Note: This series of mysteries is written for the 8 – 12 age group, but intentionally uses words that challenge and expand the vocabulary of the young reader.
Book No. 1: The Mystery of the Grinning Buddha: Although Mike’s father has gone to Alaska to work because he can make higher wages there, the rest of the family has stayed in Millerville, Kansas. When Mike’s mother suddenly becomes sick, Aunt Thelma shows up unexpectedly and takes control of the household. She assigns the children all sorts of meaningless chores, causing Mike to suspect she is not there to take care of his mother, but for some other purpose entirely. In the middle of trying to meet Aunt Thelma’s demands, Mike must find time to write a report for school. It is due at the end of the Christmas holidays, and he chooses Alaska as his topic. Using the information he discovers at the library, Mike is able to solve a mystery involving his conniving aunt, his mother’s illness, and a priceless artifact stolen from a museum at the University of Alaska. (published in paperback September 2009, for eBook for Kindle, August 2011)
Book No. 2: The Mystery of the Ugly Bottle: The Miller Estate is about to go into foreclosure, unless a sizable balloon payment is made within a week. Shortly after a destructive hurricane hits the Gulf Coast and the reported disappearance of Jeremy and Jennifer’s father, a package arrives at the Miller Cottage. It contains a bottle in which is found notes hurriedly written by a terrified father to his family as he believes the boat he is in appears ready to sink. Jeremy discovers a coded message hidden in his note–a message that provides a clue that he hopes will lead to a treasure hidden somewhere on the estate–a treasure large enough to pay off the estate mortgage. Join Jeremy and Jennie as they, with the help of Mike and Brandon (see The Mystery of the Grinning Buddha) work desperately against time to save their house and the rest of their grandfather’s estate. (published in paperback in July 2010,for eBook for Kindle, August 2011)
Book No. 3: The Mystery of the Haunted Lighthouse: Although the wreck-of-a-boat her uncle rented for his treasure hunt has washed up empty on a Louisiana beach, Nicalee has reason to believe her older brother and her twin cousins’ father did not perish in the hurricane. She invites Jeremy and Jennie (see The Mystery of the Ugly Bottle) to hurry to Louisiana and assist her as she tries to determine if what she thinks are clues will lead to the finding of their father and her brother who had gone in a final attempt to salvage the cargo of a civil-war era ship sunk off the coast and recently partly uncovered by the shifting sands. (projected release date for eBook for Kindle, December 2011)
Book No. 4: The Mystery of the Chubby Bird: Overview to be entered at a later date. (projected release date for eBook for Kindle, June 2012)
Book No. 5: The Mystery of the Purple Journal: Overview to be entered at a later date. (projected release date for eBook for Kindle, December 2012)
Book No. 6: The Mystery of the Abandoned Drugstore: Overview to be entered at a later date. (projected release date for eBook for Kindle, June 2013)
Book No. 7: Just as Book No. 6 popped into my head the other day, so will Book No. 7, some day. (projected release date for eBook for Kindle, December 2013)
