was nice to see them grow as people, on and off the set. That's all I have to say on the characters, now let's move on.
The story was fast paced and was impossible to not be interested in what was going on. Something was always happening, a clue here, a clue there. The mystery both haunts the characters on and off set, blending the two. this book is everything I dream of when I think of myself as an actor, and what being on set is like. Hijinx, friends, fun fun, lots of food during lunch, basically my heaven
OVERALL:
I loved this young Middle Grade book and would recommend it to any mystery fan or a fan of acting. I loved book one, and can't wait for book two to come out. I hope this will become the next Nancy Drew series.
Aside from being an avid reader and reviewer who dabbles in writing I love to act. This book delves deep into what being an actor is really like, especially if you are a child actor. So from page one, when the author describes the setting, I was in love and it only got better from there.
Loving mystery, this was a perfect ode to the iconic teen sleuth, Nancy Drew. I am a big fan of mysteries and ghost stories, and this was a perfect blend of both. It was a modern take on ND for the modern person. But the characters aren't as generic as ND. Each of the characters in The Hayley Mysteries are fleshed out and well developed. Hayley, the main girl, is everything you would want in a child. Smart, brave, talented, and witty. The characters were not mean to one another, and all had the same passion, acting, so it was nice to see them grow as people, on and off the set. That's all I have to say on the characters, now let's move on.
The story was fast paced and was impossible to not be interested in what was going on. Something was always happening, a clue here, a clue there. The mystery both haunts the characters on and off set, blending the two. this book is everything I dream of when I think of myself as an actor, and what being on set is like. Hijinx, friends, fun fun, lots of food during lunch, basically my heaven
OVERALL:
I loved this young Middle Grade book and would recommend it to any mystery fan or a fan of acting. I loved book one, and can't wait for book two to come out. I hope this will become the next Nancy Drew series.
April 12, 2022
A fun new middle-grade mystery series with a touch of Scooby-Doo that will have fans of Hayley LeBlanc hooked.
In the first book of The Hayley Mysteries Series, we are introduced to a trio of young actors and best friends that solve an unexpected mystery: a ghost in their film studio. While on set filming the second season of their mystery show Sadie Solves It, the three friends find themselves thrown into a real enigmatic adventure that could jeopardize their success: a ghost. Strange things are happening at Studio 5 in Hollywood but is the studio really haunted, or could someone else be trying to ruin everything?
I thought it was a fun mystery to solve with the three characters. It reminded me a lot of Scooby-Doo, although this series is missing the humour that is so prevalent in Scooby-Doo. I liked the characters, even though Hayley could use a little more background and personality. Cody and Aubrey just seem a little more well-rounded. Even little annoying Amelia is more interesting than Hayley. Other than that, the story makes sense and is well written, although I’m wondering how much guidance Hayley LeBlanc received as she was approached by the publisher to write a book series.
The first thing I thought after finishing was that this could be a stand-alone book and that I couldn’t imagine how anyone could spin other mysteries in this environment, but after a couple of days of pondering, I concluded that there probably could be more to tell. And if this one is a success (with two already ready to follow) then I’m sure literary imagination can go anywhere.
I recommend this series to young mystery solvers that like to be slightly spooked.
In the first book of The Hayley Mysteries Series, we are introduced to a trio of young actors and best friends that solve an unexpected mystery: a ghost in their film studio. While on set filming the second season of their mystery show Sadie Solves It, the three friends find themselves thrown into a real enigmatic adventure that could jeopardize their success: a ghost. Strange things are happening at Studio 5 in Hollywood but is the studio really haunted, or could someone else be trying to ruin everything?
I thought it was a fun mystery to solve with the three characters. It reminded me a lot of Scooby-Doo, although this series is missing the humour that is so prevalent in Scooby-Doo. I liked the characters, even though Hayley could use a little more background and personality. Cody and Aubrey just seem a little more well-rounded. Even little annoying Amelia is more interesting than Hayley. Other than that, the story makes sense and is well written, although I’m wondering how much guidance Hayley LeBlanc received as she was approached by the publisher to write a book series.
The first thing I thought after finishing was that this could be a stand-alone book and that I couldn’t imagine how anyone could spin other mysteries in this environment, but after a couple of days of pondering, I concluded that there probably could be more to tell. And if this one is a success (with two already ready to follow) then I’m sure literary imagination can go anywhere.
I recommend this series to young mystery solvers that like to be slightly spooked.
March 13, 2022
This book is a middle grade chapter book about a girl named Hayley who is the star of a kids mystery tv series, and also solves mysteries of her own. There are about 20 chapters, and about 5 pages per chapter bringing this book in at about 180 pages. Each chapter has a very detailed black and white picture, some take up a whole page while others are small. The illustrations are definitely in the popular style and would draw in children much like the cover would. In addition, it is written by a 13-year-old social media influencer, so I think that would bring in the pre-teens as well! It is a mystery so there are a few “scary” elements but it is mostly just things like a small fire that everyone easily escapes or a “ghost” in the rafters. Definitely nothing for parents or teachers to be worried about. The story also has some positive lessons such as friendship, working together and being kind to others.
I could definitely see my Grade 3 students reading and enjoying this book. It is a slightly longer early chapterbook but I think that it wouldn’t be too intimidating for new chapterbook readers. I would recommend this book for children in grades 2-5, with the target audience probably being grades 3&4.
I really appreciate the opportunity from Netgalley and the publisher to read and review an advance copy of this book! I am looking forward to purchasing a copy for my students in the future!
I could definitely see my Grade 3 students reading and enjoying this book. It is a slightly longer early chapterbook but I think that it wouldn’t be too intimidating for new chapterbook readers. I would recommend this book for children in grades 2-5, with the target audience probably being grades 3&4.
I really appreciate the opportunity from Netgalley and the publisher to read and review an advance copy of this book! I am looking forward to purchasing a copy for my students in the future!
July 16, 2022
Thank you @netgalley and @sourcebookskids for sending me an E-arc of this book! 🔎 This book is published on the 19th of July 2022.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: In the first book of a middle-grade mystery series by Hayley Leblanc, we follow 13-year-old Hayley who is preparing to film the second season of a Nancy Drew-like kids show in which she plays the lead.
But strange things begin happening at the studios. Lights flicker and fall from the ceiling, cold air appears from nowhere, and accidents happening with no clear cause. And rumours of a ghost haunting the studio spark imaginations to run wild.
It’s up to Hayley and her two best friends to solve the mystery, just like their TV counterparts, before there show is cancelled!
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: I enjoyed this books a lot and managed to read it within 24 hours. A relatively short read that I would recommend for kids that love a good mystery, for kids that love ghost stories, and even for kids who want an insight into Hollywood. There was something super endearing about the characters and friendships in this book that makes me think the author really drew from her own experiences with acting. I look forward to seeing what happens in the upcoming sequel too.
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭: In the first book of a middle-grade mystery series by Hayley Leblanc, we follow 13-year-old Hayley who is preparing to film the second season of a Nancy Drew-like kids show in which she plays the lead.
But strange things begin happening at the studios. Lights flicker and fall from the ceiling, cold air appears from nowhere, and accidents happening with no clear cause. And rumours of a ghost haunting the studio spark imaginations to run wild.
It’s up to Hayley and her two best friends to solve the mystery, just like their TV counterparts, before there show is cancelled!
𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: I enjoyed this books a lot and managed to read it within 24 hours. A relatively short read that I would recommend for kids that love a good mystery, for kids that love ghost stories, and even for kids who want an insight into Hollywood. There was something super endearing about the characters and friendships in this book that makes me think the author really drew from her own experiences with acting. I look forward to seeing what happens in the upcoming sequel too.
March 17, 2023
If you love mysteries, this is the perfect read for girls aged 8-12 years old. Growing up, I loved Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton, and Harriet the Spy books and so this was quite a fun read. The book starts on the set of the TV show Sadie Solves It where our main girl Hayley plays the detective Sadie along with her two best friends. The season has been renewed for a second season and has moved to Hollywood. The cast is anxious to start the new series, but what happens when they are told the story of a ghost named Betty who wanders the stage? When strange things start happening during filming, they put it down to a ghost but ghosts aren't real, are they? Now with their show in the balance, Hayley and her friends are on a journey to solve the mystery of "The Haunted Studio" before their show ends up in the line of another series of cancelled TV shows. The other awesome thing that I loved about this book was that the author is a teenager herself at only 13 years old. I am now looking forward to reading more adventures of Hayley and her friends - the modern Scooby Doo gang.
April 29, 2024
The Haunted Studio was a simple junior high mystery novel with a cute cover and an enticing hook, but unfortunately that's all it had going for it.
I didn't realize until reading the author's bio that she was thirteen when this was published. That's an admirable and impressive accomplishment for any age, especially someone so young. It's not my intention to admonish her work, however, I do want to address the problems I had with it. The characters were all bland cardboard cut-outs of each other with no true depth or humor to them. LeBlanc's writing style fell flat; its tone was simplistic, the showing was hardly expressive, and the mystery itself was lacking. The Haunted Studio did have a few redeeming factors, but not many. The illustrations were fun, and I enjoyed Hayley's friendship with Aubrey and Cody. Amelia was annoying (as intended) but had a pleasant reveal at the end. Overall, it was an easy read with a nice wrap-up, but I doubt if I'll read the final two books in the series.
I didn't realize until reading the author's bio that she was thirteen when this was published. That's an admirable and impressive accomplishment for any age, especially someone so young. It's not my intention to admonish her work, however, I do want to address the problems I had with it. The characters were all bland cardboard cut-outs of each other with no true depth or humor to them. LeBlanc's writing style fell flat; its tone was simplistic, the showing was hardly expressive, and the mystery itself was lacking. The Haunted Studio did have a few redeeming factors, but not many. The illustrations were fun, and I enjoyed Hayley's friendship with Aubrey and Cody. Amelia was annoying (as intended) but had a pleasant reveal at the end. Overall, it was an easy read with a nice wrap-up, but I doubt if I'll read the final two books in the series.
April 2, 2022
With thanks to NetGalley and the Sourcebooks Young Reader for an early copy in exchange for a honest review.
The book takes place on a television set in holiday and follows a group of three friends who are actors on the show, as they uncover the mystery of who is sabotaging their second season of their show “Sadie Solves It”. They play kid detectives on their tv show and now are solving real mystery.
The mystery of who is the “ghost” kept me guessing and once the person was revealed, said person was never actually on my suspect list, which is good!
I also really enjoyed the occasionally references to Hollywood landmarks and the snippets of how things work on a tv show set.
My main detest to this book was when the children used a spirit board to contact the “ghost”. As a mother of three ranging from ages 6-10, it is not a book I would choose for our family library because of this.
The book takes place on a television set in holiday and follows a group of three friends who are actors on the show, as they uncover the mystery of who is sabotaging their second season of their show “Sadie Solves It”. They play kid detectives on their tv show and now are solving real mystery.
The mystery of who is the “ghost” kept me guessing and once the person was revealed, said person was never actually on my suspect list, which is good!
I also really enjoyed the occasionally references to Hollywood landmarks and the snippets of how things work on a tv show set.
My main detest to this book was when the children used a spirit board to contact the “ghost”. As a mother of three ranging from ages 6-10, it is not a book I would choose for our family library because of this.
April 14, 2022
hayley is casted in a kids tv show but upon getting there some mysterious thing start happening, and she was told it is the studio's ghost. hayley and her two best friends get together to try to solve this spooky mystery. there are cute photos throughout the book. this is a middle grade book for young readers, the cover is cute for a middle grade book, it's fun to read, has the spooky element since it is involving solving the mystery of a ghost. the story is easy to follow and does give me the nancy drew, scooby doo vibes since it is involving young kids. there are 20 chapters but each chapter is only 4-6 pages long and some have a page for photo as well. the book is 185 pages including cover, title page, photos. The back of the book says this book is for 8 years old + and i agree. this is a great debut for this hayley mystery series.
August 3, 2022
I loved this MG mystery book. This was super fun, enjoyable, and a quick read. This is about Hayley, who is cast as the lead in a Nancy Drew-type kids TV show, and how weird things start happening around the studio, so she gets a chance to become a real-life sleuth to figure out what's going on. Hayley and her friends get to work on solving a haunting of the studio set.
I read this all in one sitting and was left wanting more. It was super light-hearted and so much fun. Such an entertaining and fantastic Middle Grade read. I can't wait to read more of this series. If you love Nancy Drew/amateur kid sleuths, middle-grade mysteries, and light-hearted and heartwarming stories, then check this one out.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids/Sourcebooks Young Readers for letting me read and review this cute and fabulous book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read this all in one sitting and was left wanting more. It was super light-hearted and so much fun. Such an entertaining and fantastic Middle Grade read. I can't wait to read more of this series. If you love Nancy Drew/amateur kid sleuths, middle-grade mysteries, and light-hearted and heartwarming stories, then check this one out.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Kids/Sourcebooks Young Readers for letting me read and review this cute and fabulous book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 13, 2024
I love a good mystery book. This is kind of one of those that has a mystery within a mystery because of the characters that are involved. How cool to have kids that are actors turn sleuths. The story line runs along their "lines" as Haley and her team "solve" the clues in the TV series, real-life clues are revealed.
This book kept me going with each page turn. I wanted to know who done it and just when I think I had it figured out...Twist! I loved the suspense, the fun, all the surprises that went with this book.
Included in this book were some great illustrations. They were all in black in white but they added to what was already a good book.
I give this book 4 starts.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
This book kept me going with each page turn. I wanted to know who done it and just when I think I had it figured out...Twist! I loved the suspense, the fun, all the surprises that went with this book.
Included in this book were some great illustrations. They were all in black in white but they added to what was already a good book.
I give this book 4 starts.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
June 27, 2023
I enjoyed this middle grade mystery story with all of the characters within. The main characters were Hayley and her two friends.
Hayley and her two friends are actors in the TV show called "Sadie Solves it". They are firming at Silver Screen studio and one of the people that are helping tells Hayley and her friends that the studio is haunted. Hayley and her friends try to find the ghost or the person that is making things stop them from filming the show. Because the show must finished.
This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. It had a few giggles and laughs within. It was fun trying to solve the mystery within. This was the first story of three in the series.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.
Hayley and her two friends are actors in the TV show called "Sadie Solves it". They are firming at Silver Screen studio and one of the people that are helping tells Hayley and her friends that the studio is haunted. Hayley and her friends try to find the ghost or the person that is making things stop them from filming the show. Because the show must finished.
This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. It had a few giggles and laughs within. It was fun trying to solve the mystery within. This was the first story of three in the series.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinions.
March 18, 2022
My 12-yo daughter saw the cover of this book and begged to read it. So here is her review:
Really good as a series. Great character development from the start. Relatable friendships. Some of the problems that the characters face are relatable. Keeps the reader interested. Good plot twists. Good ending for a series opener.
I would have liked it to have more problems, more dead ends, and more clues as they tried to solve the mystery.
But I can’t wait for the next book!
4.9 out of 5 stars. (Rounded up to 5)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the change to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Really good as a series. Great character development from the start. Relatable friendships. Some of the problems that the characters face are relatable. Keeps the reader interested. Good plot twists. Good ending for a series opener.
I would have liked it to have more problems, more dead ends, and more clues as they tried to solve the mystery.
But I can’t wait for the next book!
4.9 out of 5 stars. (Rounded up to 5)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the change to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2022
3.5 ⭐
The Hayley Mysteries: The Haunted Studio was a short, fun, and entertaining middle grade read. The premise is catchy and it has small illustrations peppered into the pages, which I really enjoyed. Some of the narrative did seem like over-explaining and I would have liked a bit more of character development but besides that, the story was thought out and fresh. I liked investigating with Hayley and her friends and I loved the parallel of how they go from playing on-screen detectives to real life ones. Perfect for the intended audience and a great start for the series.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebook Kids for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
The Hayley Mysteries: The Haunted Studio was a short, fun, and entertaining middle grade read. The premise is catchy and it has small illustrations peppered into the pages, which I really enjoyed. Some of the narrative did seem like over-explaining and I would have liked a bit more of character development but besides that, the story was thought out and fresh. I liked investigating with Hayley and her friends and I loved the parallel of how they go from playing on-screen detectives to real life ones. Perfect for the intended audience and a great start for the series.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebook Kids for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review*
March 20, 2024
This is one of my favorite books of this year. A book written by a child actor about a child actor just makes the whole story feel very authentic. Add in a mystery, some co-star friends, and a lot of spooky sets and strange ghostly activities, and you've got the makings of a great book.
I really enjoyed reading this and watching the kids figure out the puzzle. The answer might seem a little obvious, but it's still a good time, and I'll be back to read more in this series. Definitely recommended for kids who like mysteries or who like a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite TV shows.
I really enjoyed reading this and watching the kids figure out the puzzle. The answer might seem a little obvious, but it's still a good time, and I'll be back to read more in this series. Definitely recommended for kids who like mysteries or who like a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes of their favorite TV shows.
June 21, 2022
3.5/5
Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew and young aspiring actors, The Hayley Mysteries is a fast paced, fun mystery that follows Hayley and her two friends who are convinced a ghost is haunting a set in Hollywood.
I can definitely see young readers enjoying this book, trying to figure out the mystery of the ghost, without it being too scary.
I really loved the illustrated art style dotted throughout in this to help tell the story further which is always appreciated by younger readers.
I do wish the characters had a little more of a backstory to them and their personalities explained and explored more but overall I think this was an enjoyable read for the target audience.
Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew and young aspiring actors, The Hayley Mysteries is a fast paced, fun mystery that follows Hayley and her two friends who are convinced a ghost is haunting a set in Hollywood.
I can definitely see young readers enjoying this book, trying to figure out the mystery of the ghost, without it being too scary.
I really loved the illustrated art style dotted throughout in this to help tell the story further which is always appreciated by younger readers.
I do wish the characters had a little more of a backstory to them and their personalities explained and explored more but overall I think this was an enjoyable read for the target audience.
August 17, 2022
Considering I am not the target demographic for this book, I actually really enjoyed it. I grew up watching Bratayley on YouTube and have continued to follow Hayley and her sister since then so I was keen to check this series out. A really solid middle grade mystery. I love that Hayley has been given such a large role in getting this book written and published. Definitely recommend to a younger audience then myself!
June 26, 2022
The book was ok, it is a middle school read and easy to understand. Yet the writing felt repetitive and the storyline was predictable. Even with all of these flaws, it was still a decent and enjoyable read, seeing Sadie and the character she plays stories together is interesting. The sideline characters like her friends and their families were diverse as well. Overall, a 3 star read.
July 11, 2022
This book is. Fine. It’s cozy, it’s middle-grade, it’s age-appropriate. The big problem with it is that none of the characters have any flaws, so absolutely no character development can happen over the course of the story. The entire time I just wished that I was reading SMALL SPACES again. Three stars. LOVE the cover though.
April 20, 2023
Needed a pallet clense and figured I would pick up one of the books that I had gotten for one of my kids that they seemed to enjoy. Read it in a few hours and in all honesty it was a fun quick read and it was just what I needed to reinvigorate myself. I recommend this for anyone who has young readers who enjoy a little mystery to solve.
August 23, 2025
I picked this one from my library because I liked the cute art style, the characters looked detailed and cool. I also liked the rational character Cody and the main character Hayley. I like the thespian setting and the mystery. Also, Amelia was an ironic and funny character with her love of astrology, I have met a lot of amelia’s in my life hehe.
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