The Carlton Girls
Casey and the Cruel Thief (#1)

Only Murders in the Building meets The Swifts in the first installment of this cozy whodunit mystery series.

Most people would kill to live in a glamorous New York City high-rise on the Upper West Side. Not Casey. She hates her daily morning elevator ride to school. Why? Because she’s forced to stand shoulder to shoulder with her two ex–best friends, a way too bubbly new girl, and a very chatty old lady named Grandma Williams. Who cares if Grandma Williams tells hilarious stories, or if the bubbly new girl wants to be besties? Casey doesn’t want to be friends with anyone—she already lost two of them. 

But things on the Carlton Towers elevator start to get strange. One of her ex–best friends bursts into tears and admits that a family heirloom has disappeared. Wallets and jewelry start vanishing into thin air. And then, the worst happens: Grandma Williams goes missing.

It seems like there’s a thief—and a kidnapper!—on the loose. And the girls on the elevator soon realize that they are the only ones who can stop the dangerous criminal before it’s too late.

- EARLY REVIEWS -

“A middle grade Only Murders in the Building sure to delight preteen and adult readers alike. Full of hijinks and sweet treats, Casey and the Cruel Thief pulled me out of a reading slump and made me want to text my best friend from seventh grade. Read this if you love mysteries, female friendships, and heartwarming characters that will have you grinning from ear to ear.”
- Esther Fung, @estherfungreads

“Welcome to the best kind of new club, where four girls try to solve a mystery in their NYC building. Readers will want to put on their sleuthing caps to follow the clues in this captivating caper!”—Debbi Michiko Florence, Edgar Award finalist for Last Chance Academy: A Study in Secrets

“If you ever wished the Baby-Sitters Club solved mysteries, then the Carlton Girls are your crew! Casey, Abby, Yesi, and Zoe each bring their own expertise to the team, and all four characters are so lovable. This exciting and clever mystery will have you declaring, ‘Just one more chapter!’—because it’s unputdownable.”—Lauren Magaziner, internationally bestselling author of Case Closed and The Incorruptibles

“A heartwarming tale of friendship, connection, and learning to communicate with those we cherish most, all set against the backdrop of an engaging mystery that’ll have readers wishing they could join the Carlton team!” – Kalyn Josephson, NYT-bestselling author of the Ravenfall series.

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