What a delightful adventure for young mystery lovers and history buffs alike! The Directive Detectives by G. Savo is an engaging, fast-moving read that immediately pulls readers into a fun and thoughtful journey. Although I am older than the target audience, I could not resist picking it up after my niece raved about it—and I am so glad I did. The story is easy to read, the characters are relatable, and the mystery keeps the pages turning. I especially loved following the kids as they explored Boston’s rich history and discovered important buildings throughout the city. Along the way, they also learned a meaningful lesson about friendship, which gave the story even more heart. The author’s note at the end was a wonderful bonus and added another thoughtful touch. Since this is only the first book in the series, I am already excited to see what adventure awaits the kids next in Salem. The Directive Detectives is a charming, energetic start to a series that young readers will be eager to follow!

A Delightful Story Set In Boston That Follows Maddy, Evelyn, Jin & Darnel As They Explore The Freedom Trail While Trying To Solve A Mystery. As Someone Who Hasn't Visited Boston Before, The Writing Was Very Descriptive And Combined With The Very Detailed Illustrations, It Made The Story Feel Alive And Like I Had Been Transported To Boston As Well. The Book Is Packed Full Of Historical Facts And Taught Me Some New Information I Didn't Know. The Book Is Quite Fast Paced But The Chapters Are Quite Long Which My ADHD Brain Struggled With Slightly. I Loved How A Library Is Heavily Featured In The Story. Kids Will Enjoy This Riveting Historical Mystery And I Can't Wait To Discover The Next Book In The Series.

Thank You To NetGalley And The Publisher For The ARC.

I thought The Directive Detectives was such a cool read! One of my favorite aspects was the whole passing-of-the-torch feeling throughout the story. There isn’t actually any time travel involved, but somehow it almost feels like there is because of the way the past and present connect.

As the story progresses, we also get to meet a few people who I guess you could call the OGs, and I really enjoyed seeing those connections unfold.

What impressed me most, though, is how well this could work as a way to get kids interested in history. Instead of history feeling like a collection of names, dates, and events they’re supposed to memorize, the book wraps it all up in an intriguing story and gives young readers a reason to want to know more. I could absolutely see kids getting pulled into the mystery and accidentally learning some history along the way. Honestly, that's the best kind of educational book. Sneak the learning in while everyone is having fun!

The story definitely feels like the beginning of something bigger, and thankfully, even the NetGalley listing where I received my ARC calls this Book One. I really hope that means we have plenty more Directive Detectives adventures coming because I would happily keep following this series.

An intriguing, clever start to what has the potential to be a fantastic historical series for young readers. I’m definitely curious to see where the detectives take us next!