Price: $7.99 - $5.31
(as of Aug 09, 2025 19:53:39 UTC – Details)
From the Edgar-nominated author of Coop Knows the Scoop comes an exciting mystery perfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and Holes.
When Grady and his dad learn that the town oddball, Eudora “Kooky” Klinch left something for them in her will, they can only imagine what it might be. When it turns out it’s an old scrap of 300-year-old tapestry, they are bitterly disappointed. But the cloth comes with a note saying, “This is no ordinary piece of needlework. It’s a treasure map. Riddles and Clues. To the victor go the riches.” Grady’s dad dismisses it, but Grady thinks this could be the chance of a lifetime. With the help of his friends Thad, Clemmie, and the town dog Ophelia, Grady is determined to crack the clues and find the treasure.
But when someone tries to break into Grady’s house one night, and then the local antiques expert who examined the tapestry is found unconscious, Grady realizes that he’s not the only one who knows about the treasure map. There’s more at risk than he bargained for, and solving this mystery just got a lot more dangerous.
You will love Grady and his adventures if you are looking for:
Mystery books for kids 9-12Heartfelt and quirky stories for young readersKids detective books5th grade mystery books
From the Publisher
Publisher : Sourcebooks Young Readers
Publication date : July 11, 2023
Language : English
Print length : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 172827141X
ISBN-13 : 978-1728271415
Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
Reading age : 9 – 12 years, from customers
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.72 x 8.25 inches
Grade level : 3 – 8
Lexile measure : 680L
Best Sellers Rank: #35,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #238 in Children’s Mystery, Detective, & Spy #829 in Children’s Humor
Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 90 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Customers say
Customers enjoy this mystery book as a great middle-school mystery suitable for both boys and girls, with compelling backstories and a fast-paced plot. Moreover, the book features interesting characters, and customers appreciate how humor mixes with real-life challenges throughout the story.
Leslie Santamaria –
Exciting middle grade mystery
The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle is a fun and well-plotted mystery filled with quirky secondary characters and a trio of young main characters with compelling backstories and inner challenges. I think middle grade readers will enjoy seeing Grady, Clemmie, and Thad piece the clues together, but the story is even more than a mystery because it’s also layered with subtexts. Grady and his dad are trying to get along following the death of his mother a couple years ago, but it’s not easy because they are very different. They also struggle financially because of the extensive medical bills from Grady’s mother’s illness. The mystery is linked to the real War of Jenkins’s Ear, which took place in both the Caribbean and GA, and that’s something educators can build upon in the classroom. The small town setting is vivid, with a coffee shop/diner as the hub of activity and a graveyard Grady and his pals search at night. The story demonstrates how people with differences can get along, and there’s plenty of humor for kids to enjoy along the way.
Shannon Laccone –
Exciting mystery!
An incredible story perfect for middle grade readers (and adults). Souders does an amazing job keeping suspense and interest until the very end while sprinkling historic elements throughout. Highly recommend!
Kleigh –
It’s an okay read
This book was okay. I like mysteries, but this one was a bit slow for me and lost my attention at times.
Ruth –
A fun mystery that you won’t figure out until the end
This is a fun book! Grady and his father are in dire financial straits, but when the boy inherits an old sampler/treasure map from a crazy cousin (she left everything else to her cats), he thinks their troubles are over. Only the Radcliffe riddle isn’t easy to solve. Grady and his friends must figure out the mystery before Grady loses his home–and possibly his life. Because someone else wants the treasure too, and they are willing to kill to get it.‘The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle’ is by the same author who wrote the Edgar-nominated ‘Coop Knows the Scoop’, Taryn Souders.
jim m. merrill –
One of the best mysteries ever!
I’m 82 years old and have been reading mysteries for decades and THE MYSTERY OF THE RADCLIFFE RIDDLE is one of the very best. Not one but many likeable characters and that is what I look for in novels as well as movies. And many twists so you never lose interest. Can’t say enough good things about Taryn Souders skill as a fiction writer. Looking forward to reading COOP KNOWS THE SCOOP and HOW TO (ALMOST) RUIN YOUR SUMMER. (To answer the question below, I bought the book for myself.)
Heather Iseminger –
Perfect Like Summer Lemonade
“But whether you’re a half-full or half-empty type of person isn’t important.” She leaned closer to me. “What’s important to remember the glass is refillable.”Like a perfect glass of cool, summer lemonade, The Mystery of the Radcliffe Riddle examines real pains in life, while stirring in the sweetness of friendship and the freshness of wisdom. Taryn Souders refills our glasses with an exciting mix of southern charm, hot summer days, and childhood escapades in her latest middle grade novel. Sure to be another hit, Radcliffe brings each young-at-heart reader a murder mystery with all the mischief expected of a small town. So pull up a porch swing and take a sip of all that Souders has to offer in this delightful sleuthing adventure. You’re cup will runneth over…
Becca Wierwille –
Compelling and fast-paced mystery
A compelling, fast-paced mystery with action that kept me turning pages! I loved getting to know Grady and his friends and enjoyed the small-town quirky cast of characters. Humor mixes with real-life challenges, loss, and an intriguing treasure hunt in this fun read!
Melissa J Suppnick –
Great gift!
This was bought as gift and so far it has been enjoyed