Opal Watson: Private Eye

Opal Watson: Private Eye by Brittany J. Thurman

Discover the exciting middle grade mystery Opal Watson: Private Eye by Brittany J. Thurman, a gripping detective story inspired by the popular Pinna podcast. Perfect for fans of Harriet the Spy and character-driven mysteries, this series opener follows a sharp young sleuth determined to uncover secrets in her neighborhood while navigating school, friendship, and change.

Opal Watson loves solving mysteries. Whether it’s a missing cat or a lost cookbook, she’s always ready to investigate and get to the truth. After spending the summer in New Orleans with her Meme Augustine, Opal returns home to Chicago ready for a new school year—though she’s nervous about making friends and managing life with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition.

At school, Opal is paired with a new student named Ivy for a class project, a partnership she isn’t sure she wants. She already relies on her cousin Frank and best friend Madison, and change doesn’t come easily. But when strange disturbances begin echoing through the Crescent, the apartment building where she lives, Opal’s attention shifts from school to something far more urgent.

As neighbors report unsettling noises and developers threaten to tear the historic building down, Opal realizes she’s facing her most complex case yet. Determined to protect her home and uncover the truth, she begins digging deeper—only to discover secrets that could change everything she thought she knew.

Smart, heartfelt, and full of suspense, Opal Watson: Private Eye is a powerful story about resilience, community, and the courage it takes to solve the hardest mysteries of all.