What do you think?
The Mystery Series, Short Story #2
The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes
Are you up for a thrilling adventure?
When twelve year old Joe Mitchell, along with his two younger sisters, arrive at the sleepy seaside town of Smugglers Cove, they're expecting a quiet and uneventful holiday.
But before long they fall into one adventure after another. Following on from their wild exploits in The Mystery of Smugglers Cove, as well as the castle adventure in The Mystery of the Missing Money, the children get caught up in another mystery when someone starts stealing garden gnomes.
Who would do such a thing? What is so important about these gnomes? And what lengths will the children have to go to in order to catch the criminal?
When twelve year old Joe Mitchell, along with his two younger sisters, arrive at the sleepy seaside town of Smugglers Cove, they're expecting a quiet and uneventful holiday.
But before long they fall into one adventure after another. Following on from their wild exploits in The Mystery of Smugglers Cove, as well as the castle adventure in The Mystery of the Missing Money, the children get caught up in another mystery when someone starts stealing garden gnomes.
Who would do such a thing? What is so important about these gnomes? And what lengths will the children have to go to in order to catch the criminal?
ebook
First published June 16, 2012
About the author
Paul Moxham
92 books105 followersPaul Moxham hails from Melbourne, Australia. He's best known for his children's mystery series which follows Joe, Amy, Sarah, and Will as they have adventures in 1950's Britain.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 15, 2012
I received a free copy of this book from the author, through LibraryThings; an honest review was requested.
“The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes” by Paul Moxham is a cleverly developed young mystery story, not unlike the Hardy Boy mysteries of my youth. Three siblings, Joe, Amy, and Sarah, are visiting the village of Smuggler’s Cove for the summer, where they befriend a local boy, Will. Their summer is filled with adventure and fun; “Missing Gnomes” is just one of the several adventures they enjoy.
In this story, Joe and his sisters see a police car parked in front of a house. Because it is a Sunday morning, they assume something must be happening. Upon approaching the officer, they learn a worthless garden gnome had been stolen… hardly worth calling out the National Guard! But further questioning reveals the fact that this is just the latest of several garden gnomes which have disappeared under suspicious circumstances. The kids are now on the case!
Putting their heads together, comparing facts, and doing some fundamental planning, the young sleuths spend a day or two sneaking around town, spying on gardens with gnomes in them, hoping to catch the perpetrator in the act of stealing his next gnome. Although they are at a loss to explain why anybody would steal worthless garden gnomes, the youngsters ultimately do learn the identity of the thief, and report their findings to the police officer, Constable Biggens.
Biggens and the children confront the thief and catch him with all the loot. However, just in the nick of time his sister arrives and explains to the Constable her brother’s odd behavior. In exchange for returning the gnomes to their homes, and promising to cease his illicit activities, all charges are dropped.
However, you are going to have to read the book yourself to learn all the missing details! It is a cute, fun story. There are more adventures in this series, and I have read two of them; they both are well written and not at all trite.
I highly recommend these stories for the middle-grade readers in your circle of friends and relatives. Even adults will enjoy sitting back and reading these stories for a short break from reality.
“The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes” by Paul Moxham is a cleverly developed young mystery story, not unlike the Hardy Boy mysteries of my youth. Three siblings, Joe, Amy, and Sarah, are visiting the village of Smuggler’s Cove for the summer, where they befriend a local boy, Will. Their summer is filled with adventure and fun; “Missing Gnomes” is just one of the several adventures they enjoy.
In this story, Joe and his sisters see a police car parked in front of a house. Because it is a Sunday morning, they assume something must be happening. Upon approaching the officer, they learn a worthless garden gnome had been stolen… hardly worth calling out the National Guard! But further questioning reveals the fact that this is just the latest of several garden gnomes which have disappeared under suspicious circumstances. The kids are now on the case!
Putting their heads together, comparing facts, and doing some fundamental planning, the young sleuths spend a day or two sneaking around town, spying on gardens with gnomes in them, hoping to catch the perpetrator in the act of stealing his next gnome. Although they are at a loss to explain why anybody would steal worthless garden gnomes, the youngsters ultimately do learn the identity of the thief, and report their findings to the police officer, Constable Biggens.
Biggens and the children confront the thief and catch him with all the loot. However, just in the nick of time his sister arrives and explains to the Constable her brother’s odd behavior. In exchange for returning the gnomes to their homes, and promising to cease his illicit activities, all charges are dropped.
However, you are going to have to read the book yourself to learn all the missing details! It is a cute, fun story. There are more adventures in this series, and I have read two of them; they both are well written and not at all trite.
I highly recommend these stories for the middle-grade readers in your circle of friends and relatives. Even adults will enjoy sitting back and reading these stories for a short break from reality.
December 26, 2016
Joe, Amy, Sarah and their friend Will are definitely amateur detectives. Fun Kid series. This time Joe is really bored and wishes they had an adventure to solve. Then police cars come whizzing by. The kids jump on their bikes and head to town to find out what is going on—the police chief knows them well. Nothing you can help with he tells them—some Russian spies are in the area. That sounds scary. But as usual the kids get involved weather they like it or not—they are taken hostage. They have a boat and the kids have to take the bad guys out to the island—but, they know the island like the back of their hand and leave a cryptic message for the police. Will they be able to get away in time, will the police find them or will they be whisked away to another country!! Read this new installment and find out. I highly recommend this book.
November 7, 2015
Will these kids figure this mystery out next?
I enjoyed this neat and exciting mystery of the missing gnomes! And such a clean reads ebook too! A great for about any kid or even a grownup who lives to read shorter and yet much cleaner mysteries than some adult mysteries are. So this is why zi would recommend this for not only five stars but for young and older ones to read. I received this ebook for free and in return am leaving an honest review! Super work Paul! By Angela
I enjoyed this neat and exciting mystery of the missing gnomes! And such a clean reads ebook too! A great for about any kid or even a grownup who lives to read shorter and yet much cleaner mysteries than some adult mysteries are. So this is why zi would recommend this for not only five stars but for young and older ones to read. I received this ebook for free and in return am leaving an honest review! Super work Paul! By Angela
December 7, 2016
I want to live in Smugglers Cove
The children are having the most awesome adventures. There's plenty of mystery and mayhem for them as they spend their Sumner holidays together solving crimes. X
The children are having the most awesome adventures. There's plenty of mystery and mayhem for them as they spend their Sumner holidays together solving crimes. X
June 1, 2020
Paul Moxham – The Mystery Series Short Bk 2 – The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes – Reviewed 9/12/13
Garden Gnomes disappearing everywhere, who can it be? Another great adventure to be had…
Following on from their adventure at Brackness Castle, the Mystery Kids find themselves in another exciting mystery when gnomes start disappearing from people's gardens. Who would do such a thing? What is so important about the gnomes? What lengths will the children have to go to in order to catch the criminal? Set in 1950's Britain, this adventure story will suit anyone who enjoys Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, or the Famous Five.
What did I like? In this one, I was so heart warmed with the complete storyline. Things happen in our lives, that just turn the world upside down. I was happy that this could be written so that children could have a chance to hear that even adults have problems and that other adults can have the warmth of the heart to understand. Coping with life at any age is difficult so we need to teach our children that it is ok to hurt.
What will you like? Lots of adventure, exciting to the end of the chase, heartwarming, wonderful ending! The storyline is one of the best so far, I loved the well thought out and emotional content of the ending. One of the best teaching tools a parent has is the reading that their children do. Encouraging them to understand a storyline and how they, themselves can benefit from it is the ultimate goal. Be sure to add this one, it is remarkable!
• File Size: 486 KB
• Print Length: 38 pages
• Publication Date: 9/12/13
• Updated: June 22, 2014
• ASIN: B008C296RQ
• Genre: Children’s European Historical Fiction, Children’s Detectives Books
Garden Gnomes disappearing everywhere, who can it be? Another great adventure to be had…
Following on from their adventure at Brackness Castle, the Mystery Kids find themselves in another exciting mystery when gnomes start disappearing from people's gardens. Who would do such a thing? What is so important about the gnomes? What lengths will the children have to go to in order to catch the criminal? Set in 1950's Britain, this adventure story will suit anyone who enjoys Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, or the Famous Five.
What did I like? In this one, I was so heart warmed with the complete storyline. Things happen in our lives, that just turn the world upside down. I was happy that this could be written so that children could have a chance to hear that even adults have problems and that other adults can have the warmth of the heart to understand. Coping with life at any age is difficult so we need to teach our children that it is ok to hurt.
What will you like? Lots of adventure, exciting to the end of the chase, heartwarming, wonderful ending! The storyline is one of the best so far, I loved the well thought out and emotional content of the ending. One of the best teaching tools a parent has is the reading that their children do. Encouraging them to understand a storyline and how they, themselves can benefit from it is the ultimate goal. Be sure to add this one, it is remarkable!
• File Size: 486 KB
• Print Length: 38 pages
• Publication Date: 9/12/13
• Updated: June 22, 2014
• ASIN: B008C296RQ
• Genre: Children’s European Historical Fiction, Children’s Detectives Books
September 12, 2019
The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes (The Mystery Series Short Story Book 2) by Paul Moxham
This story starts out when the kids meet the new police sheriff and he's asking for their help in solving the mystery of the missing gnomes out of others gardens. He has more important cases to attend to I think.
Children gather their friend Will and they put the clues together-times all were committed, the locations and form a stake out the next day. Love that they meet at the ice cream store to compare notes as Will's father is a famous writer and he always has money from his father.
They put the list of suspects together and figure out which one couldn't have done it til they are playing ball in Will's back yard and he sees things in the old man's house next door that he can't believe. He tells the others and they know they have to notify the police ....
There are circumstances that only the police can handle and this one they take over and come to a decision....
Can't wait to see what trouble the kids get into next....
This story starts out when the kids meet the new police sheriff and he's asking for their help in solving the mystery of the missing gnomes out of others gardens. He has more important cases to attend to I think.
Children gather their friend Will and they put the clues together-times all were committed, the locations and form a stake out the next day. Love that they meet at the ice cream store to compare notes as Will's father is a famous writer and he always has money from his father.
They put the list of suspects together and figure out which one couldn't have done it til they are playing ball in Will's back yard and he sees things in the old man's house next door that he can't believe. He tells the others and they know they have to notify the police ....
There are circumstances that only the police can handle and this one they take over and come to a decision....
Can't wait to see what trouble the kids get into next....
July 23, 2019
The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes (The Mystery Series, Short Story #2) [Kindle Unlimited] — Paul Moxham (0 chapters) July 22, 2019
Paul Moxham’s The Mystery Series is good for beginning chapter readers, but others can read while the young reader follows along. These stories are short mysteries and all clean and not too scary.
These are great book for readers with a shorter attention span, but tend to focus on the boys in the group, more than the girls.
Three stars.
Paul Moxham’s The Mystery Series is good for beginning chapter readers, but others can read while the young reader follows along. These stories are short mysteries and all clean and not too scary.
These are great book for readers with a shorter attention span, but tend to focus on the boys in the group, more than the girls.
Three stars.
March 26, 2022
Fun read
August 15, 2022
A nice early reader mystery about a lonely man and a gang of neighborhood kids who want to do good.
September 28, 2012
I received this book as part of a LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for a review.
This is the third book in the series and makes for a light reading. The adventurous kids are off to solve yet another mystery. Someone is stealing garden gnomes and the cops are clueless as to why would someone do that. The children are determined to catch the thief and so the adventure begins.
This is the second book from the author that I have read. The story is sweet and simple. The writing style is smoother than before. One or two words were missing in the first few lines but otherwise I enjoyed the book and did not really notice any other mistakes. The end is unexpected and yet refreshing. Children would like reading this one.
This is the third book in the series and makes for a light reading. The adventurous kids are off to solve yet another mystery. Someone is stealing garden gnomes and the cops are clueless as to why would someone do that. The children are determined to catch the thief and so the adventure begins.
This is the second book from the author that I have read. The story is sweet and simple. The writing style is smoother than before. One or two words were missing in the first few lines but otherwise I enjoyed the book and did not really notice any other mistakes. The end is unexpected and yet refreshing. Children would like reading this one.
June 28, 2014
I read this book as we were traveling to my husband and son. We really enjoy Paul Moxham's series.
May 28, 2015
I think it was a pretty fun book! I will totally recommended to the people who love Gnomes and believed on them! It is an awesome, funny, mysterious book
January 16, 2016
Not much of a story or much of a mystery. Very little characterization. Other than the ages, the girls were pretty much interchangeable.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews