- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Mystery
The Skeleton Puzzle
Book 3 of 3 in Goldfish BoyView the full series
The young detectives of Chestnut Close reunite when a skeleton is dug up in an elderly neighbour's garden. A twisty middle-grade whodunnit about long-buried secrets, suspected imposters and a hidden diamond theft, handled with Lisa Thompson's trademark empathy.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
- Length352 pp
- Read aloud~5 hr
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Literary
Tone
- Suspenseful
- Exciting
- Thought provoking
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
When a skeleton is unearthed in Old Nina's garden, the young detectives of Chestnut Close, Matthew, Melody and Jake, are determined to find out who it is, how it got there and who was responsible. Then Nina's long-lost son turns up out of the blue with a young boy of his own, a child forever twisting a shape-shifting puzzle in his hands. Are the pair really who they claim to be, or imposters after something? As the friends investigate, they dig into the history of the Close and uncover an unsolved theft of priceless diamonds, while Jake struggles quietly with his mum's illness at home and Matthew wrestles with worries of his own. A twisty new mystery starring the characters from the modern classic The Goldfish Boy, written with huge empathy, it weaves a genuinely puzzling whodunnit together with an honest, tender look at families under strain.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A 9-12 mystery for readers who enjoy detective work with emotional depth. The puzzle plot, a skeleton, suspected imposters and hidden diamonds, drives it along, while a subplot about a friend coping with his mum's illness gives it weight. The third Chestnut Close mystery, and readable as a standalone.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 9–12
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
None
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: death of character, illness or disability, mental health.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Mystery lovers
- Detective fiction
- Emotional realism
Avoid if
- Wants light bedtime read
- Sensitive to death content
Particularly good for children who are…
- Illness in family
- Anxiety and worry
- Making friends
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
A skeleton turns up in a neighbour's garden and the Chestnut Close detectives are on the case. Are the strangers who suddenly arrive really family, or imposters? Racing to solve who the bones belong to, and where a fortune in diamonds is hidden, makes for a proper edge-of-your-seat whodunnit.
- Being a detective
- Trickery and cleverness
- Proving yourself
Why parents love it
A satisfying, cleverly plotted mystery that also handles a child coping with a parent's illness with the empathy Thompson is known for. It rewards readers who loved The Goldfish Boy while standing perfectly well on its own, and reads aloud well.
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
In the series
Goldfish Boy.
3 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
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