Book excerpt: Mystery, danger, intrigue--all in a day's work for MK's Detective Club! Don't miss the first book in this funny, smart, and action-packed new series from beloved #1 bestselling author James Patterson. Living in the luxurious Arcanum building--with its interior balconies perfect for playing tag, an elevator like an iron birdcage, and quirky neighbors behind every apartment door--has always been fun and games for twelve-year-old Minerva Keen ... until her neighbors start getting poisoned. Anyone could be next, and everyone is a suspect, including Minerva herself. To clear her name and help the police crack the case, Minerva starts her own detective club. So what if it has only two other members, one being Minerva's accident-prone daredevil brother and the other being the biggest and quietest kid in school, who happens to be afraid of his own shadow? Minerva knows that with her brainpower, the club's sleuthing skills, and case files full of suspects, they can unmask the poisoner ... hopefully before it's too late. This page-turning new mystery series is packed with thrills, chills, laughs, and unforgettable characters and will leave kids eager to join the best club around. Published in hardcover as Minerva Keen's Detective Club