The Law of Finders Keepers

Mo LoBeau and her detective agency, the Desperado Detectives, take on their biggest case yet - helping Miss Lana search for clues about her family history. The search centers on a centuries-old pirate map that could lead to treasure belonging to Miss Lana's ancestor. As the investigation progresses, Mo must balance this case with challenges in her own life, including her ongoing quest to find her upstream mother who sent her downriver as a baby. The town of Tupelo Landing provides its usual mix of eccentric characters and small-town dynamics as background to the dual mysteries. The story combines elements of historical research, treasure hunting, and personal discovery while exploring themes of family bonds - both blood relations and chosen family. This fourth book in the Mo & Dale Mystery series examines how the past shapes identity and what truly makes a family.

Readers found this final Mo & Dale mystery captures the same Southern charm and humor as earlier books in the series while bringing satisfying closure to ongoing plotlines. Readers appreciated: - The balance of mystery-solving with emotional character growth - Mo's authentic narrative voice and wit - Resolution of long-running questions about Mo's mother - Supporting characters getting meaningful story arcs - Age-appropriate handling of serious themes Common criticisms: - Slower pacing than previous books in series - Less mystery/detective work compared to earlier entries - Some found the ending overly neat Review Stats: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (80+ reviews) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Specific Reader Comments: "Perfect blend of humor and heart" - Goodreads reviewer "Mo's voice remains pitch-perfect" - Amazon review "Not as much sleuthing as earlier books but emotionally satisfying" - School Library Journal reader review

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage A plucky sixth-grader solves mysteries in a small Southern town while searching for her own origin story.

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson A girl follows historical clues through her grandmother's past to uncover both a treasure and painful truths about segregation in her South Carolina town.

Midnight Is a Place by Joan Aiken Two orphans navigate dangerous mysteries in their industrial town while uncovering secrets about their families' interconnected histories.

The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd A boy with a unique way of thinking uses logic and determination to find his missing cousin who disappeared from a London Eye capsule.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart Four gifted children infiltrate a suspicious institution while solving riddles and uncovering a plot that threatens their world.

🌟 Author Sheila Turnage grew up in North Carolina and draws heavily from her small-town Southern roots to create the fictional town of Tupelo Landing. 🌎 This book is the fourth and final installment in the award-winning Mo & Dale Mysteries series, following Three Times Lucky, The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing, and The Odds of Getting Even. 💫 The series' main character, Mo LoBeau, was found as a baby during a hurricane, which drives her quest to solve the mystery of her own origins throughout the books. 🏆 The first book in the series, Three Times Lucky, won a Newbery Honor in 2013, establishing the series as a significant contribution to middle-grade mystery literature. 🎯 The series combines elements of Southern storytelling, archaeology, and treasure hunting with themes of family, friendship, and identity - particularly resonating with readers aged 10-14.