About the Book
Book: Knights in Manhattan: A Reen & Joanie Detective Agency Mystery
Author: Kay DiBianca
Genre: Middle Grade Mystery
Release Date: September, 2025
When spunky ten-year-old Reen and her shy nine-year-old cousin Joanie visit Reen’s Great-aunt Miriam Ritchie in Manhattan, they land right in the middle of a new mystery. Following a clue Reen discovered on the airplane enroute to New York, Reen and Joanie track the Central Park Jewel Thieves through some of New York’s most famous landmarks. They even manage to keep the ever-vigilant Mrs. Toussaint in the dark about their investigation.
But the thieves are smart and communicate only in code. Can Reen and Joanie decode the clues and identify the plans for the next robbery? But even if they do, can they convince the police that they’ve solved a mystery that New York’s finest couldn’t crack? Everything seems to be going wrong until a strange turn of events puts the girls right in the middle of the final heist.
Hamsters, a dumbwaiter, and a seven-year-old genius named Miles all contribute to this funny, action-packed romp through the streets and buildings of Manhattan.
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Kay DiBianca is a former software developer and IT manager who retired to a life of mystery. She’s the award-winning author of six mystery novels. Her books have been honored with numerous awards including an Illumination Award, Eric Hoffer Awards, a Reader Views Award, a Readers’ Favorite Award, and a Memphis Libraries Richard Wright Literary Award.
An avid runner, Kay can often be found at a local track, on her treadmill, or at a park near her home. Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, TN.
More from Kay
My third mystery novel, Time After Tyme, featured two young secondary characters, Reen and Joanie, who were so popular, I was encouraged to give them their own series. I had been thinking of doing a middle grade novel for a while, so I began to put together thoughts for a Reen & Joanie Detective Agency series.
At about that same time, my husband and I made several trips to Manhattan for health reasons. (Everything is fine now.) During those trips, we used our spare time to explore the museums and famous places in the city, and that became the setting for Knights in Manhattan.
While writing the book, I had great fun seeing the city through the eyes of the two youngsters as they chased criminals in and around some of New York’s most famous landmarks. This is the second book in the Reen & Joanie Detective Agency series, and I’m excited to see where the girls will travel in the upcoming books.
Interview with the Author
- What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
The Daughter of Time is a novel by Josephine Tey that’s well known in mystery-lover circles, but I’m not sure the average reader is aware of it. It’s a fictional account of a detective looking for something to do while he’s laid up in a hospital bed. He becomes interested in the story of King Richard III of England who had been suspected of having his two young nephews murdered so that he could be crowned King. The story takes a modern-day approach to investigating the possible crime and deciding the guilt or innocence of King Richard.
- How do you select the names of your characters?
This is something I love doing. Sometimes I find a name that I think will fit the character, but often I give a character the name of a person who was a positive influence on me in my life. The character may not be anything like the person he/she is named for, but I like to think I honor people by having their names in my books. I occasionally change a name by moving letters around, but always with the goal of honoring someone.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
The Nancy Drew mysteries were always favorites when I was growing up.
- If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I wish I had served on a school newspaper when I was a student. I think the discipline of deadlines and the experience of writing would have served me well when I finally decided to go in that direction.
- What comes first, the plot or characters?
I usually start with characters and then decide what kind of mysterious situation I can drop them into. For example, in the Reen & Joanie books, the stories revolve around the relationships that the bright and assertive Reen has with her shy, conservative cousin, Joanie, as well as with other characters. Reen & Joanie are constantly having to use their wits to solve problems, but the real gist of the story is in their friendship, in Mrs. Toussaint’s oversight of the girls, and in Reen’s father’s mentoring through the wisdom of the Proverbs. Other characters add spice to the stories and bring out additional dimensions to the main characters.
Blog Stops
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 9
Simple Harvest Reads, October 10 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 11
Artistic Nobody, October 12 (Author Interview)
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 13
Guild Master, October 14 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, October 15
Fiction Book Lover, October 16 (Author Interview)
Texas Book-aholic, October 17
Books Less Travelled, October 18 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 19
For the Love of Literature, October 20 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, October 20
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 21 (Author Interview)
Blossoms and Blessings, October 22 (Author Interview)
For Him and My Family, October 22
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kay is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of both books in the Reen & Joanie Detective Agency series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/3d27c/knights-in-manhattan-celebration-tour-giveaway