J BEIL

Three BFFs at a private school on the Upper East Side come to the aid of a strange old lady and find themselves on a decades-old scavenger hunt in this puzzle-filled mystery.

Look for book 2 in the series, The Vanishing Violin.

-Kathy

Mysteries, riddles, and the amazing photographs that the I Spy series is famous for will keep the whole family engrossed in this fascinating book for hours on end.

-Miriam

Twenty-six books in the series (A through Z) takes our three adventurers from one mystery to another, most of them taking place in their small town in Connecticut. Can you help best friends Dink, Ruth, Rose, and Josh solve all the mysteries? Great early chapter books the budding mystery reader.

-Dawn

In this sequel to Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School, we find Ike the dog writing letters to Mrs. LaRue from the police station, where he has been taken into custody. It turns out he is a suspect in the disappearance of the Hibbins cats. Forced to flee and on the lam, Ike attempts to solve the mystery of the cats' disappearance as well as a series of canary burglaries. Detailed illustrations hold the key to the story and the laughs.

-Mariana

Amateur archaeologist Howard Carson has just stumbled upon the find of a lifetime-- a well-preserved burial site, including the remains of two ancient bodies! But can he piece together the mysteries of this ancient civilization? Can Carson hope to uncover the sacred meanings behind the Great Altar, the Ceremonal Platform, and the Plant That Would Not Die? 

-Vicky

Winston Breen loves puzzles, and he can find them everywhere. So when Winston and his sister find some strange pizzle pieces in an old box, it's only natural that Winston try to find out where the box came from and what the puzzle means. Soon, Winston and his friends are hunting for a long-hidden treasure, accompanied by the town librarian, an ex-policeman, a pretty reporter, and a pair of mysterious strangers. But it's clear from the start that someone in the group doesn't intend to share the treasure, should it be found. . . 

Look for book two in the series, The Potato Chip Puzzles.

-Kathy

Steve Brixton always wanted to be a detective. . . until he found out he already WAS one. Follow the thrilling story of Steve’s first case. Our hero has a national treasure to recover, a criminal mastermind to unmask, and a social studies report due Monday-- all while on the run from cops, thugs, and secret-agent librarians.

Look for book 2 in the series, The Case of the Ghostwriter Secret.

-Kathy

Hazel and Ned are home for summer vacation and looking forward to long, lazy days. But when their father disappears without saying good-bye, their summer plunges into chaos. The babysitter leaves town, their apartment is robbed, and two menacing thugs start turning up everywhere. As the siblings worth to untangle the mystery that surrounds their father, they learn of a second, darker secret-- one that surrounds their mother's death years ago. Only by solving both mysteries can they bring their father home.

-Kathy