I’m so excited to be a part of the book tour for Sisterhood of Sleuths that is hosted by TBR and Beyond Tours. I was really excited to also be able to interview the author for this book!
INTERVIEW
How would you describe Sisterhood of Sleuths in one sentence?
Sisterhood of Sleuths is about a young girl named Maizy who finds a mysteriously abandoned box of classic Nancy Drew books that appear to be connected to her grandmother, but when her grandmother feigns ignorance about them, Maizy takes inspiration from the iconic sleuth and sets out to solve the mystery.
Can you introduce us to the main character(s) of Sisterhood of Sleuths?
Maizy Turner is a sixth grader who loves writing screenplays and filming movie productions of them with her best friend. She has a tight-knit family that includes her mom and dad, her brother who is about to leave for college, and her grandmother Jacuzzi.
Do you know from the beginning how your books will end or do you let your characters decide their journey?
This varies from book to book. With Book Scavenger, I did not know the ending when I was beginning. With The Unbreakable Code, I did, but only part of it and in a vague way. The idea for The Alcatraz Escape was actually sparked by the ending, so that one I definitely knew from the beginning. Sisterhood of Sleuths went through a few different story iterations before I landed on this final version. When I started the final version, however, I knew mostly how it would end, but the details didn’t get fleshed out until I wrote it.
What is something readers will find in Sisterhood of Sleuths that they may not realize based on the synopsis?
They probably won’t realize there’s a lobster detective who plays a crucial role in the story!
What’s something you hope readers will take away from Sisterhood of Sleuths?
I hope reading Sisterhood of Sleuths leaves readers with a feeling of connection to other generations and a satisfied smile on their face.
What are three books you would recommend if someone enjoyed Sisterhood of Sleuths?
If you enjoy Sisterhood of Sleuths, I would recommend Chirp by Kate Messner and Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armendariz, because those are both mysteries with smart female protagonists. I would also recommend The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat, which isn’t a mystery but I think it’s a great portrayal of friendships in the middle grade age, which is also a big part of Sisterhood of Sleuths.
ABOUT THE BOOK
TITLE: Sisterhood of Sleuths
AUTHOR: Jennifer Chambliss Bethman
GENRE: Middle Grade Mystery
RELEASE DATE: October 4, 2022
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indigo | IndieBound
Synopsis:
Maizy always assumed she knew everything about her grandmother, Jacuzzi. So when a box full of vintage Nancy Drew books gets left at her mom’s thrift store, Maizy is surprised to find an old photo of her grandmother and two other women tucked beneath the collection. Stranger still, when Maizy shows the photo to Jacuzzi she feigns ignorance, insisting the woman is someone else. Determined to learn the truth — and inspired by the legacy of Nancy Drew — Maizy launches her own investigation with the help of new friends, Nell and Cam. What they discover not only points to the origins of the iconic series, but uncovers a truth from the past that will lead to self-discovery in the present, connecting three generations of women.
This intergenerational mystery filled with literary history, friendship, and family secrets delivers a captivating tribute to the world’s most famous girl detective.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Chambliss Bertman is the New York Times bestselling author of the Book Scavenger series and Sisterhood of Sleuths, forthcoming in Fall 2022. Book Scavenger was an Indie Next Top Ten pick, an Amazon Book of the Year, a Bank Street College Book of the Year, an NCTE Notable Book, and has been nominated for over twenty state award and honor lists, among other accolades. The series is being translated into more than a dozen languages. Jennifer’s debut picture book, A Good Deed Can Grow, illustrated by Holly Hatam, will be published in 2023. She holds an MFA in creative writing and has worked in a variety of roles with children and in publishing. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Jennifer now lives in Colorado with her family.
Stuck in Fiction 
One thought on “Sisterhood of Sleuths | Author Interview | Book Tour”