LONGLISTED: DANZ CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARDS, CHAPTER BOOK 2026 SHORTLISTED: NZ BOOKLOVERS BEST JUNIOR FICTION BOOK 2026
THE SPINOFF BEST BOOKS 2025 'Fast-paced, fun and filled with gorgeous characters.'
STORYLINES NOTABLE BOOK AWARD 2025
SHORTLISTED: 2025 Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

'Affirming, joyous, and often hilarious . . .' The Sapling

'Hits all the right notes! NZ Booklovers

'A fun, feel-good story!' Kete

'More than a story about kids in a band, this riotously fun and brilliantly constructed adventure also provides an insightful depiction of
the main character's experience of ADHD.' NZCYA judges

'Rachael King knows her stuff. The way she weaves plot, character, analysis, accessibly and playfulness are like a fine-tuned band.' Lucy Black, The Sapling

'Violet Grumble is the star of the book with her can-do attitude, fun personality and authentic challenges.' What Book Next?

Meet Violet Grumble: a music-loving, guitar-toting tween whose dream is to compete at BandChamps.

The problem is that none of her friends can play an instrument. Violet won't let that stop her!

But things get tougher when the band's gear starts to go missing - what's going on?

Can Violet solve the mystery and harness her ADHD powers? Can she help the Velvets overcome stage fright AND beat The Alphas at the final showdown?

After all, you only need three chords to play a song ... how hard can it be?

Perfect for:
- Reluctant and confident readers aged 8+ seeking fast-paced stories
- Readers who love cosy mysteries
- Parents, teachers and librarians seeking stories with neurodivergent protagonists
- Fans of popular series

Read all the books in the Violet & the Velvets series:
(1) The Case of the Missing Stuff
(2) The Case of the Angry Ghost
(3) The Case of the Viral Video
(1) The Case of the Tall Stranger