In 2007, Trenton Lee Stewart introduced readers to The Mysterious Benedict Society, a tale of adventure and intrigue featuring four young heroes, each with unique gifts. A brilliant benefactor, Mr. Benedict, recruits the young protagonists for a mission to help save the world from a dastardly villain called Mr. Curtain, who is bent on controlling the planet through a machine called the Whisperer that could manipulate the thoughts and memories of people.
Readers were captivated by the first tale of the Society – featuring Reynie Muldoon, Kate Weatherall, Sticky Washington, and Constance Contraire – as they used their unique talents to solve intricate riddles and puzzles on their way to stopping Mr. Curtain’s evil plot.
The Mysterious Benedict Society quickly became a best-seller, and it was followed up by two sequels in 2008 and 2009 to form a trilogy of books. The second novel, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, featured the quartet embarking on an international scavenger hunt that soon turns precarious due to further maneuvers by Mr. Curtain. And the third novel, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, challenged the group even more as they struggled to prevent Mr. Curtain from re-acquiring the Whisperer. After completing the original trilogy, Stewart dived into the early life of the titular Mr. Benedict in a prequel novel released in 2012, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict.
The Mysterious Benedict Society series gained a strong fan base, but it’s been several years since fans have been treated to any new adventures for the popular Society.
That all changes this year: Stewart recently announced that a new novel is set to be released in the fall! I, along with my daughter (who we’ll call Geek Young Lady), had a chance to talk with Trent Stewart to ask some questions about the series and plans for the upcoming novel.