This is the real deal—an award-winning mystery that earned its accolades. Kate Milford built something genuinely clever here: a puzzle-box story where a rambling old inn fills with odd guests during winter break, and 12-year-old Milo has to untangle their secrets.

What makes it work is the role-playing layer. Milo and Meddy create alternate personas to help them investigate, which is both fun and reflective of how kids actually use imagination to navigate challenges. The adoption theme is woven throughout without being didactic—it's about identity and belonging, handled with care.

The one caveat: there's a brief gun violence scene (villain shoots at someone, no one hurt) that bumps it from perfectly safe to mostly safe. And the long chapters plus shifting character names might challenge younger or impatient readers. But for kids who can handle the pacing, this delivers substance and entertainment in equal measure. It's a cozy winter mystery that respects young readers' intelligence.