Classroom Connections: Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders

An honest-to-goodness murder mystery for kids. I love it! Secrets of the Broken House is a southern-fried humdinger of a whodunit.
― Alan Gratz, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Heroes

Taryn Souders has created yet another outstanding, classic-feeling detective story highlighted by an authentic sense of place and a lovable protagonist. A murder mystery with a great deal of humor, memorable characters, and a well-described setting makes for a highly entertaining read for budding detectives and literature lovers alike.
― Youth Services Book Review, STARRED Review

A satisfying mystery infused with humor, warmth, and charm.
― Kirkus Reviews

Souders pens a hilarious small-town murder mystery reminiscent of what might happen if Scooby-Doo and the gang made a pitstop in Mayberry.
― The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Please tell us about your book. 

Secrets of the Broken House is murder mystery filled with both humor and heart. Tucker Stephens lives in the small, southern town of Everson, Georgia with his father, the chief of police, and his mother, a pharmacist. Tucker has been brought up to be highly observant and to draw logical conclusions from what he notices. When the town curmudgeon, Miss Geraldine Guss, needs some antique furniture cleaned and polished so she can sell it to make repairs to her dilapidated house, Tucker and his friends Clemmie and Sadie get hired for work. Only when they go back the next day to collect payment, they discover Miss Geraldine dead at the bottom of her broken staircase. To anyone else, it looks like a tragic accident, but Tucker isn’t fooled. This was murder. Tucker, Sadie, and Clemmie rush to solve the crime before an innocent person is arrested and sent to prison for a crime they didn’t commit.

What inspired you to write this story?

I had just finished watching an episode of Monk—a grandmother was kidnapped but then is almost immediately returned after the police are asked to feed a turkey dinner to all the homeless people in the community. Nicest ransom demand ever! However, Adrian Monk gets hung up on the fact that while the grandmother was safely returned, the chair she was sitting in when she was taken was not. And so, in true Monk fashion, he goes about solving why. That got me curious about the number of crimes that revolve around furniture. (And I’m not saying the murder in Secrets of the Broken House has to do with furniture, but it does play a role.) If you want to know more, you will just have to read the book!

Could you share with readers how you conducted your research and / or share a few interesting tidbits about your writing process with this book?

Even though I write fiction, I can’t make everything up, so I spend a good chunk of time checking facts and doing research. Thankfully, my neighbor is a police officer and an excellent source for all things crime related. I also interviewed a homicide detective at our local station for additional information. Another good friend of mine is a pharmacist and gave advice on medications mentioned in the mystery. Besides needing to get my police procedures and such straight, I also needed to read up on antique furniture, its value, and a few other things.

Here are some fun facts I learned while doing my research:

• An autopsy is required for any “unattended death”. For example, if someone had a history of heart problems, took medication, had a pacemaker, and died while home alone, an autopsy would still need to be done even if it seemed pretty obvious they had a fatal heart attack.

• The most expensive piece of furniture sold at auction was the Badminton Cabinet, which went for $36.7 million dollars in 2004. This intricately ornate cabinet was constructed in Florence, Italy and is inlaid with precious stones. Many consider this piece of furniture to be a work of art, and it once belonged to the 3rd Duke of Beaufort. The cabinet is named for Badminton House, the duke’s seat in Gloucestershire.

• Several animals have run for public office (and won)! Boston Curtis the Mule served as a committeeman in Milton, Washington in 1938. When the mayor had asked for nominations, Boston Curtis was the only nominee—he also happened to be ownedby the mayor, a Democrat. Fifty-one Republicans, in a unanimous decision, voted for Mr. Curtis, unaware they were voting for an animal (and a Democrat apparently). The mayor said he did it to prove the inefficiency of the primary system.

What are some special challenges associated with introducing a setting your audience might be unfamiliar with, etc.?

I think one of the best ways an author can help readers connect with a new—or completely fictional—setting is by grounding it with real places. In my “Tipton County Crime Collection,” the towns of Windy Bottom, Gifton, and Everson are all made up, as is Tipton County itself. But by placing Tipton County in southeast Georgia, near real locations like St. Simons Island and Brunswick, readers immediately gain a sense of where the mystery is unfolding.

I also believe a setting is more than a pin on a map—it’s a vibe, especially in the South. Down here, we have memorable foods, sayings, and traditions that add layers of flavor to a story. When those elements seep into the pages—and when you add a few wonderfully quirky townsfolk—the setting starts pulling double-duty. It becomes more than a backdrop; it grows into a living presence, almost a character all on its own.

What topics does your book touch upon that would make it a perfect fit for the classroom?

I write for middle grade readers—ages 8–12. It’s a wide range, with kids facing all kinds of different challenges, but the themes in Secrets of the Broken House are ones I think anyone can relate to, no matter their age. They’re the kinds of lessons we all need a reminder of from time to time:

• The danger of holding onto grudges
• The value of doing your research
• The importance of situational awareness—being observant and using logic
• Why it matters to slow down and truly listen

If you’re looking for classroom discussion questions, check out the free downloadable Educator’s Guide on my website.