The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing follows Mo LoBeau and her best friend Dale Earnhardt Johnson III as they investigate a ghost at the old Tupelo Inn. When Miss Lana and Grandmother Miss Lacy impulsively buy the inn at auction, they discover it comes with an actual ghost included in the deed. Mo and Dale, who run the Desperado Detective Agency, take on their first supernatural case to identify the ghost and uncover the inn's secrets. Their investigation leads them through decades of local history and brings them into contact with both longtime residents and newcomers to their small North Carolina town. The duo must balance their detective work with sixth grade, family obligations, and the challenge of renovating the dilapidated inn. Their research methods range from interviews with town elders to late-night stakeouts, all while trying to stay one step ahead of their rival investigator. This mystery celebrates friendship, community bonds, and the power of uncovering truth - both historical and personal. The story connects the past and present of a small Southern town while exploring themes of belonging and identity.

Readers say this middle-grade mystery captures small-town Southern charm through its humor and memorable characters. The book maintains a 4.3/5 rating on Goodreads (2,000+ ratings) and 4.7/5 on Amazon (200+ ratings). Readers highlighted: - Mo and Dale's authentic friendship and banter - The incorporation of ghost story elements without being scary - Strong sense of community and Southern culture - Humor that appeals to both kids and adults - Natural continuation from the first book Common criticisms: - Slower pace in the first third - Some found the Southern dialect writing style difficult to follow - A few readers felt the mystery was too predictable Multiple reviewers noted it works as a standalone novel despite being a sequel. One reader commented: "The characters feel like real people you'd meet in a small town." Another mentioned: "My 10-year-old couldn't put it down but nothing was too intense or inappropriate."

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🌟 Sheila Turnage set the story in fictional Tupelo Landing, North Carolina, but drew inspiration from her own life growing up in a small eastern North Carolina town. 🌟 The book is the second installment in the Mo & Dale Mystery series, following the Newbery Honor-winning "Three Times Lucky." 🌟 Ghost stories and hauntings are deeply rooted in Southern folklore, particularly in North Carolina, where many historic buildings and inns claim supernatural residents. 🌟 The author worked as a journalist before becoming a children's book writer, which influenced her main character Mo's investigative nature and note-taking habits. 🌟 The novel combines elements of Southern Gothic literature with middle-grade mystery, a genre blend that was relatively uncommon when the book was published in 2014.