• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7

Harriet the Spy meets Small Spaces in this heartfelt new paranormal mystery series for middle grade readers.

Danica and her partner Jack are Renley Crow’s best kid detectives. Well, they’re the only kid detectives . . . until Kennedy Fang moves to town. Kennedy’s convinced his new house is haunted, and he needs Jack and Danica’s help to figure out what’s going on. The only catch? Kennedy wants to solve the case with them. Danica’s not wild about working with her competition, but there’s a bigger problem: her tita has forbidden her from meddling with the spirit realm. Not that Danica believes in spirits. But when Kennedy shows her a box of letters addressed to all three kids—letters that start to fly around his attic—Danica knows she can’t turn down their biggest case yet. Even if it means uncovering scary truths about the world . . . and about herself.

MIKAELA LUCIDO is a Filipina-Canadian storyteller, fangirl, and amateur birdwatcher. She grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, and is the poetry editor of Savant-Garde literary magazine. Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth is her debut novel.

Mikaela Lucido's profile page

Joanna Cacao is a Canadian-Filipino artist and illustrator who lives in Winnipeg with her Pomeranian, Danny. She loves working on magical and fantastical stories. Growing up in front of a TV, Joanna immediately became obsessed with any show or film that had a great story and set of characters. Her favorite shows consist of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Downton Abbey, and Gravity Falls. Her biggest influences come from various manga, as well as Ghibli and Disney films. She has a background in 3D Animation, and has self-published a queer webcomic: Toxic for You.

Joanna Cacao's profile page

“Fans of mystery and the paranormal will enjoy Danica’s adventures; a debut that leaves readers wanting more.”

School Library Journal, 09/24

“Lucido’s debut novel is a page-turner . . . The mix of real and otherworldly elements will ensure that readers are invested in Dani’s current and future exploits.”

Booklist, 11/01/24

“Dani and her friends possess a delightful, often humorous dynamic, bolstered by Cacao’s fine illustrations; the book lays a strong foundation for future installments.”

Kirkus Reviews, 10/24