Mystery Royale

Gr 9 Up–The last piece of advice that Mullory’s mother gave her before she disappeared was to “run if the strange finds you.” So when scented envelopes begin appearing in unlikely places, Mullory ignores the invitations until she can’t anymore. She is being summoned to the Hamptons estate of murdered Xavier Stoutmire as a potential beneficiary of his will. However, his is no ordinary inheritance: it includes billions of dollars, the enchanted Stoutmire Estate, and the powerful magic that Xavier wielded. To win, Mullory must compete in a game of Mystery Royale with Xavier’s family members by unraveling the details of his murder over the course of five lavishly themed parties. Her most intimidating adversary is Lyric, raised by Xavier on a steady diet of abuse and who, due to inheritance laws governing magical families, will be bereft of magic unless he emerges victorious. The two form an uneasy alliance shot through with romantic chemistry, but their relationship is strained as the stakes of the game grow deadly. Told from the alternating perspectives of Mullory, Lyric, and Lyric’s high-strung sister Ellison, all cued as white, each well-developed character offers a different window into the deep dysfunction of the Stoutmire family. Memorable worldbuilding, a house full of secrets and puzzles, and layers of family trauma will keep readers engaged and entice them into an implied sequel.