A Haunting in Greeneville

by Kelly Swan Taylor

As autumn descends upon Greeneville Heights, super sleuth Tessa Wright finds herself chasing ghosts! The new school year means starting eighth grade, where Tessa and her friends are finally seniors on the middle school campus. But the leaves aren't the only things changing around Tessa, as she navigates the bumpy trails of cross-country as well as her first relationship. While freaking out about her first real kiss, she discovers that choosing just the right Halloween costume is the least of her worries.
Fall on Greeneville's Main Street is a color explosion of vibrant foliage and puffy mums, storefront decorations, and spiced apple cider. Unfortunately, the residents are too spooked to enjoy it. After a string of break-ins turns downtown into a ghost town, the TSLR Detective Agency's spirits are dashed and Tessa dives into the case. As the young sleuth wonders what will become of her beloved Greeneville, the clues lead her to the wrong side of a powerful and villainous business mogul.
On Halloween night, as darkness falls on creepy Huntington Manor, the girls are tasked with investigating its strange activity. Under a full moon, the local haunted house appears otherworldly, and they speculate it's connected to a nefarious legend. But the night is all about fun dress-up and pretend, right? Tessa thinks so until she's lured into a trap. It's possible that whatever is happening inside the dilapidated old Victorian might be more trick than treat. Readers who appreciate smart, sleuthy Nancy Drew mysteries, as well as the sweet friendship stories of The Baby-sitters Club, will enjoy this upper middle grade/lower young adult novel.