Gitta loves helping her grandfather in his antique store in the center of old Munich, Germany. When a Stradivarius violin finds its way into the shop, he explains to his granddaughter how precious the instrument is and shows her how wonderful it sounds when it is played. Their quiet time of sharing is interrupted by a beautiful lady, then by two more customers and, finally, by Gitta’s friend Pompom who beckons to her and invites her on one of her games of playing detective.Gitta is only half willing to follow Pompom on her ‘wild goose chase.’ She has no interest in being a detective, yet Pompom’s adventures often get her in trouble, and Gitta usually tries to talk her out of some wild plan. The two are the best of friends, although they are very different. Gitta is athletic and a good student, whereas Pompom has a vivid imagination and would just as soon skip school altogether.Pompom is in the process of spying and Gitta joins her which leads to a very unpleasant experience when the would-be suspect catches them. Undeterred, Pompom then talks her friend into pursuing the beautiful lady whom they see leaving the store, just ‘for practice,’ as Pompom puts it. They follow her and see her having coffee with one of the two men who entered the store after her. Pompom finds this peculiar, but Gitta’s mind is not on spying. She wants to go back to the shop because she knows her grandfather counts on her help.When they return to the antique store, bad news awaits them. The precious Stradivarius has disappeared and a police officer, Inspector Weiss is interviewing Herr Neubauer, Gitta’s grandfather, who is very distressed. Gitta feels upset and guilty because she stayed away playing silly games while her grandfather got into such serious trouble. But Pompom is in her element. Finally she is having a part in a real case.There are, of course, obstacles to her taking full responsibility for solving the mysterious disappearance of the violin. She knows well from previous experience that her opinions and her keen ‘detective nose’ are usually not taken seriously, not even by her best friend. Nevertheless, Gitta wants to help her grandfather and chooses to believe her when Pompom promises that she will find the solution to the puzzle and swears secrecy as Pompom requests.Pompom is suspicious of everybody who has come in contact with the violin. One of them, she figures, has to be the thief. She doesn’t even trust the kindly ‘Herr Kadinsky,’ a famous violinist, who tells Herr Neubauer that he has waited a long time for this Stradivarius, and certainly not the beautiful ‘Glove Lady’ or her companion ‘Dapper Dan’ and, above all, not the sinister ‘Gray Man.’ In fact, he is first on her list.When the ‘Glove Lady’ returns to the shop to pick up a purchase on another day, the two friends follow her again and discover where she lives, in the elegant hotel ‘Vier Jahreszeiten.’ Gitta thinks that she is too beautiful and well-dressed to be a criminal, but Pompom distrusts all that finery and believes the elegant lady is a fake of some kind. And besides, what was she doing having coffee with ‘Dapper Dan’, when she pretended not to know him in the store?At Pompom’s suggestion, they return to the hotel in disguise and Pompom manages to sneak in while Gitta stays outside to watch for other possible criminals. Just as she is beginning to get bored, she spots the ‘Gray Man’ entering the hotel and now, even she has to agree that there is something fishy about the whole thing. Is her connected with the ‘Glove Lady?”In the meantime, Pompom has bumped into Herr Kadinsky who is also staying at the ‘VierJahreszeiten’ hotel. She tells Gitta they have been invited by him to enjoy a wonderful tea with pastries, hot chocolate, whipped cream, and all the trimmings. Yet Pompom is still suspicious, especially when Herr Kadinsky asks them to make him a promise. No matter what they find out, he insists, they must let him know before they do something on their own. Gitta is only too glad to have a grown-up to fall back on and makes Pompom shake on it, but Pompom is not about to keep a promise she does not believe in, and she tells Gitta so, once they are outside again.When Gitta reports that she has seen the ‘Gray Man,’ Pompom becomes excited and they continue their spying on the hotel. They find out what room the ‘Glove Lady’ is in and are caught peeping through the key hole by no other than ‘Dapper Dan’ who drags them before the ‘Gray Man.’ He is terrible in his fury about the interruption. Gitta wants only to run, but she can tell by the sparkle in Pompom’s eyes how thrilled she is to be in the middle of a ticklish situation. The ‘Glove Lady’ is all for letting the two girls go, but the ‘Gray Man’ has become suspicious and gets even angrier at her suggestion. In the end, Pompom persuades him that they are innocent of spying, but were only looking for a friend, a certain ‘Herr Kadinsky.’ The ‘Gray Man’ curses them and sends them on their way because he has better things to do than deal with two nosey brats.Now Pompom no longer needs to convince Gitta that something very fishy is going on. Gitta is frightened of the ‘Gray Man’ and believes him capable of any crime. Although Pompom would like to stay close to the hotel and watch further, Gitta insists they leave. She has to get back to the store, or else her grandfather will be asking questions which she may not be able to answer, and she has never lied to him and does not want to start now.The following day, they are back at their post and when the ‘Gray Man’ appears, they follow him because Pompom is determined to find out where he is going. She is convinced the violin is not in the hotel but stashed away some other place. Gitta reminds her of the promise made to Herr Kadinsky, but Pompom waves it aside. There is no time! On the way, Gitta suddenly remembers that she has left her doll ‘Amarind’ behind at the advertising pillar they have been hiding behind while spying on the ‘Glove Lady’ and her two companions. She returns to get the doll, but when she rushes back, Pompom has disappeared.Gitta is frightened out of her wits. She can feel it in her bones that Pompom is dangerously in trouble. The ‘Gray Man’ will make her confess, even though Pompom has assured her repeatedly that even standing on hot coals would not get a word out of her. Gitta can see her in her mind’s eye with smoke coming out of nose and ears. What, oh what, is she to do? She begins to cry and wish she had never been a part of this wild adventure. But crying will not solve the problem or help Pompom. She gulps down her tears and decides to go for help, keeping in mind Pompom’s warning that adults don’t take children seriously.But Gitta’s distress is so convincing that the police officer she speaks to listens when she tells him about a child having been kidnapped and of the three people who have stolen a precious violin from her grandfather’s shop. Even though the police officer is astonished at the strangeness of such a story, he believes her and they go in search of the lost Pompom on his motor cycle. As luck will have it, they encounter a truck on the way. The driver is ‘Dapper Dan.’ They follow the truck to find out where it is going, then return to town to report to Inspector Weiss who is ready in minutes to go after the thieves and the violin. Herr Kadinsky, on his way to a rehearsal, changes his mind and joins the inspector and his men as they drive out to catch the criminals and rescue Pompom.Meanwhile, Pompom has, as Gitta suspects, been discovered by ‘Dapper Dan’ and hauled off to the criminals’ hiding place which is a remote house in the country. She is far too tickled to be frightened, although the ‘Gray Man’ treats her roughly. He is furious about the interference in his plans, and would like to get rid of her. The ‘Glove Lady’ objects to harming the girl. She is, it turns out, is a fake, as Pompom claimed from the beginning. She is an actress who was hired by the ‘

Gitta loves helping her grandfather in his antique store in the center of old Munich, Germany. When a Stradivarius violin finds its way into the shop, he explains to his granddaughter how precious the instrument is and shows her how wonderful it sounds when it is played. Their quiet time of sharing is interrupted by a beautiful lady, then by two more customers and, finally, by Gitta’s friend Pompom who beckons to her and invites her on one of her games of playing detective.Gitta is only half willing to follow Pompom on her ‘wild goose chase.’ She has no interest in being a detective, yet Pompom’s adventures often get her in trouble, and Gitta usually tries to talk her out of some wild plan. The two are the best of friends, although they are very different. Gitta is athletic and a good student, whereas Pompom has a vivid imagination and would just as soon skip school altogether.Pompom is in the process of spying and Gitta joins her which leads to a very unpleasant experience when the would-be suspect catches them. Undeterred, Pompom then talks her friend into pursuing the beautiful lady whom they see leaving the store, just ‘for practice,’ as Pompom puts it. They follow her and see her having coffee with one of the two men who entered the store after her. Pompom finds this peculiar, but Gitta’s mind is not on spying. She wants to go back to the shop because she knows her grandfather counts on her help.When they return to the antique store, bad news awaits them. The precious Stradivarius has disappeared and a police officer, Inspector Weiss is interviewing Herr Neubauer, Gitta’s grandfather, who is very distressed. Gitta feels upset and guilty because she stayed away playing silly games while her grandfather got into such serious trouble. But Pompom is in her element. Finally she is having a part in a real case.There are, of course, obstacles to her taking full responsibility for solving the mysterious disappearance of the violin. She knows well from previous experience that her opinions and her keen ‘detective nose’ are usually not taken seriously, not even by her best friend. Nevertheless, Gitta wants to help her grandfather and chooses to believe her when Pompom promises that she will find the solution to the puzzle and swears secrecy as Pompom requests.Pompom is suspicious of everybody who has come in contact with the violin. One of them, she figures, has to be the thief. She doesn’t even trust the kindly ‘Herr Kadinsky,’ a famous violinist, who tells Herr Neubauer that he has waited a long time for this Stradivarius, and certainly not the beautiful ‘Glove Lady’ or her companion ‘Dapper Dan’ and, above all, not the sinister ‘Gray Man.’ In fact, he is first on her list.When the ‘Glove Lady’ returns to the shop to pick up a purchase on another day, the two friends follow her again and discover where she lives, in the elegant hotel ‘Vier Jahreszeiten.’ Gitta thinks that she is too beautiful and well-dressed to be a criminal, but Pompom distrusts all that finery and believes the elegant lady is a fake of some kind. And besides, what was she doing having coffee with ‘Dapper Dan’, when she pretended not to know him in the store?At Pompom’s suggestion, they return to the hotel in disguise and Pompom manages to sneak in while Gitta stays outside to watch for other possible criminals. Just as she is beginning to get bored, she spots the ‘Gray Man’ entering the hotel and now, even she has to agree that there is something fishy about the whole thing. Is her connected with the ‘Glove Lady?”In the meantime, Pompom has bumped into Herr Kadinsky who is also staying at the ‘VierJahreszeiten’ hotel. She tells Gitta they have been invited by him to enjoy a wonderful tea with pastries, hot chocolate, whipped cream, and all the trimmings. Yet Pompom is still suspicious, especially when Herr Kadinsky asks them to make him a promise. No matter what they find out, he insists, they must let him know before they do something on their own. Gitta is only too glad to have a grown-up to fall back on and makes Pompom shake on it, but Pompom is not about to keep a promise she does not believe in, and she tells Gitta so, once they are outside again.When Gitta reports that she has seen the ‘Gray Man,’ Pompom becomes excited and they continue their spying on the hotel. They find out what room the ‘Glove Lady’ is in and are caught peeping through the key hole by no other than ‘Dapper Dan’ who drags them before the ‘Gray Man.’ He is terrible in his fury about the interruption. Gitta wants only to run, but she can tell by the sparkle in Pompom’s eyes how thrilled she is to be in the middle of a ticklish situation. The ‘Glove Lady’ is all for letting the two girls go, but the ‘Gray Man’ has become suspicious and gets even angrier at her suggestion. In the end, Pompom persuades him that they are innocent of spying, but were only looking for a friend, a certain ‘Herr Kadinsky.’ The ‘Gray Man’ curses them and sends them on their way because he has better things to do than deal with two nosey brats.Now Pompom no longer needs to convince Gitta that something very fishy is going on. Gitta is frightened of the ‘Gray Man’ and believes him capable of any crime. Although Pompom would like to stay close to the hotel and watch further, Gitta insists they leave. She has to get back to the store, or else her grandfather will be asking questions which she may not be able to answer, and she has never lied to him and does not want to start now.The following day, they are back at their post and when the ‘Gray Man’ appears, they follow him because Pompom is determined to find out where he is going. She is convinced the violin is not in the hotel but stashed away some other place. Gitta reminds her of the promise made to Herr Kadinsky, but Pompom waves it aside. There is no time! On the way, Gitta suddenly remembers that she has left her doll ‘Amarind’ behind at the advertising pillar they have been hiding behind while spying on the ‘Glove Lady’ and her two companions. She returns to get the doll, but when she rushes back, Pompom has disappeared.Gitta is frightened out of her wits. She can feel it in her bones that Pompom is dangerously in trouble. The ‘Gray Man’ will make her confess, even though Pompom has assured her repeatedly that even standing on hot coals would not get a word out of her. Gitta can see her in her mind’s eye with smoke coming out of nose and ears. What, oh what, is she to do? She begins to cry and wish she had never been a part of this wild adventure. But crying will not solve the problem or help Pompom. She gulps down her tears and decides to go for help, keeping in mind Pompom’s warning that adults don’t take children seriously.But Gitta’s distress is so convincing that the police officer she speaks to listens when she tells him about a child having been kidnapped and of the three people who have stolen a precious violin from her grandfather’s shop. Even though the police officer is astonished at the strangeness of such a story, he believes her and they go in search of the lost Pompom on his motor cycle. As luck will have it, they encounter a truck on the way. The driver is ‘Dapper Dan.’ They follow the truck to find out where it is going, then return to town to report to Inspector Weiss who is ready in minutes to go after the thieves and the violin. Herr Kadinsky, on his way to a rehearsal, changes his mind and joins the inspector and his men as they drive out to catch the criminals and rescue Pompom.Meanwhile, Pompom has, as Gitta suspects, been discovered by ‘Dapper Dan’ and hauled off to the criminals’ hiding place which is a remote house in the country. She is far too tickled to be frightened, although the ‘Gray Man’ treats her roughly. He is furious about the interference in his plans, and would like to get rid of her. The ‘Glove Lady’ objects to harming the girl. She is, it turns out, is a fake, as Pompom claimed from the beginning. She is an actress who was hired by the ‘

In the third book of the mystery series by Agnes Maria Trifontaine we meet Andy, Gitta’s cousin. Andy hates Venice, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, because he had very different plans. Meeting an extraordinary boy, who turns out to be a girl, opens his eyes. Gina is the perfect guide to introduce him to the wonders and magic of her city. But who is Gina? A duchess? A tourist guide? A gondolier? And who is the mysterious stranger with a face like a pirate? Is the famous tiara in danger of being lost? Will the family of di Monteverdo survive without it? These and other questions have to be answered. Andy turns detective, like his cousin, to do so. However, being arrested is not part of the plan. Read about the amazing discoveries Andy makes and about the wonderful solution to a heartbreaking problem. Keep your eyes peeled for the new installment to the series, ‘Arrest That Ghost,’ which brings all the characters together at an ancient castle. Do ghosts exist and are they dangerous? Finding the answer to this question takes some expert detective work. Pompom investigates with the help of her friends.

In the third book of the mystery series by Agnes Maria Trifontaine we meet Andy, Gitta’s cousin. Andy hates Venice, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, because he had very different plans. Meeting an extraordinary boy, who turns out to be a girl, opens his eyes. Gina is the perfect guide to introduce him to the wonders and magic of her city. But who is Gina? A duchess? A tourist guide? A gondolier? And who is the mysterious stranger with a face like a pirate? Is the famous tiara in danger of being lost? Will the family of di Monteverdo survive without it? These and other questions have to be answered. Andy turns detective, like his cousin, to do so. However, being arrested is not part of the plan. Read about the amazing discoveries Andy makes and about the wonderful solution to a heartbreaking problem. Keep your eyes peeled for the new installment to the series, ‘Arrest That Ghost,’ which brings all the characters together at an ancient castle. Do ghosts exist and are they dangerous? Finding the answer to this question takes some expert detective work. Pompom investigates with the help of her friends.

No Description Available.

Thirteen year old Rose Royal loves her father’s Collies and knows that his overdue bank loan to old Mr. Cornelius must be paid off soon…regardless of where the money comes from; the sale of Princess’ new litter of puppies or from Duke winning the World Cup Championship at the Denver Kennel Club this week-end. As the story progresses, although encountering sabotage, a mysterious murder attempt, and her own fears, Rose begins to experience an unexplained healing power within her. Rose Royal is a new breed of young heroine calling upon her faith in God to strengthen and enable her.

Set in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1956, three eleven year old children try to find a ghost that lives in the Chauncey House Mansion.

The story leaps to England in the year 1860, where the original Chauncey family have their estates.

Neville and Martha Chauncey are forced to flee to America in order to escape an unscrupulous law man that helps kidnap young women to sell them to the highest bidder.

While traveling to San Francisco, they become heroes when they assist in stopping a train from being robbed.

The Chaunceys’ move to West Palm Beach, Florida and build the Chauncey House Mansion.

The story then reverts back to the year 1956 and the three children.

Crescent Grey loved adventure, and found it in the pages of books, but in the real world life wasn’t always so great. Orphaned before her first birthday she grew up in the most miserable place imaginable and stranger still, it also just happened to bear her name. But Crescent Grey Orphanage was no ordinary orphanage. An ancient, dark place with a long history of being haunted and other kinds of weird happenings — a gruesome graveyard, old scary paintings, hidden passageways and odd teachers suspiciously traipsing about at all hours of the night. Everyone seems to have a secret here — including Crescent herself.

Not knowing who she really was, what her real name is or who her parents were had a profound effect on her and gave Crescent a penchant for solving mysteries and an irresistible curiosity that always seemed to land her in the worst kinds of trouble. Then, a few months before her eleventh birthday she finds a chance to escape her dreary surroundings and forget her mysterious past. Adopted by a caring couple, she finally thinks she is going to lead a normal life. Only something is about to happen to her that will turn her world upside down, make her question everything she knows and change that life forever. Sent back to the place she grew up and forced into a rigorous routine she hates, full of frets about her grades, dodging dreadful teachers, evading awful bullies and putting up with embarrassing situations.

But in the midst of it all she finds things she never truly expected, even from herself: friendship, loyalty, and bravery. And all the while the greatest mystery of all is taking shape around her — an old evil is brewing, and unbeknown to staff and students alike a series of events is about to unfold that will renew a deadly danger and bring full circle a dark connection from the past which lies at the very heart of the orphanage itself. Caught up in events no adult will believe are Crescent and her friends, and its up to them to solve the mystery, catch the culprit and save the day. But the way is fraught with peril, and a diabolical adversary who comes at them from every turn. And while they must face their fears and confront the enemy, they soon realize that the end of the mystery is only the beginning of the greatest adventure of their lives….

Crescent Grey loved adventure, and found it in the pages of books, but in the real world life wasn’t always so great. Orphaned before her first birthday she grew up in the most miserable place imaginable and stranger still, it also just happened to bear her name. But Crescent Grey Orphanage was no ordinary orphanage. An ancient, dark place with a long history of being haunted and other kinds of weird happenings — a gruesome graveyard, old scary paintings, hidden passageways and odd teachers suspiciously traipsing about at all hours of the night. Everyone seems to have a secret here — including Crescent herself.

Not knowing who she really was, what her real name is or who her parents were had a profound effect on her and gave Crescent a penchant for solving mysteries and an irresistible curiosity that always seemed to land her in the worst kinds of trouble. Then, a few months before her eleventh birthday she finds a chance to escape her dreary surroundings and forget her mysterious past. Adopted by a caring couple, she finally thinks she is going to lead a normal life. Only something is about to happen to her that will turn her world upside down, make her question everything she knows and change that life forever. Sent back to the place she grew up and forced into a rigorous routine she hates, full of frets about her grades, dodging dreadful teachers, evading awful bullies and putting up with embarrassing situations.

But in the midst of it all she finds things she never truly expected, even from herself: friendship, loyalty, and bravery. And all the while the greatest mystery of all is taking shape around her — an old evil is brewing, and unbeknown to staff and students alike a series of events is about to unfold that will renew a deadly danger and bring full circle a dark connection from the past which lies at the very heart of the orphanage itself. Caught up in events no adult will believe are Crescent and her friends, and its up to them to solve the mystery, catch the culprit and save the day. But the way is fraught with peril, and a diabolical adversary who comes at them from every turn. And while they must face their fears and confront the enemy, they soon realize that the end of the mystery is only the beginning of the greatest adventure of their lives….

Hunter and Blake are friends who have set a trap to catch alien creatures who have invaded Hunter’s backyard. After hearing noises and seeing lights, the boys have concocted a plan to catch them. With their plan in place the excitement begins. In the cool of the lazy evening with best friends side by side the story unfolds to include a cat fight, ghostly movement in the trees, and spooky creatures. This story about best friends hanging together to solve a mystery, with an unusual outcome, will send chills and thrills through young readers.

Hunter and Blake are friends who have set a trap to catch alien creatures who have invaded Hunter’s backyard. After hearing noises and seeing lights, the boys have concocted a plan to catch them. With their plan in place the excitement begins. In the cool of the lazy evening with best friends side by side the story unfolds to include a cat fight, ghostly movement in the trees, and spooky creatures. This story about best friends hanging together to solve a mystery, with an unusual outcome, will send chills and thrills through young readers.

Diana and Dave, along with her cousin Meg and the gang, help their friend Chuck and his invalid uncle who own the local Amusement Park find the answer to their dilemma after they encounter strange happenings at the park.  With fire, and rides breaking down, and a Phantom in the Spook House terrorizing the customers, puts Chuck and his uncle on the verge of bankruptcy. But the gang is persistent to the end in unraveling the mystery of Playland Park.

Diana and Dave, along with her cousin Meg and the gang, help their friend Chuck and his invalid uncle who own the local Amusement Park find the answer to their dilemma after they encounter strange happenings at the park.  With fire, and rides breaking down, and a Phantom in the Spook House terrorizing the customers, puts Chuck and his uncle on the verge of bankruptcy. But the gang is persistent to the end in unraveling the mystery of Playland Park.

No Description Available.

Sophy’s Stars is a mystery novel for middle readers. Eleven-year-old Linda Aldrich of tiny Tresserville, Montana, was perfectly happy (or would have been, if her parents hadn’t been in danger of losing their general store) until author Chet Saunders decided to use the town for a publicity stunt to sell books. Linda’s friend and the town’s famous resident, retired silent star Sophy Worth, is the subject of Saunders latest biography. To promote the book he is putting on a contest; a trip to New York for the girl who can best reproduce the dress Sophy wears in her famous one-reeler, “Sophy at the Depot.”

In the film, the Depot Dress had jewels sewn into the hem. Rumor has it that the original dress does too, but Sophy - who owns the dress - scoffs at that. Still, the real dress disappears the night before the contest. Did Allie, Linda’s best friend, take it? Why?

Linda accuses Allie, and loses a friend. She also takes on Saunders, upsetting him and her family - then finds out that the thief is her own sister Carole.

Should she tell on Carole? Or try to get the dress back? She chooses the second way, and finds herself suspected of the theft by both the author and her old friend Sophy.

Still, Linda can’t worry about that now, because she must make amends to Allie. She helps her with her contest entry, even though sewing is definitely not her thing. The resulting dress is a total disaster. Linda doesn’t see how things could be worse.

But at the contest, Allie’s dress and Allie herself come through beautifully. Carole does too, and Saunders even rises to the occasion.

Still, the true star, as always, is Sophy Worth who comes up with a surprise that astounds everyone, and saves the store in bargain.