A Skeleton in the Closet

Ages 10 And Up, Grades 5 And Up

Twelve-year-old Mizzy wants to prove to the world that she can solve mysteries just like Sherlock Holmes, despite a reputation for tall tales. A charming new mystery series for middle-grade readers, starring a girl with Down syndrome.

Twelve-year-old Mizzy dreams of being a detective and she won't let anything stand in her way -- not her reputation for tall tales, or her embarrassing fear of escalators, and definitely not her Down syndrome. Dumped for the summer with cousins who've outgrown her, Mizzy feels even more sidelined than usual. But when she discovers Great Aunt Jane's diaries in a locked wardrobe in their spare room, and realizes her aunt didn't die in her sleep but under suspicious circumstances, everything changes. What's more . . . someone in the family appears to have been involved.

Under the guise of a family tree project for school, and armed with a brand new set of Pipsqueak markers, Mizzy grabs the chance to prove herself to her cousins — and the world.

Series Overview: The Mizzy Mysteries is a new middle-grade mystery series featuring Mizzy Maypole, a twelve-year-old girl with Down syndrome who dreams of being a detective.

About the Author

CLAIRE HATCHER-SMITH is a speech language pathologist who has worked with children with Down syndrome for thirty-five years. Her writing has previously been longlisted in the Mslexia Children's Novel Competition and earned her a selective place on Curtis Brown Creative's Writing YA and Children's Fiction course. Originally from Kent in the UK, she currently lives on Vancouver Island, with her husband, fourteen-year-old son, and a Korean rescue dog. A Skeleton in the Closet is her debut novel.

Author Residence: Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Author Hometown: Kent, United Kingdom