Iris Blackwood and the Curse of Hemlock Island

Iris Blackwood Mystery Detective Adventures Book 1

by Chad Prevost

Iris Blackwood is twelve years old, lives on Saint Hyde’s Island, and takes her Detective work very seriously, more seriously than her mother would prefer, and considerably more seriously than her younger brother Theo, who mostly just wants to be included and occasionally stumbles onto something important by accident.

When rumors begin circulating about Hemlock Island, the mysterious forested island visible from Saint Hyde’s shores that everyone knows about and no one visits, Iris can’t leave it alone. The Lemoney family has owned it for generations. Their candy factory on the mainland is a local landmark. Mr. Lemoney himself is charming, powerful, and possibly dangerous. And then there are the stories: whispers about the Island People, a hidden community that may or may not exist, that may or may not be there of their own free will. And deeper still, the curse — old, unexplained, connected to a forbidden temple that no one who has entered seems to have come back from unchanged.

In Iris Blackwood and the Curse of Hemlock Island, you guide Iris through her most layered and dangerous case yet. Do you trust Mr. Lemoney when he makes you an offer that seems too generous to be honest? Do you take Esmerelda Lemoney’s help, or go to Hemlock Island alone? Do you go to the police, or to the Navy operative who seems to know more than he’s saying? And when you finally reach the forbidden temple, and the ancient choice at its heart, will you have the courage to face what the curse really is?

This isn’t just a mystery about a villain and a secret. It’s a mystery about power, about who gets to be free, and about what a twelve-year-old detective can actually change when the adults around her are all playing their own angles. With multiple paths through the investigation, encounters with drug runners, pirates’ treasure, Navy SEALs, and something genuinely strange at the center of the island, The Curse of Hemlock Island delivers everything a first adventure should, and leaves Iris exactly the kind of detective who will be back for more.

4 out of 5 fairies

If you grew up with choose-your-own-adventure books, then this is a great way to share that with young readers in your life! The story has so many endings, and I like that at the start you can find a ranking of how well you did with what ending you chose. Overall I thought the story was well put-together, but I would’ve like a little more lead-in at the start for how Iris got to where she was and who Iris is, to get you more invested before beginning to make choices. I enjoyed going through and trying to get all the different endings, and it’s definitely a book I’d recommend to friends with kids of an appropriate age. I think older readers could get some enjoyment out of this as well, especially those of us with nostalgia around this style of book!

About the IF / THEN Books Series

IF / THEN Books are interactive fiction novels that put readers in charge of the story. Unlike passive reading experiences, every IF / THEN title presents genuine decision points—moral dilemmas, investigative choices, alliance decisions—that lead to meaningfully different outcomes. Readers are encouraged to play through multiple times, discovering new storylines, new clues, and new endings with each read.

The series is designed to build the habits of critical thinking alongside the habit of reading. Protagonists model observation, deduction, and curiosity—the same skills readers are exercising every time they make a choice. Achievement levels reward persistence and rereading, making these books ideal for reluctant readers who respond to goal-oriented challenges, as well as strong readers who want narrative depth and complexity.

For Classrooms and Book Clubs

The Iris Blackwood Mystery Adventures are widely used in classroom settings for grades 6-9. Each title supports ELA standards in narrative structure, point of view, cause and effect, and character motivation. The branching format opens natural discussion around decision-making, ethics, and consequences—making these books as useful for conversation as they are for independent reading.

A free Reader’s Guide for group discussion, Teacher’s Prep Questions, Detective Glossary activities, and a branching story writing template are available at chadprevost.com/hemlock-island-extras. Author Chad Prevost is also available for school visits, author readings, and interactive storytelling workshops for grades 6-9, both in person and virtually.

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