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MK's Detective Club #2

The Double Trouble Puzzle

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Discover Nancy Drew for a new generation, packed with thrills, chills, and even laughs—from #1 bestselling mystery maven James Patterson.

Minerva Keen is the absolute best kid detective Chicago has ever seen, and she’s hungry for a new mystery to solve with her friends. But a know-it-all new girl, Zoe, tries to take control of MK’s detective club. Worse still, Ms. Claire Voyant, who has always had a soft spot for Minerva, takes Zoe's side. It’s clear to Minerva that someone…or something has taken over her favorite teacher.

Add in terrifying nightmares, the return of Minerva’s parents (who come home with more dangerous baggage than just their luggage), and some shocking developments—MK’s Detective Club just might have more mysteries than they can solve. With nowhere to turn, the club walks right into danger…and the stakes just might be deadly.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2025

53 people are currently reading
103 people want to read

About the author

James Patterson

940 books354k followers
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James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Endrit Nikqi.
59 reviews5 followers
January 13, 2025
Note: I received a DRC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
“Discover Nancy Drew for a new generation, packed with thrills, chills, and even laughs—from #1 bestselling mystery maven James Patterson.

Minerva Keen is the absolute best kid detective Chicago has ever seen, and she’s hungry for a new mystery to solve with her friends. But a know-it-all new girl, Zoe, tries to take control of MK’s detective club. Worse still, Ms. Claire Voyant, who has always had a soft spot for Minerva, takes Zoe's side. It’s clear to Minerva that someone…or something has taken over her favorite teacher.

Add in terrifying nightmares, the return of Minerva’s parents (who come home with more dangerous baggage than just their luggage), and some shocking developments—MK’s Detective Club just might have more mysteries than they can solve. With nowhere to turn, the club walks right into danger…and the stakes just might be deadly”.

The first book in the series was fun, but I found this book to be a very disappointing sequel. The book took some generic ideas and made a story out of them that still isn’t fun or interesting. The ending of the book was fun, but the beginning of this book just dragged on for ages. I'm not a big fan of the new character, Zoe, either. Also, I thought that Minerva constantly thinking that her teacher was actually someone else due to watching a scary movie was really annoying, and the reveal that this was true made me roll my eyes. I really wanted to like this book, but compared to the first, this felt generic and annoying, even if it became a fun read in the last 100 pages or so. Kids will love this book, but I can’t see anyone else reading this.
⭐⭐1/2
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Brielle "Bookend" Brooks.
222 reviews48 followers
July 18, 2025
4.1 out of 5 stars

Best for: Middle-grade mystery lovers ages 9–13, especially fans of Nancy Drew, Stuart Gibbs, or The Mysterious Benedict Society.
Skip if: You want realism, subtlety, or adult logic. This is for the imagination, not the insurance adjusters.

“Something’s wrong with our teacher. Also, someone might be a clone. Also, we need flashlights.”

Minerva Keen is back—and trouble isn’t just doubled, it’s neon-lit and pod-person weird. In The Double Trouble Puzzle, the second entry in the MK’s Detective Club series, Patterson and Graff dial up the hijinks and give our kid detectives a new mystery that straddles school politics, sci-fi paranoia, and family secrets.

The plot kicks off when Zoe, a new girl who’s too smart for her age and too suspiciously confident, muscles her way into the club. But the real mystery starts with Ms. Claire Voyant (yes, that’s her real name), Minerva’s favorite teacher, who suddenly seems… off. Like, missing-her-mole off. Add in cryptic nightmares, odd behavior from Minerva’s globe-trotting parents, and a suspiciously well-armed detective who actually listens to kids—and you’ve got a mystery that feels like Body Snatchers meets Scooby-Doo meets Spy Kids, in the best way.

“We’re hunting a criminal. Sometimes you need to bend the rules until you can straighten things out.”

That quote nails the tone. Minerva is not just precocious—she’s impulsive, intuitive, and occasionally reckless, which makes her a perfect anchor for the series. She misreads clues. She overreacts. She panics in basements full of CPR dummies. And yet, she’s never annoying. Graff and Patterson manage to make her feel like a real kid, not a cardboard genius with a magnifying glass.

The supporting cast—her brother Heck, the silent but observant Santos, and now the wildcard Zoe—gives the detective club real balance. The kids don’t always agree, and their chemistry feels earned, especially when rivalries flare.

The mystery itself? Delightfully bonkers. There are just enough grounded moments to hold the story together, but let’s be clear: this is not a procedural. It’s a ride. The red herrings are flying, the humor is quick, and the ending delivers both closure and setup for the next book.

But not all readers were charmed. Some felt the sequel strayed from the tighter plotting of book one, trading mystery for meandering scenes and set-up for future volumes. And a few adults may side-eye the pacing or the cartoon logic—but the target audience? They’re having a blast.

Verdict:
MK’s Detective Club: The Double Trouble Puzzle is fast, funny, and just the right kind of weird. If your kid loves solving puzzles, laughing out loud, and imagining they might uncover a conspiracy behind the PTA… this one belongs on their shelf.
2,278 reviews36 followers
August 22, 2025
Twelve year old Minerva Keen is bored. She can’t wait for her Detective Club to meet at school after class.when Minerva is in the class that has her favorite teacher teaching, she finds Ms. Claire Voyant is not acting normally. She never calls on Minerva for the answers to her questions. How did the mole on the back of her neck disappear? The Detective Club is having their first meeting in the library. A new student, Zoe Quick appears and tells them that she is joking their club. know-it-all Zoe starts telling them that she is nominating herself as president of the club and instead of solving mysteries, they will read mystery books. Minerva is mad as this was her club not Zoe’s. Worse still, Ms. Voyant, who has always had a soft spot for Minerva, takes Zoe's side. It's clear to Minerva that someone or something has taken over her favorite teacher. Add in terrifying nightmares, the return of Minerva's parents (who come home with more dangerous baggage than just their luggage), and some shocking developments-MK's Detective Club just might have more mysteries than they can solve. With nowhere to turn, the club walks right into danger...and the stakes just might be deadly. Will Minerva and her club be able to solve the mystery of Ms Voyant.? Minerva and Heck, her brother think their parents might be spying for the government, but is that true?

Te novel is a fast-paced, twisty caper made up of short chapters laced with frights, flights, misadventures, and, just for laughs. I loved the red herrings, the humor is quick, and the ending delivers closure. There are wonderfully quirky characters with slapstick buffoonery, and smart pacing propel this rambunctious detective story.

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Profile Image for Ms. Yingling.
3,753 reviews591 followers
February 10, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Minerva and Heck Keene live in Chicago while their parents, who claim to be university professors, travel the world giving presentations. They are minimally watched by their cousin, Bizzy. After watching the movie The Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Minerva is obsessed by the idea that her teacher (and the sponsor of the detective club) has been replaced by someone else. She has some decent reasons to believe this, but approaches the mystery in a frantic way, mistaking a basement full of CPR dummies for dead bodies, etc. She's also dealing with brash newcomer Zoe Quick who claims to have already been admitted to the University of Chicago and is trying to take over the detective club. Minerva and her friend Silent Santos, aided by an amazingly responsive Detective Taylor, embark on some questionable tactics to prove that her teacher is not who she claims to be.

I really enjoyed Minerva Keene's Detective Club (I bought two copies), but this book was completely different. Instead of having a well plotted mystery that bordered on murder, it was just a series of anecdotes centered around Minerva's belief that her teacher, Claire Voyant, had been replaced by someone else, with forays into questioning her parents' jobs. I'm sure there will be another book addressing the parents situation, but I'm not entirely sure I will purchase this second book.
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Profile Image for Sara Wise.
601 reviews13 followers
March 30, 2025
** “We’re hunting a criminal. Sometimes you need to bend the rules until you can straighten things out.” **

James Patterson and Keir Graff once again join forces to bring us another tale about 12-year-old Minerva Keen and her Detective Club in “The Double Trouble Puzzle.”

When new girl Zoe Quick invites herself into the club, and attempts to take it over, Minerva is not pleased. And when her favorite teacher, Claire Voyant, doesn’t stick up for her, Minerva is even more unnerved. Ms. Voyant just doesn’t seem to be herself, right down to a missing mole.

So the club, also made up of her brother Heck and friend Santos, decide to figure out who their teacher really is, as well as look into the truth behind Minerva and Heck’s parents and their real jobs. No one seems to be who they claim to be.

Once again, Patterson and Graff develop a fun and twisty plot filled with not only mystery but humor. They create delightfully plucky and intriguing characters, as well as truly creepy ones. But they also include some good themes, like the power of friendship; finding courage, even when it is hard; doing what’s right; and fighting for the truth.

Fans of Patterson’s other “Treasure Hunters” series and other similar series will enjoy this book.
Readers of all ages will truly love “The Double Trouble Puzzle,” which is due out April 7.

Five stars out of five.

jimmy patterson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Profile Image for Carol Jones-Campbell.
1,984 reviews
September 13, 2025
This is a new series for me. I've never even heard of Kier Graff, so have no experience with her. Ive done a little reading about her, and found she is an author in her own right, and has had some really good series experience. Both Kier Graff and James Patterson co-authored this book.

Minerva is being compared to Nancy Drew of my day, even earlier. This book is kinda cute, and with these goofy friends of hers, turn into quite a fun little detective agency. We've got Minerva Keene, one cool kid detective and with her friends, are most eager to find new case to work on. Then there is Zoe, quite obnoxious wants to be boss of the MK Detective Club. We have Ms. Claire Voyant, who adores Minerva, with a vote winds up taking Zoe's side. She wonders what on earth has taken over Ms. Voyant, the best teacher in the world.

Her parents have been traveling, and when they get home there are all kinds of mysteries in store. From nightly nightmares to funny luggage. and possible danger in store. If you are hooked, the next book is called: The Poison Puzzle. Enjoy!
Rate 3.5 *** Stars.
Profile Image for Heather Harper.
Author 2 books63 followers
February 2, 2025
My family and I are longtime fans of Keir Graff's middle grade books and of James Patterson's thrillers. We were thrilled to see two of our favorite authors join forces. The results do not disappoint. Graff's middle school characters are relatable and fun in all the best ways. They're witty and sensitive and adventurous. We cheer when they find another clue, and we groan when they make any number of bad (and relatable) tween decisions. The first Minerva Keen book was lightning-paced and tremendous fun. Double Trouble is just as fun but read more like a traditional mystery with plenty of clues and hijinx for middle school readers to sink their teeth into before the satisfying reveal. My son adores this series, and really loved the addition of the rival detective Zoe in this installment. We hope she's here to stay. This series is a dream for any middle school reader who wants to feel like they're part of a true detective club. We can't wait for the next MK, especially with the many seeds planted at the end of Double Trouble for another layered mystery in Minerva Keen's wacky world.
Profile Image for Hope Hunter.
516 reviews8 followers
May 3, 2025
Minerva King is back at it with brother Heck, friend Santos and now new girl Zoe who invited herself to be a part of the MK Detectives Club. Minerva begin to suspect something is up when her favorite teacher, Ms. Clare Voyant, begins to favor Zoe over Minerva, something she knows would never ever happen, As the kids look for more mysteries to solve, they accidentally find themselves in the middle of several, including investigating if people in their community are being taken over by pod people.

I have not read the first book in this series, and still found this one to be a fun middle-grade mystery novel in the vein of James Ponti and Stuart Gibbs. Fun characters and fast-paced storyline with interspersed graphics keep the pages turning. Good addition to and upper elementary/middle school library.
8 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2025
The book is a mystery adventure. The story is scary for some of the characters because things move by themselves. That makes me think they're afraid of ghosts. Part of the mystery is figuring out what's causing these items to move by themselves. I liked this book because the characters are all very mischievous. I would recommend this book to people who like scary books and people who enjoy mysteries.

- Angel L.
1,150 reviews5 followers
May 2, 2025
If you have a child who is a really good reader between nine and 12 or not so good reader in his or her early teens , this is a wonderful series for them. For young girls to see a female detective, similar to past generations readers of Nancy Drew, this is a fantastic series. I’m an adult and I sure had a good time listening.
430 reviews14 followers
January 28, 2025
Enjoyed this book by James Patterson and Keir Graff. Enjoyed the characters, plot, and pacing. Will need to find and read the first book in this series. #MKsDetectiveClubTheDoubleTroublePuzzle #NetGalley
85 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2025
Not nearly as enjoyable as the first one. I’m sure third through fifth graders will like it, but it was missing the charm of the first book.
211 reviews
July 11, 2025
This is a fun middle grade detective series filled with quirky characters and silly stunts. I hope there are more in the future!
57 reviews
October 1, 2025
So good. Loved the supposed Enemy turned friend twist. I told my sister that if that twist happen I would give it five stars and mention the twist.
Profile Image for Ashlyn.
1,702 reviews12 followers
October 11, 2025
This series is really fun and quick to read. It’s very nostalgic even though it’s a new series, and especially new to me. I really like Minerva as a character.
808 reviews9 followers
May 5, 2025
This pre-adult mystery was entertaining and fun.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

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