Quick Cases for Clever Minds: Mixtapes, Mallrats and Misdirection

Welcome to the 1990s-where the only thing more dangerous than dial-up is a well-kept secret.

In Mallrats, Mixtapes & Misdirection, the fourth volume in the beloved Quick Cases for Clever Minds series, diner waitress and sharp-eyed sleuth Dottie Mack returns to solve thirteen bite-sized mysteries set in the heyday of pagers, payphones, and pop-punk playlists.

A mixtape hides a teacher's final confession. A battle-bot competition turns deadly. A Tamagotchi displays a message from beyond the grave. From school hallways to mall food courts, Dottie tracks clues hidden in friendship bracelets, poetry zines, and vintage code.

Each story offers a satisfying standalone mystery-packed with fair-play clues, emotional twists, and a nostalgic backdrop that's equal parts charm and chills.

If you miss the smell of book fair catalogs and the glow of neon arcade signs, this collection is for you.

Slap on your slap bracelet. Someone's about to get caught.