Secrets at the Chocolate Mansion by Leslie Margolis

Maggie Brooklyn Mysteries bk 3. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781619632660.
Recommended for readers from 10-12 years of age who enjoy mystery stories. Themes: Mystery Stories, Brothers and Sisters, Dogs, Ghosts. Haunted mansions, candy store sabotage, problem relationships and two mysteries to solve luckily Maggie Brooklyn dog-sitter and sleuth is up for solving these cases. At the opening of Sonya's Sweets a new store in Brooklyn owned by Maggie's friend Sonya and her mother the pies turn out to be salty not sweet, a baseball breaks the new stained glass window and a threatening note is discovered. When Maggie begins to investigate her life becomes more and more complicated. As well as school problems and boyfriend dramas, she also becomes involved with a ghostly problem at a nearby haunted apartment building that was formerly owned by a chocolate tycoon. Whilst babysitting Beckett for his mothers Lisa and Caroline with her twin brother Finn, Maggie is confronted with two ghost stories, the Irish maid and an apparition that appears in the mirror. Added to the mix is a Girl Scout who is up to no good and this makes for another busy mystery for Maggie.
Leslie Margolis has created a relatable and realistic girl sleuth who copes well with her family, school and life dramas. Each book in the series focuses on a different mystery and can be read as a standalone novel. At times the characters crowd in and there are a lot of politically correct things added to the story including Nofarm the dog.
Rhyllis Bignell