Cirrus@Austlit

'It’s springtime in Paris, and crime is in the air …

'Pepper Stark and her friends came to Paris for the glamour, the gâteaux and the good times. But intrigue seems to follow the young detectives wherever they go. When an American tourist and a priceless Russian treasure both disappear from their hotel, Pepper is sure the mysteries are connected and is determined to solve them both. But this time she has competition: former thief-turned-amateur-detective Georges Rème is also on the case. And her friends seem to be more interested in croissants than in crime.

'Pepper will do anything to beat Rème to the punch and prove herself as a proper sleuth – even if that means misleading the people closest to her. In this unusual hotel, where everyone has secrets to hide, who can Pepper trust to lead her to the answers? And how far will she go to get them?

'1920s Paris bursts to life in this captivating return to the world and characters of Nicki Greenberg’s The Detective’s Guide mysteries.' (Publication summary)

'Pepper Stark could not be more thrilled to return to New York City with her father, the Captain. Not only will she be back in the place where her late mother once lived but also she'll reunite with her friends Norah and Sol.

'But Pepper's excitement for her trip fades when the Captain invites along his new friend Emmaline and her son, Elliott. Still, Pepper is determined to make the most of her time with her friends in the Big Apple, revelling in the energy of the city that never sleeps.

'But when dinner at the swanky restaurant where Sol is working ends in the suspicious illness of notorious food critic Anthony 'the Shark' Sharkey, Pepper finds herself entangled in yet another crime.

'With only a week before she has to return home, Pepper, Sol, Norah and a reluctantly recruited Elliott are facing an even bigger challenge than the Saffron Diamond mystery, and the stakes have never been so high. If they don't find the culprit, Sol's chef career could be over ... or worse. And New York City might become the place where all of their dreams turn to dust.

'From the bright lights of Broadway to back-alley speakeasies, Nicki Greenberg has brought 1920s New York City to life in this delightfully thrilling mystery set in the same world as The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel.' (Publication summary)

'The first middle-grade novel from award-winning author Nicki Greenberg, this book is a classic whodunnit mystery set aboard a grand ocean liner in the 1920s. With first-class glitz and glamour and a deliciously plotted intrigue featuring an uppity stage star, a missing diamond, a leopard and a loveable cast of child sleuths, The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel is an exciting romp on the high seas, perfect for fans of Murder Most Unladylike and The Good Thieves.' (Publication summary)