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The New Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley #16
The Case of the Rock Star's Secret
When legendary rocker Johnny Sparkle's instrument collection suddenly goes missing, the twins are on a mission to find it and bring the culprit to justice
85 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
About the author
Melinda Metz
119 books638 followersMelinda Metz grew up in San Jose, California. People sometimes ask if she knows the way there. She kinda does, but she has an off-kilter sense of direction, so to be confident of arriving, it's better to consult some kind of navigational device.
Her mother tried to teach her to read in kindergarten, but Melinda had no interest. She also had no interest in learning to write her name. (FYI, when Melinda was in kindergarten it was all about finger-painting, play time, and naps.) Eventually, she mastered both and even majored in English at San Jose State University.
After college, Melinda moved to Manhattan to seek her fortune, which involved learning to identify fruits and vegetables while working at a grocery store,
making $2.73 working backstage for an off-off Broadway play (her part of the box-office profits), and editing books.
Melinda and the lovely and talented Laura J. Burns pretty much became unofficial writing partners when they were editors at the same company. They teamed up to brainstorm story ideas, and at some point their brains fused in some key places. Later they worked on the Roswell High book series, Laura developing and editing the series, Melinda writing.
That series led to Melinda and Laura, now an official writing team, writing two TV pilots, moving to L.A. to work on the Roswell TV show, and briefly living in Toronto while on the writing staff of 1-800-Missing. They both continue to write books, together and separately.
Laura and Melinda's new book, Sanctuary Bay, a YA thriller, is coming out in January 2016. It's set at an ultra-exclusive private school on an island. Once a student is accepted to the school, they must stay until graduation. No visits home, no contact with the outside world at all. Find out why in January!
The first four books in Melinda's new middle-grade mystery series,S.M.A.R.T.S., are out now. The books involve a group of kids in a makerspace club and they all have lots of science info. For all the cool geeks out there!
Melinda lives in Concord, NC with her dog, Scully (yes, she loves the woo-woo so much she named her dog after a kickass X-Files character). She has never regretted learning to read and write her name.
Her mother tried to teach her to read in kindergarten, but Melinda had no interest. She also had no interest in learning to write her name. (FYI, when Melinda was in kindergarten it was all about finger-painting, play time, and naps.) Eventually, she mastered both and even majored in English at San Jose State University.
After college, Melinda moved to Manhattan to seek her fortune, which involved learning to identify fruits and vegetables while working at a grocery store,
making $2.73 working backstage for an off-off Broadway play (her part of the box-office profits), and editing books.
Melinda and the lovely and talented Laura J. Burns pretty much became unofficial writing partners when they were editors at the same company. They teamed up to brainstorm story ideas, and at some point their brains fused in some key places. Later they worked on the Roswell High book series, Laura developing and editing the series, Melinda writing.
That series led to Melinda and Laura, now an official writing team, writing two TV pilots, moving to L.A. to work on the Roswell TV show, and briefly living in Toronto while on the writing staff of 1-800-Missing. They both continue to write books, together and separately.
Laura and Melinda's new book, Sanctuary Bay, a YA thriller, is coming out in January 2016. It's set at an ultra-exclusive private school on an island. Once a student is accepted to the school, they must stay until graduation. No visits home, no contact with the outside world at all. Find out why in January!
The first four books in Melinda's new middle-grade mystery series,S.M.A.R.T.S., are out now. The books involve a group of kids in a makerspace club and they all have lots of science info. For all the cool geeks out there!
Melinda lives in Concord, NC with her dog, Scully (yes, she loves the woo-woo so much she named her dog after a kickass X-Files character). She has never regretted learning to read and write her name.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 10, 2022
I bought a random bundle of Mary-Kate and Ashley mystery books from eBay and this is what happened... https://youtu.be/9zBdErV3UAk
September 12, 2018
This came in to the Little Free Library at work, and I couldn't resist reading through it.
It's not ~good~, and it certainly has all of the gritty realism of the Olsen Twins' direct-to-video films. But it's more fun than I expected, in a goofy, kids-fantasy kind of way.
It's not ~good~, and it certainly has all of the gritty realism of the Olsen Twins' direct-to-video films. But it's more fun than I expected, in a goofy, kids-fantasy kind of way.
September 5, 2017
In this book, MK and Ashley are in a band and there are regulations for the band about the people and the instruments and if they can't have the concert with the regulations the mansion of Joney's will go to his formal manager. But things go wrong. One of the restrictions is that there have to be a boy with red hair and braces. Well he comes to practice and his hair has been dyed black so they try to figure out who tried to stop the show then all the instruments disappear. So they try to find out who did it to stop the show and stop the mansion from becoming a music center.
January 4, 2020
This book is clearly geared towards kids so the mystery is not complex, but I think this book (and the whole series) is a good introduction for kids into the world of mystery. They define words like motive and opportunity and lay out the clues and suspects. It's a very quick read, probably about an hour.
August 4, 2025
Reading this as an adult was a quick and fun ride. I remember loving these books as a child. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they held up to an adult read through. No, it was not a all consuming mystery, but if a kid wanted to read it, I would encourage it.
May 12, 2017
I'm still having fun reading this cute series!
November 23, 2025
I always wanted to read every MK & A book as a kid. Now, having my own little girls makes following through on the goal that much better.
July 1, 2007
Mary-kate and Asley are in a rock band. Whilethey were practicing, wierd things started happening.A huge explosion happended, someone replaced the singer's shampoo with blck hair dye, and their instuments dispeared - right before the concert.
Currently Reading
November 7, 2009THIS BOOK IS GOOD SO FAR
September 20, 2018
The first chapter book I read back when I was seven
Really great book. I have to read it again to recap on what it was about.
Really great book. I have to read it again to recap on what it was about.
October 24, 2013
i think is was awesome so good mua kisses huggs loveed it i have no words html
May 4, 2022
Definitely want to reread all my Mary-Kate and Ashley books for pure nostalgic reasons. Love them all!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews