Benny On The Case by Wesley King

I continue to stand by my claim that contemporary Middle Grade fiction is the most consistently affecting, life-affirming genre currently publishing, with this terrific mystery novel being only the latest excellent example.

Benny has Mosaic Down’s Syndrome, which for him manifests in physical appearance, but not in any intellectual or health issues. For the longest time, he was in special classes in his Newfoundland school. Now that he’s 11, there’s no denying the fact that he’s on the same educational level as his mainstream peers, so he’s about to be integrated into standard classes. He’s pretty nervous about this, as is his mother, who’s verged on the overprotective ever since the death of his father four years ago. His best friend Mr Tom is more encouraging, with plenty of life experience to back it up. Mr Tom is, after all, one of the elderly residents of the Starflower retirement home that Benny’s mother owns and operates, and where she and Benny live, too.

Fortunately, Benny finds an ally pretty quickly at school. Salma recently moved to the area from Seattle, as her dad found a great job in Newfoundland that allowed the whole family to be close to her grandmother Mrs Price, another Starflower resident. Salma is smart, athletic and just as much of an outsider as Benny due to the way she looks like the Tunisian side of her family. But she’s also funny and kind, and she and Benny quickly become fast friends despite his concerns that she’ll become way more popular than he is and not want to hang out with him any more.

Popularity becomes the least of their concerns, however, when a series of thefts at the Starflower threatens to close down the retirement home. The police are convinced that it’s just the residents being absent-minded, but the inspector from the ministry cites security concerns that could render the Starflower unfit for purpose. Can Benny and Salma team up to figure out who’s taking the missing items, and save both the Starflower and the residents who don’t want to live anywhere else?

I can’t even begin how to describe how terrific this book is, as it grapples with the kind of quiet drama taking place every day in households around the world. Whether it’s bullying, racism, elder abuse or any of the myriad other topics raised in these pages, Wesley King deals with these tough issues with grace and sensitivity, reminding us that everyone is human. Some humans are good, some are bad, but the important thing is to treat everyone the way we’d want to be treated: with kindness and empathy even when meting out or receiving justified consequences. People can change, but that doesn’t mean that people don’t need to atone for what they’ve done.

Benny is a great protagonist, with an awesome cast of characters around him. I loved the use of Newfoundland dialect throughout, with a helpful glossary to translate for readers unfamiliar with it. Benny On The Case struck the perfect balance between humorous, suspenseful and moving. The scene with Mrs Finch, especially, made me cry. It’s also got a really well-written mystery at its core. I can see why Mr King has won the Edgar Award previously: this is an excellent novel that should be up for awards too!

Benny On The Case by Wesley King was published April 15 2025 by Beach Lane Books and is available from all good booksellers, including