Ron Roy
Discuss This Author
“I’m totally convinced that I am a writer today because I loved books as a kid.”—Ron Roy
Ron Roy is the author of the popular A to Z Mysteries series, as well as the Capital Mysteries series, and several picture books. He lives in Connecticut.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?” I have been asked that question many times since my first book, A Thousand Pails of Water, was published in 1978. Now that I’ve had so many years to think of an answer, I guess I have to say that at age nine I had an inkling that words were going to be a big part of my life.
When I turned nine, I received for my birthday a wonderful gift—a book. It was about King Arthur and his knights. Even though I vividly remember the shiny blue and red cover and the smell of the new paper, I don’t remember the author. But I thank her or him every day of my writing life. That writer stirred up something in me that has been bubbling ever since: a love for reading, and the urgent need to put words down on paper.
In spite of my love for reading, writing as a profession never occurred to me until I became an adult. I worked at an odd variety of jobs before I realized that writing was what I really wanted to do for the rest of my life. Over the years, I waited tables, sold hot dogs, and drove a “Tooth” van from which I taught kids how to brush their teeth and floss. One year I traveled across the world to Hong Kong and taught English to Vietnamese adults. I wrote feature stories for a newspaper and designed letterhead for a printer. One happy summer I worked as a camp counselor.
After two years in the navy and more travel, I landed in the freshman class at the University of Connecticut. Naturally, I majored in English literature. More doors opened for me as I read poetry, novels, essays, and did my share of writing. Still, I did not see myself as a writer. I knew that I enjoyed being around kids, so I became a schoolteacher.
And then, finally, in a fourth-grade classroom, the light bulb in my head flickered on and shone brightly. Its message was, I WANT TO WRITE! In my classroom, I was surrounded by kids and their books. I read those books and fell in love with the characters, the authors, the messages. I was hooked, but I never fought. I allowed myself to be reeled in.
My writing life began one evening after reading parts of Charlotte’s Web to my class. Home from teaching, I walked into my apartment, dropped my bookbag, and headed for the typewriter (this was before word processing came along!). I wrote my first story that night and sent it to a book publisher the next day. Four weeks later I received my first rejection slip. But by then, I had written more stories, and they, too, were in the mail, soon to appear on editors’ desks around the country.
The rejection slips came in, often flooding my mailbox. But I wrote, and I sent my best work along to a long list of publishing houses. Although more rejection slips arrived with each mail, I never felt rejected. My routine was set, and it didn’t change: I taught by day and wrote by night. Each evening found me hunched over the typewriter creating characters, settings, and plots. Most weekends I walked on the beach with a dream in my head and a notebook in my back pocket. From those dreams and notes I wrote story after story.
Four years passed. Dozens of book manuscripts had been written, sent, and rejected. Then the day came when one of those “rejection” envelopes turned out to contain not a rejection but an acceptance. “Dear Mr. Roy . . . We are happy to tell you that we would love to publish your book. . .” Those seventeen words changed my life. I was no longer a schoolteacher who tried to write. I was going to be a published author!
Today, with more than 50 children’s books behind me, I can think of no other occupation that would make me as happy. As a writer, I get to do all the things I love most: speak to kids, invent stories, travel, and of course, read. My A to Z Mysteries series sends me to classrooms where I listen to and learn so much from the students. I receive letters from young readers across the globe, and I answer every letter. Many of the letters contain suggestions for new plots, titles, characters. One girl asked if I would use her dog in one of my mysteries. What a great idea, I thought, and invented a canine character for an upcoming book.
Children ask about my writing, but they also want to know about my personal life. “Where do you live?” “Do you have any pets?” “What’s your favorite food, color, author, TV show?” I’m happy to tell kids about my life as a writer as well as my life as a person. I live in an old farmhouse in Connecticut. My property consists of three acres of large trees, a barn, and a wonderful chicken coop. Recently, I brought a few chickens to live there, and they have become pets. Like E. B. White (my favorite author!) I love the sound and smell and warmth of animals. But since I travel a lot, I can’t fill my barn with critters.
“Where do you get your ideas?” is a question that teachers ask often. “Everywhere,” I respond, then I give specifics. Ideas come from reading newspapers and books. Ideas come from TV shows and movies and the news on the radio. I bring ideas back from trips, from church, from the grocery store. The letters I receive from kids are often filled with ideas.
The idea for my first published book evolved from a stroll on the beach. While walking, I came upon an overturned horseshoe crab. With legs frantically waving, the crab tried unsuccessfully to flip over onto its stomach. I uprighted the crab, then watched it scurry into the water and swim away. From that little episode came A Thousand Pails of Water, my picture book about a boy and a beached whale. Not really much of a leap—I saved a crab, the boy in my book saved a whale.
I smile when kids ask me if I write every hour of every day. Some writers do, I suppose, but I find that I need a balance. I spend a goodly number of hours each week actually writing but leave plenty of time for playing with friends, going to the movies and on vacations, and taking naps with my cat. I also work on my house, which seems to require a lot of attention.
In many ways, however, I am “writing” even when doing chores. As I paint my barn, I am thinking of story plots. As I weed my garden, I daydream about new characters. When I nap, I dream about the next mystery in my series . . . and the next.
It’s a cycle, really. As a child, I loved to read. Reading led me to writing as a career. I share my books—and thus my love for reading and writing—with children. From them I receive warm feelings and some great ideas.
Now when I write my books, one of my hopes is that I can give back at least a part of the joy I have received.
Happy reading!
You can learn more about Ron Roy and his books at RonRoy.com
Author Bookshelf
Capital Mysteries #1: Who Cloned the President?
KC Corcoran always watches the news. So it’s no surprise that she notices right away when the president starts acting funny on TV. He’s stiff and awkward. He’s even signing papers with...
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- Trade Paperback
- eBook
Capital Mysteries #2: Kidnapped at the Capital
KC and Marshall are going to the Cherry Blossom Festival. They have an invitation from the President of the United States! But while they are off getting ice cream, KC’s mom and President Thornton...
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- Trade Paperback
- eBook
Capital Mysteries #3: The Skeleton in the Smithsonian
When Leonard Fisher claims that the Smithsonian and all its museums belong to him, Washington D.C. goes into an uproar. KC Corcoran and her best friend Marshall have a feeling that there is something fishy...
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- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- eBook
A to Z Mysteries Super Edition 3: White House White-Out
IT’S A SNOWY December in Washington, D.C., and Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are there to see the sights. While they’re admiring the White House, they meet the president’s stepdaughter, KC,...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #10: The Election-Day Disaster
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION is less than a week away, but KC and Marshall have more important things on their minds—their Halloween party at the White House! The morning after the costume party, though,...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
Capital Mysteries #11: The Secret at Jefferson's Mansion
Goodbye, D.C.! Hello, Monticello!While painting a closet in the White House, KC discovers an old box full of handmade toy horses that once belonged to Thomas Jefferson. KC and Marshall go to Monticello,...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries Super Edition 1: Detective Camp
Dink, Josh, And Ruth Rose are back! This time, they’re off to a camp for detectives! The camp directors have set up a week of lessons in forensics and fun mysteries for the campers to solve. The...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #6: Fireworks at the FBI
KC and her friend Marshall are watching the fourth of July fireworks with the president of the United States when they see smoke and sparks in the distance. It’s more fireworks, but they are not...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries Super Edition 2: Mayflower Treasure Hunt
DINK, JOSH, AND RUTH ROSE are spending Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Massachusetts. They can't wait to see the sights and have a Thanksgiving dinner just like the Pilgrims would have eaten. Then the kids learn...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #8: Mystery at the Washington Monument
Late at night KC and Marshall are sleeping out on the White House lawn when they see suspicious lights flickering at the top of the Washington Monument. If that's not strange enough, the next day a monkey...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #9: A Thief at the National Zoo
KC and Marshall are helping out with the baby tigers at the National Zoo when they meet a new friend, Sunwoo from China. Sunwoo’s father is lending the zoo a precious jewel called the Tiger’s...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #7: Trouble at the Treasury
After taking a tour of the National Bureau of Printing and Engraving, KC and Marshall find out from KC's stepdad, the president of the United States, that several stacks of $100 bills have gone missing....
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Absent Author
A is for author.... Dink writes to his favorite author, mystery writer Wallis Wallace, and invites him to visit Green Lawn. To Dink's amazement, Wallace says he'll come! But when the big day...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Bald Bandit
B is for Bandit... The Green Lawn Savings Bank has been robbed! When a private detective comes to Dink's door looking for the kid who videotaped the crime, Dink and his friends volunteer to find him. After...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Canary Caper
C is for Canary...Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose get an urgent call from Mrs. Davis. Her canary is missing! The little bird has vanished without a trace, and he's not the only one. Two other pets are missing....
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Deadly Dungeon
Dink's favorite mystery writer, Wallis Wallace, has invited Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose for a sleepover - in a haunted castle! But as soon as the young detectives arrive, they start hearing screams behind...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Empty Envelope
E is for Envelope...Dink keeps getting envelopes in the mail addressed to "D. Duncan." But the letters inside all start with "Dear Doris" and don't make any sense! Josh and Ruth Rose...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Falcon's Feathers
F is for Falcon...When Josh discovers a nest of young falcons in the forest, he, Dink, and Ruth Rose start visiting every day. Until the morning they find it empty! Then the kids discover a wounded falcon...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Goose's Gold
Sun, sand--and sunken treasure? That's what Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose discover when they go on vacation to Florida. An old ship has been found off the coast, and it's full of gold! Two divers are collecting...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Haunted Hotel
A ghostly guest has checked into the Shangri-la Hotel! It's almost Halloween and reports of strange sounds and even stranger sights are coming from Green Lawn's only hotel. Hotel guests and neighbors are...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
A to Z Mysteries: The Invisible Island
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- Trade Paperback
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A to Z Mysteries: The Jaguar's Jewel
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose visit New York City! Dink's uncle is the curator of a museum with a dazzling new treasure--a statue of a jaguar cradling an emerald between its front paws. But when it's discovered...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
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A to Z Mysteries: The Kidnapped King
K is for Kidnapped! Someone has kidnapped the king and queen of Socotra. For safety's sake, their son is staying with Dink until they are safe. But then the prince is kidnapped, too! Can Dink, Josh, and...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
A to Z Mysteries: The Lucky Lottery
L is for Lucky. . . .And that's just how Lucky O'Leary feels when the lottery ticket his grandfather sends him for Christmas turns out to be a million-dollar winner! But before Lucky can cash it in, someone...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
A to Z Mysteries: The Missing Mummy
M is for Mummy. . . .It's Mummy Monday at the museum, and Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are excited about the new Egyptian exhibit. It features a child mummy in an actual tomb! But then the mummy is stolen...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Ninth Nugget
N is for Nugget...Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are spending a week at a dude ranch. Everything is normal in a cowboy kind of way–until Josh finds a huge gold nugget! Just as they are deciding what to...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Orange Outlaw
O is for Orange. . . .An art thief is on the loose! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are visiting Dink’s Uncle Warren in New York City when several paintings are stolen from his apartment building. A trail...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
A to Z Mysteries: The Panda Puzzle
P is for Panda. . . .There’s pandemonium in Green Lawn! The town is building a new park for a panda and her baby. But as soon as the pandas arrive, the baby is stolen! All the panda-nappers want...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Quicksand Question
A to Z Mysteries #17Q is for Quicksand. . . . Everyone in Green Lawn is quaking about the ducks that keep crossing River Road. But just when the town raises enough cash to build a special duck bridge,...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
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A to Z Mysteries: The Runaway Racehorse
R is for Racehorse . . . And they’re off! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are excited to see Uncle Warren’s new racehorse, Whirlaway, in action. But the night before the big race, the horse disappears!...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
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A to Z Mysteries: The School Skeleton
S is for Skeleton. . . .It’s a bone-afide mystery at Dink’s school. Some sneaky soul has stolen the skeleton from the nurse’s office! The principal promises free aquarium tickets to the...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #4: A Spy in the White House
KC’s mom is getting married . . . to the President of the United States! KC wants the day to be perfect, but someone keeps leaking wedding secrets. The newspapers have even printed where the president...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
A to Z Mysteries: The Talking T. Rex
Meet Tyrone the Tyrannosaurus, Green Lawn’s newest–and biggest!–visitor. The kids’ old friend Jud Wheat is in town, and he’s raising funds for a dinosaur museum by taking...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Unwilling Umpire
The whole town has turned out to watch the Green Lawn women challenge the men—and to see Mr. Pocket’s prized baseball collection. But sometime during the game, the balls are stolen! The police...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Vampire's Vacation
V is for Vampire . . .Grab your garlic, Green Lawn! When Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose follow a pale, dark-haired stranger into Ellie’s Diner, he vanishes! But Ellie has a cut on her neck . . . or could...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
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A to Z Mysteries: The White Wolf
W is for Wolf. . . . Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are thrilled to visit Wallis Wallace at her new cabin in the Maine wilderness. On their very first day, they glimpse a white wolf and her babies on a cliff....
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #5: Who Broke Lincoln's Thumb?
It’s party time in Washington, D.C.! The president is planning a celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in honor of the man who sculpted the famous statue of Lincoln. But KC and Marshall notice one...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
A to Z Mysteries: The X'ed-Out X-Ray
X is for X-RAY . . . Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are having an excellent time at the Penelope Gwinn concert. But during intermission, Dink injures his arm! At the same time, the singer’s diamond necklace...
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- eBook
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Yellow Yacht
Y is for YACHT . . . Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose love visiting their friend Sammi, the prince of Costra. They swim, soak in the sun, and admire the bright yellow yacht that is moored just offshore. But the...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The Zombie Zone
Z is for ZOMBIE . . .Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are excited to vacation in the Louisiana bayou. But the small village they visit has a scary problem. The villagers tell stories of voodoo and a giant zombie...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #1: January Joker
A brand-new series by Ron Roy, spun off from A to Z Mysteries!Green Lawn, we have a problem! When Bradley Pinto wakes up in the night to strange lights in his backyard, he thinks there are aliens in town....
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #2: February Friend
A brand-new series by Ron Roy, spun off from A to Z Mysteries!It's a Valentine's Day party! Bradley is passing out his class’s valentines, but one of them has no name on it. Inside, the card tells...
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- eBook
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #3: March Mischief
It's St. Patrick's Day in Green Lawn. Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy dress up a leprechaun statue for the town’s yearly contest. They leave it out on the porch overnight, but the next morning, it’s...
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- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #4: April Adventure
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose have hidden Easter eggs for the younger kids to find. Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy have no trouble finding the plastic eggs. But some of the golden eggs disappear! Can the four...
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- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #5: May Magic
In the fifth book of the Calendar Mysteries—a new early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives—twins Bradley and Brian Pinto are getting...
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- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #6: June Jam
In the sixth book of the Calendar Mysteries—a new early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives—Bradley, Brian, Nate and Lucy are getting...
Available In:
- Unabridged Audiobook Download
- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: The X'ed-Out- X-Ray
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are having an excellent time at the Penelope Gwinn concert. But during intermission, Dink injures his arm! At the same time, the singer’s diamond necklace is stolen. Could...
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A to Z Mysteries: Books A-C
The Absent AuthorA is for author. . . Dink writes to his favorite author, mystery writer Wallis Wallace, and invites him to visit Green Lawn. To Dink’s amazement, Wallace says he’ll come! But...
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A to Z Mysteries: Books D-G
The Deadly DungeonDink’s favorite mystery writer, Wallis Wallace, has invited Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose for a sleepover—in a haunted castle! Will they discover who—or what—is haunting...
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Capital Mysteries Collection
Meet KC and Marshall—and help them solve four exciting mysteries in Washington, D.C.! #1 Who Cloned the President?: When KC notices the President acting different on TV, she thinks he’s been...
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Favorite Series Starters Boxed Set
Let the adventures begin!What do the Magic Tree House, Junie B. Jones, A to Z Mysteries, Andrew Lost, and Nate the Great series have in common? Not only are the main characters spunky and lovable kids...
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Capital Mysteries #12: The Ghost at Camp David
Capitalize on kids' interest in President Obama, Washington, D.C., and the White House with the newly rebranded Capital Mysteries series!Legend says that on each dead president's birthday, his ghost haunts...
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- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
Capital Mysteries #13: Trapped on the D.C. Train!
All aboard the D.C. train for the 13th book in the Washington mystery series, Capital Mysteries!Marshall and KC have tickets to ride! They're taking the express train from Union Station—it even has...
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- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: Collection #1
Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve their first four mysteries!A is for AUTHOR . . .Dink writes to his favorite author, mystery writer Wallis Wallace, and invites him to visit Green Lawn. Wonder of wonders,...
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A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #4: Sleepy Hollow Sleepover
More adventure, more illustrations, more Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. . . . A to Z fun keeps on coming!Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are spending Halloween in Sleepy Hollow, home of the legendary Headless Horseman....
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- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries Super Edition #5: The New Year Dragon Dilemma
Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are in San Francisco, home of the biggest Chinatown outside of Asia! Their tour guide, Holden, is going to take them to the famous Chinese New Year parade. Best of all, Holden's...
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- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #7: July Jitters
In the seventh book of the Calendar Mysteries—an early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives—the kids and their pets are going to march...
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- Trade Paperback
- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
Calendar Mysteries #8: August Acrobat
In the eighth book of the Calendar Mysteries—an early chapter book mystery series featuring the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries detectives—Bradley, Brian, Nate and Lucy go to trapeze...
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- eBook
- Hardcover Library Binding
A to Z Mysteries: Books H-J
THE HAUNTED HOTELH Is for Haunted . . . A ghost has checked into the Shangri-la Hotel! It’s almost Halloween, andreports of strange sounds and even stranger sights are coming from Green Lawn’s...
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