The Golden Necklace: A Darjeeling Tea Mystery

"Featuring an endearing, resolute protagonist, this expertly plotted story will enthrall readers . . . A page-turner that’s richly threaded with social conflict." ~ Kirkus Reviews

"Sona is a brave protagonist who uses her smart thinking to help others. The exciting story ... about an ambitious Nepali girl detective will capture readers’ attention before the first chapter is done." ~ School Library Journal

"Full of rich cultural heritage and nuanced political divides, this is a fun, low-stress (but high-stakes) mystery for readers who want to explore the world and dip into different pockets of history. The prose is clean, the story moves quickly, and Perkins, as always, invites her reader to think more carefully about the world around them and root for the girls of her tales." ~ ALA Booklist

A contemporary chapter book mystery set within a tea plantation in Darjeeling about a 12-year-old Nepali girl who sets out to solve the disappearance of her Bengali friend's missing jewelry.

Sona, a 12-year-old Nepali girl, has struck up a friendship with Tara, the niece of the greedy tea plantation manager who has promised Tara's hand in marriage in order to get his hands on her inheritance of precious jewelry. Then Tara’s golden necklace goes missing. The search is on for the culprit, and Sona must use all her wits in order to prove it wasn’t her beloved brother, Samiran Daju, who stole it.