Opal has just come home to Chicago after spending time with her grandmother. It's near the end of August and she is a about to start seventh grade. Opal has a condition called retinitis pigmentosa which makes it hard for her to see at night. She has a special cane for people with vision problems and carries a flashlight at night. Opal likes to investigate mysteries. Right now, there is a mystery going on right in her own home. The Crescent, an apartment complex that her father, Ernest, supervises is having strange visitors and her best friend is hearing weird noises in her own apartment.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited opinion about it. I'd recommend it for a middle grade reader like my niece who is nearly eleven. I think she would enjoy it. Is it a perfect book, no. But the story would be interesting for a middle schooler. Are a couple parts a little farfetched, yes. I cannot picture a person this age going off on her on, by bus, to a different part of the city, especially one who is sight impaired.
Opal is a good character, so is her cousin and two friends. I like that the mystery caused the reader to wonder if someone is trying to sabotage the reconstruction of the building to upgrade it. The book also inspires the reader to learn about significant history which is a plus. I give it a 4 rating.

A new middle grade mystery series centers around Opal, who loves to solve mysteries. As she is trying to navigate school, she finds a new mystery at her building.

I liked the premise here and the mystery plot-wise was fine. There was something though about the writing style that just was not as much for me. I normally really enjoy middle grade series, but this debut wasn't my favorite.

Opal Watson, is a detective, and a good one at that! When mysterious things begin happening at her apartment complex, she is determined to get to the bottom of it to save her home. With the help of her cousin and friend, they begin to unwind the history of the building, Opal's ancestry, and the strange lady who kept showing up.

Unfortunately, this book didn't quite land for me. I couldn't suspend reality enough to make the events believable. And I found myself wincing at the writing style. Some of the descriptions were trying too hard and took me out of the story.

"The music's quick piano keys echo throughout our apartment, easy as a breeze that twists between the wind chimes on our balcony."
"Frank locks eyes on my phone screen like it's his favorite slice of pineapple pepperoni pizza."
"Still, fall has arrived like a crow trying to find a place to land."
"Mom stares at her computer screen like it's a Rubik's Cube she cannot solve."

Sometimes less is more, or an adjective would've gotten the point across more directly than a simile that won't connect to lots of children.

On a positive note, I enjoyed the representation of a character with a degenerative eye disease.

This was a great middle grade. I really liked the main character and her drive. I liked how curious and how smart she was. I loved getting to know her and her friends. I also find the whole mystery plot quite interesting and it kept me on my toes. I didn't really see any of it coming. I also really liked the side characters and the blooming friendship.
I just thought it was a really solid story. It was well written and it made me want more from these characters and this world.

We are fans of the Pinna original podcast, and were really excited to get a chance to read an e-arc thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. I think this book is going to appeal to older children, but the things my younger boys like about the podcast (fast pace, lots of dialogue, a mystery that is quickly solved) were lacking in the beginning of this book. It definitely started slower than we expected, but it still has a lot going for it. I am curious why there was a change in author from the podcast to the chapter book, and that may be why we noticed a difference as readers. I will look forward to more Opal Watson books and hope that podcasts and books that connect like this are going to be a standard in the future. My kids love podcasts!

Opal loves helping friends and family find answers to problems, and now her friend Madison says she can hear noises in her bathroom wall. At the same time Jesse, a contractor, is in charge of renovations in their building, and If they aren’t done in time the building will be sold and possibly torn down. As Opal investigates the noises she finds more residents hear noises, and is someone sabotaging the renovations? Then a secret room is found. Does Opal find the source of the noises? What happens when the owner of the building comes by to check on the renovations and sees a lack of progress? Will the building be saved?
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.