Five Favorite Mysteries . . . by Marcia Wells *PLUS A GIVEAWAY!

Know any young mystery fans? Looking for a fast-paced page-turner that they won't be able to put down? Then you're in luck! Today Marcia Wells, author of the highly praised Eddie Red Undercover mystery series, is here and she's sharing her five favorite middle grade mysteries! 

 

"Mysteries come in all shapes and sizes. There are police crime stories and detective who-dunnits, ghost hauntings and supernatural thrillers. This is true from middle grade all the way through adult novels. It's difficult for me to narrow my favorites down to a Top Five, but I will say that it is crucial to read a lot of kinds of mysteries to see which type grabs you as a writer. 

The latest EDDIE RED UNDERCOVER mystery! Coming this April!

Here are five very different mysteries that have helped me on my mystery-writing journey:

5. Belly Up 

by Stewart Gibbs

Here's what Amazon says: Twelve-year-old Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt Fitzroy believes that Henry, the hippopotamus at the brand-new FunJungle, has been murdered. The zoo’s top brass claim the hippo went belly up the natural way, but Teddy and his feisty friend Summer McCraken have other ideas. I loved the zany setting, as well as the unusual stakes involved. A cranky hippo that has a long list of enemies? Brilliant. Teddy is a charming character and there are a lot of cool zoo details. 

4. The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls 

by Claire Legrand

Kids go in to the home and never come out...need I say more? Talk about a spooky mystery! The author maintains a fabulous amount of creepy tension without making it too scary for young readers. Great pacing and suspense.

3. Hoot 

by Carl Hiassen

This book is a great example of a police crime mystery for kids. There's a new kid in town and he's thrown into a world of bullies, alligators, eco-warriors, pancakes, and pint-sized owls. The mystery is funny as it is compelling. It has a boy protagonist, but also switches to a few adult POVs as the plot thickens. It's brilliantly woven together, and won the Newbery Honor Award.

2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 

by J.K. Rowling

We all know about Harry Potter and his magical world. But each book also contains a TON of mystery. From the first pages, multiple mysteries are introduced and woven throughout the book for an incredible page-turner. If you want to study great pacing, reread the Harry Potter series with mysteries in mind.

1. Three Times Lucky 

by Sheila Turnage

Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. When a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known. This book has it all! Fabulous tension, amazing voice and endearing characters, all set in a town that's both spooky and charming. No wonder it won the Newbery Honor Award!"

*AND NOW ... GIVEAWAY TIME! FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF MARCIA'S EDDIE RED UNDERCOVER: MYSTERY ON MUSEUM MILE, TELL US YOUR FAVORITE MYSTERY IN THE COMMENTS SECTION! 

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 25th!

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About Marcia Wells

Marcia Wells is the author of the Edgar-nominated middle grade mystery series EDDIE RED UNDERCOVER. In a former life she taught middle school math and Spanish. She lives in New England with her family, and knows entirely too much about chickens, pigs, and Nerf sword fighting. To learn more about Marcia and her books, visit her website.

 About Marcia's books

EDDIE RED UNDERCOVER:

MYSTERY ON MUSEUM MILE

Illustrated by Marcos Calo

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, March 2015 

ISBN-13 978-0544439405

Art, mystery, fun and friendship, combine in this illustrated middle grade series debut. 

“This is a strong start to a promising new series, and as Eddie would say, it’s über-cool.” — Booklist

“(An) effervescent debut. . . . A sure pleaser for Cam Jansen grads or anyone fond of knotty, lightweight capers solved with brainpower (and a little luck).” — Kirkus 

NEW! Coming April 7, 2015!
EDDIE RED UNDERCOVER:
MYSTERY IN MAYAN MEXICO 
Illustrated by Marcos Calo
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 2015
ISBN-13: 978-0544302068

Now that he has become the NYPD’s youngest crime-solving hero, Eddie Red and his best friend Jonah are ready to relax on a family vacation to Mexico. But when Eddie’s father is falsely accused of stealing, what they find is another complex mystery. Can Eddie – with his artistic talent and photographic memory – and Jonah uncover clues and catch the real crook in time?

"All three kids are realistic and likable. . . . Fast paced enough to keep those who crave adventure turning pages. Refreshingly, this book features an African American protagonist."  —School Library Journal

Click here for a sneak peek!

Mr. Pig LIVE! . . . with The Narrator

Who is today's guest on my hit talk show, Mr. Pig LIVE?

a.) an elusive character who is in no mood to share any facts about his—or her!—life
b.) someone from THE TEMPLETON TWINS hit series who has condescended me with an interview
c.)  all of the above

Answer: c. Please welcome the one, the only . . .

THE NARRATOR! 

<<gasp! applause>>

Thanks for coming, The Narrator! I understand that John and Abigail couldn't make it due to mysterious circumstances, so you will be answering on their behalf. What are your full names?
John’s name is John Elton Templeton. Abigail’s name is Abigail Emily Templeton. My name, for all intents and purposes, is The Narrator.
 
What one word best describes you?
John says, “Systematic.” Abigail says, “Deductive.” Actually, neither of them say any such thing. But in my opinion, those are what they SHOULD say, so let’s leave it at that. As for me, perhaps the best single word to describe me is, “Pretty much unbelievably brilliant.” I realize those are four words. But each one is a single word, so let’s leave it at that.



I'm too afraid of you to disagree. What is the best thing about being you?

The best thing about being John is, he is happily at home in his own mind. The best thing about being Abigail is, she is happily at home in the world. The best thing about being me is, the fact that I’m so wonderful.

Is there a worst thing about being you?

The worst thing about being John is, having to be distracted by things in the world. The worst thing about being Abigail is, having to deal with stupid people. The worst thing about being me is, having to bother answering questions about John, Abigail, and everyone except myself.



Oh my! Sorry. If you three were stranded on a desert island, what would you bring?

John would bring Abigail, and she would bring a two-man submersible submarine with which to return to civilization. I would bring an excellent library, a lifetime supply of good self-preparing food, a solar-powered electric generator, a handsome three-story Tudor townhouse, a computer with broadband capability, and a helicopter which I would somehow already know how to fly.



From The Templeton Twins by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeremy Holmes.

 
Of course. If you all could have any superpower, what would it be?

John would like super speed. Abigail would like x-ray vision. I would like the ability to be awake and asleep at the same time, so I could enjoy being myself even at night.

What is your idea of the perfect day?

For John, a perfect day includes shutting out the other team in soccer (he plays defense), executing a clever new figure on the drums, and reading a great book. For Abigail, a perfect day includes scoring a goal in soccer, successfully solving a difficult cryptic crossword puzzle without having to look at the answer in the back of the book, and reading a great book.  For myself, a perfect day includes being me, all day.


What are you three reading right now?

John is reading Camp Bad Guy, book 1 (The Worst Kids in the World) by Ellis Weiner, available in e-book form wherever e-books in e-book form are available. Abigail is reading Camp Bad Guy, book 1 (The Worst Kids in the World), etc. I am reading Anti-Intellectualism in American Life, by Richard Hofstadter, shaking my head sadly at every page and murmuring, “Alas, how true…”

From The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeremy Holmes.


What is your favorite word?

John’s is PARADIDDLE, which is a kind of drum pattern, in which you hit with one stick, then the other, then twice with the first, like this: R L RR or L R LL (where R = Right hand and L = Left hand).  Abigail’s is STAR, because the same letters can be arranged into RATS, TARS, ARTS, and STRA, which is not a word but which should be. My favorite word is POOL, because backwards it’s LOOP, and if you loop around loop you get pool, and if you swim back pool you get loop. I just made that up and I’m delighted with it.

Brilliant! What is you least favorite word?

We don’t have any. Oh, all right, we do. John’s is CRIMP, because he finds it unpleasant. Abigail’s is APOTHEGM (“APP-o-thhem”) because of that horrible “GM” at the end. Mine is QUEUE because, as with BANANA, one never knows when to stop writing it.



B-a-n-a-n-a-n-a-n-a--. I see what you mean. What is your favorite sound?

John’s is the sound of his Sabian HHX Evolution Ozone Crash cymbal. Abigail’s is the snap you get when you break a carrot in half. Mine is the silence that arrives the moment after your computer shuts off.



What is your least favorite sound?

John hates the whine of a dentist’s drill. Abigail hates the sound of a roller applying paint to a wall. I hate the sound of half the people on radio and television and online, whose nasal voices have no business being near a microphone.



Share one thing that most of our readers don’t know about you.
 
For John, it’s that he wishes he were taller. For Abigail, it’s that she hates cilantro. For me, it’s that I wish my ears were smaller.

From The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright by Jeremy Holmes.

If you could dine with three characters from other books, who would they be?

For John, it’s Harry Potter, Lyra from The Golden Compass, and Huckleberry Finn. For Abigail, it’s Sherlock Holmes, Hazel (the rabbit) from Watership Down, and Frodo Baggins. For me, it’s Catnip Everclear...no, sorry, I mean Capncrunch Evermore...that doesn’t look right, either...Carteblanch Evinrude...oh, never mind.


If a genie gave you one wish, what would you wish for?

John would wish to be able to laugh as readily as his sister. Abigail would wish to be as musical as her brother. I would wish for both of those things for myself.

What is in your pockets right now?

In John’s pocket are a drum key, some coins, and two hard candies welded to their cellophane wrappers. In Abigail’s pocket are one of those tiny pencils like you get at miniature golf courses, a pack of bubble gum, and (for some reason) one of Cassie’s dog treats. In my pocket are a set of keys, some coins, and an old Ibuprofen tab.

From The Templeton Twins Make a Scene by Ellis Weiner. Illustration copyright 2014 by Jeremy Holmes.

What is your most embarrassing moment?

John has never been embarrassed. Abigail’s most embarrassing moment was when she misspelled “rhythm” in a spelling bee in school. Mine was when, in tenth grade, on the first day, the head librarian came over the PA to announce that anyone who turned in library books that were overdue “would get a D on their report card in Library.” I was very indignant about this, and announced to the whole class how unfair that was. Everyone looked at me as though I were insane, and yelled, “SHE WAS KIDDING.”


What is your pet peeve?

John’s is people who pretend to know things they don’t. Abigail’s is people who don’t know how much they don’t know. Mine is other people.


What was it like working with Ellis Weiner?

For John, it was an exquisite pleasure, since Mr. Ellis Weiner taught him a few things about playing drums. For Abigail, it was a sheer delight, since he taught her some tricks and tips about doing cryptic crossword puzzles. For me it was absolute torment. But in a good cause.

Thank you, The Narrator! Now if you could spare us a bit more of your time, our caterer Nina from Mamabelly's Lunches with Love has prepared you a puzzler of a lunch. Can you figure it out?
 

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About The Templeton Twins series 
by Ellis Weiner, illustrated by Jeremy Holmes
Published by Chronicle Books   
 
THE TEMPLETON TWINS MAKE A SCENE
ISBN 978-1452111841 (October 2013)

Abigail and John Templeton find themselves at TAPAS (the Thespian Academy of the Performing Arts and Sciences) where their father, the illustrious Professor Templeton, has been hired to invent a groundbreaking theatrical device. Once again, there is drama (of course!), silliness, and suspense, as the twins (and their ridiculous dog) must thwart the dastardly Dean brothers in order to save the invention as well as their father (and the dog). Oh yes, there is sure to be another recipe. This time for guacamole. Or is it coleslaw?

"As irresistible and hilarious as its predecessor. . . . This humorous story is sure to entertain reluctant and avid readers alike." —School Library Journal

"The intrusive, self-absorbed narrator hogs the limelight and keeps the vocabulary words and brainy laughs coming." —The San Francisco Chronicle

THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA
ISBN 978-1452127040 (August 2012)

"This entertaining series will win over word lovers, mystery and puzzle solvers, fans of gadgets and those who previously had not thought of themselves as readers" —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"This book a) is extraordinarily snarky, b) has glorious illustrations, c) is sure to be a hit, d) all of the above?" —NerdyBookClub.com

"The scene-hogging narrator steals the show in this clever series opener." —Kirkus Reviews

 
 About the author

Ellis Weiner was an editor for Spy magazine and National Lampoon. He has also written a lot of funny books for grown-ups. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea and its sequel, The Templeton Twins Make a Scene, are his first books for children.To learn more about Ellis, visit his website. 
The Narrator is in no mood to share any more facts about his—or her!—life. He’ll tell you what he wants you to know when he feels like it. If you must, follow him at @TheTTNarrator