The Case of the Museum Switch

Sam didn't break the statue — but someone wants everyone to think he did.

When a priceless ancient statue shatters during a school trip, all the evidence points straight at Sam. There’s just one problem—the evidence doesn’t make sense.

The statue was too light. The fall was too perfectly timed. And the broken pieces tell a completely different story from the one on display. Someone staged the whole thing — and chose Sam to take the blame.

Determined to prove his innocence, Sam and his friends return to the museum—where secrets hide behind every exhibit. As they follow a twisting trail of clues, they uncover a growing list of suspects: a desperate intern, a tight-lipped restorer, a curator with expensive taste and suspicious habits, a security guard who knows every blind spot in the building… and a sweet elderly guide with a surprisingly clever cat.

With six suspects, a museum on the brink of collapse, and a fluffy gray cat who may or may not be running his own investigation, the Guardians are about to learn that this case is far more complicated than it first appears.

This fast, fun, and easy‑to‑read chapter book is ideal for ages 8–12 — especially readers who enjoy shorter middle grade books packed with puzzling clues, quirky characters, and plenty of twists. Fans of A to Z Mysteries, Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, and The Boxcar Children will love trying to solve the case alongside the team.

Funny, clever, and full of heart, The Case of the Museum Switch is the eighth book in the beloved Guardians of Oakwood series — a cozy mystery about friendship, justice, and one very famous cat named Spark. Each book in the series features a brand-new case and can be read in any order—so readers can jump in wherever the mystery calls!

Can you solve the case before the Guardians do? Start reading today!