First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is pleased to announce a selection of new mystery, suspense and thriller books (including series books) scheduled for publication during January 2012, listed in approximate order of reading level, from books for younger readers to books for teens.
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The Mystery in Venice
Elisabetta Dami as Geronimo Stilton
A Geronimo Stilton Mystery
When my friend Petunia Pretty Paws gave me a crystal figurine of a boat as a gift, I had to accept it. After all, I have the biggest crush on Petunia! But oh, was that crystal boat ugly! So I wasn't too sad when my cousin Trap accidentally broke it, especially when I discovered a piece of paper inside with a mysterious message from someone in Venice, Italy, asking for help! A gentlemouse never ignores a request for assistance. So I, Geronimo Stilton, would do whatever it took to save the day!
The Geronimo Stilton mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.
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The Make-a-Pet Mystery
Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew
In this 31st book of the series, River Heights has gone gaga over Make-a-Pets! Nancy and her friends are excited to make their own cuddly stuffed animals—and play the online game Petopia that goes along with Make-a-Pet animals.
But when Nancy’s friend, Violet, discovers that Hoppity, her Make-a-Pet, is missing, the Clue Crew is called on to help find the missing bunny. It seems there are a few possible suspects—including Violet’s best friend, Sonia, who claims Violet stole the idea about Hoppity from her. Could Violet’s best friend be the culprit? Or is the real thief even more of a surprise?
Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew mysteries are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.
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The Case of the Diamonds in the Desk
Lewis B. Montgomery
A Milo & Jazz Mystery
A jewelry store is robbed. A diamond necklace mysteriously shows up in Milo’s desk at school. The connection is crystal clear … isn’t it? Detective duo Milo and Jazz tackle their eighth case!
The Milo & Jazz mystery series books are recommended for readers aged 7 to 9.
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Vanishing Acts
Leslie Margolis
A Maggie Brooklyn Mystery
When a movie starring tween heartthrob Seth Ryan starts filming in Park Slope, everyone gets movie mania-including Maggie Brooklyn Sinclair. Though her plans to become a movie extra don't quite work out, Maggie manages to capture Seth's attention and he seeks her out at the Pizza Den to talk. But just when Maggie's life is feeling like a romantic comedy, Seth disappears! Everyone thinks he's been kidnapped, but Maggie knows better in this second book of the series.
Maggie Brooklyn mysteries are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.
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The Whites of Their Eyes
Andrew Clements
Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers School
This could be the last great Memorial Day weekend on Barclay Bay, and Ben knows it. This time next year, he might not be able to stand in the yard of the Oakes School and watch the harbor shake off winter—boats buzzing just beyond the bulkhead and families spreading picnics in the fields. If the school gets torn down and replaced by an amusement park, the town will never be the same. But that’s only if the school gets torn down. Ben and Jill are determined to keep that from happening. And the evil janitor Lyman has taken note. He’s following their every move—and undoing their progress along the way. Good thing Ben and Jill have a secret weapon. (Who knew that annoying Robert Gerritt would be such a spy wiz?) But Lyman has a secret weapon as well: a vicious guard dog. These kids are smart, but can they outsmart Lyman—and his beast—as the clock tick, tick, ticks toward total demolition? (This is the 3rd book in this series.)
Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers School books are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.
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Stealing Magic
Marianne Malone
A Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventure
Ruthie and Jack thought that their adventures in the Thorne Rooms were over … until miniatures from the rooms start to disappear. Is it the work of the art thief who's on the loose in Chicago? Or has someone else discovered the secret of the Thorne Rooms' magic?
Ruthie and Jack's quest to stop the thief takes them from modern day Chicago to 1937 Paris to antebellum South Carolina. But as more items disappear, including the key that allows them to shrink and access the past worlds, what was once just an adventure becomes a life and death race against the clock. Can Ruthie and Jack catch the thief and help the friends they meet on the way before the magic—and the rooms—are destroyed forever?
The Sixty-Eight Rooms Adventures are recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.
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Ghost Detective
Diana Shaw
With his young friend Thomas, and the great detective, Sherlock Holmes for inspiration, William sets out to investigate mysterious happenings in and around Hardleigh Manor, all with a little help from his readers …
Can William stop the bicycle thief? Who is causing the sabotage at Hardleigh Hotel? Floods, false trails, enormous exploding marrows and suspects upended in pig swill — all in a day's work for William!
Loaded with clue summaries, suspect lists and lots of action, readers can help William and Thomas in their efforts to become great detectives.
This non-series book is recommended for readers aged 10 to 12.
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Movie Mayhem
Franklin W. Dixon
The Hardy Boys, Undercover Brothers
Frank and Joe Hardy have been posing as extras on the set of the upcoming teen movie, Deathstalker. The star, an ingenue named Anya, has already had her trailer burn down, and the Undercover Brothers had their work cut out for them keeping her safe at a comic book convention. But though the threats haven’t stopped, the filming has begun and enough is enough: It’s time to get to the bottom of who’s behind all the movie mayhem—and the Undercover Brothers will do just that in the conclusion to this thrilling trilogy!
The Hardy Boys, Undercover Brothers books are recommended for readers aged 10 and older.
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First Clues: Mysteries for Kids is your source for information on over 200 mystery series for children and young adults, where each series is conveniently listed under four different age categories (New Sleuths, ages 4 to 6; Future Sleuths, ages 7 to 9; Sleuths in Training, ages 10 to 12; and Apprentice Sleuths, ages 13 and older).