Charles and The Fall Festival Mystery

Charles only means to enjoy the school fall festival, but everything changes when he hears a rumor that gangster money was hidden somewhere inside Adams Elementary years ago. Most people laugh it off. Charles does not. With his sister Elizabeth, cousin Mary, and a circle of classmates at his side, Charles begins following clue after clue through school hallways, whispered gossip, church talk, and a dark old basement that seems to hold more than dust and shadows. Every answer leads to another question. Then the mystery turns dangerous. A boy named Jacob becomes meaner. A teacher named Mr. Finch seems to know too much. A wireless radio hidden in the basement raises new suspicions. Before long, Charles realizes the adults around him may be hiding more than the children ever imagined. At the same time, Charles cannot stop worrying about his parents in bomb-struck London. While he hunts for hidden treasure in Minnesota, the war feels both far away and terribly close. That gives the story heart as well as mystery, showing how courage can grow even in uncertain times. Charles and the Fall Festival Mystery is a fast-moving historical middle-grade adventure filled with hidden loot, secret passages, festival excitement, wartime longing, and unforgettable friendships. It is a story for readers who love mysteries, autumn settings, clever children, and the thrill of finding truth where no one else thinks to look.

Pages: 278, Paperback, Independently published