Diana Sussman Turns Curiosity Into Confidence With Her Next Middle Grade Mystery

A mysterious text can change everything. For Maddie Braverman, the young detective at the center of Diana Sussman’s middle grade mystery series, an unexpected message becomes the beginning of another puzzle, another test of friendship, and another opportunity to trust her instincts.

That is the premise behind The Texter’s Secret, the upcoming second book in Sussman’s Maddie Mystery Trilogy. Scheduled for release on September 22nd, 2026, the novel continues the story established in The Neighbors’ Secret while moving its young heroine into a world shaped by texting culture, cyberbullying, friendship conflicts, and the unsettling possibility that past dangers have not disappeared.

For Sussman, however, the mystery is only part of the experience. Her larger goal is to show young readers that curiosity can be a strength- and that asking questions, examining clues, and trusting their own judgment can help them navigate an uncertain world.

Diana Sussman Builds Mysteries From Real Life

Diana Sussman’s approach to storytelling is shaped by an unusually broad professional and creative background. Before becoming an author, she spent years as a litigation attorney, where she learned to examine complicated facts, identify inconsistencies, and construct persuasive narratives. Her experiences included defending witnesses in FBI investigations and working cases involving people who lived double lives. Diana’s dealings with the FBI helped inform the creative foundation for The Neighbors’ Secret.

Her fascination with mysteries began much earlier. Sussman has spoken about discovering mystery books as a child and wanting to create stories that could give young girls the same sense of excitement and possibility. In a 2024 interview with the New Haven Register, she discussed her desire to encourage confidence among girls navigating an age often marked by social uncertainty and self-doubt.

That mission gives her books a distinctive combination of entertainment and substance. Sussman does not simply place a young character inside a mystery. She gives Maddie questions to investigate, clues to interpret, relationships to navigate, and decisions that require independent thinking.

Her research also reaches beyond contemporary life. While developing The Neighbors’ Secret, Sussman researched historical espionage, including the Culper Spy Ring and the mysterious female operative known as Agent 355. The result is a story that combines a modern-day mystery with actual American Revolutionary history, giving young readers another layer of discovery as they follow Maddie’s investigation.

From Award Recognition to a Growing Audience

The first Maddie mystery helped establish Sussman in the children's literary world. The Neighbors’ Secret became a finalist for the 2023 Tassy Walden Award for New Voices in Children’s Literature and was recognized as a finalist for the 2024 American Fiction Awards in the preteen fiction category.

The recognition was also covered by the New Haven Register, which highlighted Sussman’s transition from litigation attorney to children's author.

The book has continued to attract attention from readers. Reviews have praised its combination of relatable middle-school experiences and mystery-driven adventure.

“I let my 8th grade daughter read this book. She is not a huge reader but she absolutely loved this one! I am excited about more in the series coming out.” — NetGalley 5-star review 

Readers interested in discovering The Neighbors’ Secret can purchase the book directly here. That connection with readers may come from Maddie herself. She is curious, imaginative, and determined, but she is not presented as an infallible detective. Her investigations can lead her toward the wrong conclusions, and her relationships sometimes become complicated along the way.

That vulnerability makes the character relatable to the readers Sussman hopes to reach. Middle school is an age when children are learning how to make decisions, interpret social situations, handle uncertainty, and develop greater independence. A mystery provides a natural framework for exploring those experiences because readers get to make predictions alongside the characters.
     

Meeting Readers in Albuquerque

Sussman’s connection with readers extends beyond the page. Her public appearances have included library programs, readings, book signings, and literary events, including Westport Library’s StoryFest in 2024, where she participated in the festival alongside other prominent authors, including Joyce Carol Oates.

On Saturday, Aug. 29th, Sussman met readers in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for a reading and signing of The Neighbors’ Secret.

The event took place at Page 1 Books in Albuquerque. The appearance gave local families and young readers an opportunity to hear Sussman discuss the book, meet the author, and have copies signed.

The event also provided families, educators, and librarians with an opportunity to discover a middle grade mystery that can fit naturally into end of summer reading and back to school book discussions.

Recent Media and Recognition

Sussman’s work has also received attention through a range of media appearances and literary events. Her recent coverage includes a News 12 Connecticut interview about The Neighbors’ Secret, a WTIC-AM interview with Ann Baldwin, and coverage from the New Haven Register highlighting the book’s American Fiction Awards finalist recognition.

She also appeared at Westport Library’s StoryFest in 2024 alongside acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates. More recently, Sussman discussed her journey from litigation attorney to children’s author in a July 2026 interview with Tiffany Alexander on Unveiling Journeys.

These appearances offer additional insight into Sussman’s transition from law to children's literature and the real-world experiences that helped shape her approach to mystery writing.

Why The Texter’s Secret Feels Especially Timely

The next chapter takes Maddie into territory that will feel immediately familiar to today’s middle school audience.

In The Texter’s Secret, Maddie receives a mysterious and threatening text and must determine who is behind it. The investigation brings together digital communication, friendship problems, cyberbullying, and the unresolved danger connected to the spies from the first book. At the same time, Sussman continues her practice of incorporating puzzles and historical material into the narrative.

The result is a mystery that can entertain young readers while giving them opportunities to think about how they evaluate information and respond when something does not seem right.

That balance is central to Sussman’s identity as an author. Her creative work extends beyond children's fiction into theater, performance, puzzles, and other forms of storytelling. She maintains a puzzle and cryptogram feature that reflects the same fascination with problem-solving found in her books.

Her background also includes work for the stage. Sussman wrote Fickle Fate, which was selected as a semifinalist for the SheNYC and SheLA Summer Theater Festival, and co-wrote the musical Virtually Ours, which was showcased at the NYC Sparks Theater Festival for Emerging Artists.

Taken together, those experiences help explain why her stories place such a strong emphasis on character, dialogue, pacing, and discovery.

A New Generation of Readers Has Another Mystery to Solve

With The Texter’s Secret arriving on September 22, 2026, Diana Sussman is entering a new stage of her career. The first Maddie mystery introduced readers to a young investigator fascinated by the possibility that ordinary life might conceal something extraordinary. The second book raises the stakes by bringing that curiosity into a world where communication can happen instantly and where a single message can create an entirely new mystery.

For parents, educators, librarians, and young readers, that combination offers something valuable. Sussman’s books invite children to participate in the story rather than simply watch it unfold. They encourage readers to examine clues, question assumptions, recognize patterns, and consider different possibilities before reaching a conclusion.

That may be the most enduring idea behind Diana Sussman’s work. A mystery begins with a question, but it can lead somewhere much bigger. It can inspire a child to investigate, to read more closely, to trust a thoughtful instinct, or simply to discover the pleasure of finding out what happens next.

Readers can explore Diana Sussman’s books, upcoming projects, events, and creative work through her website, Diana Sussman Writes. Families and educators interested in The Neighbors’ Secret can also learn more about the Maddie Mystery Series, while Sussman’s media appearances and public events provide additional opportunities to discover the stories behind the stories.

As The Texter’s Secret approaches its September 22nd release, Diana Sussman is giving young readers another reason to open a book, start asking questions, and begin looking for clues.