What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mystery on Apache Canyon Drive
A wholesome family mystery series for tweens and teens, 10-15 years
“What? Wait! Is that a little girl running onto the highway? Right in front of us? Oh my gosh!”
Only a hair-raising rescue can save a small child from certain death, but who is the mystery girl? Where did she come from? What happened to her family? Why is she out in Arizona’s rugged canyon country, just outside Prescott, all by herself?
What happens to her if there are no answers?
And is one mystery about to become two? How is that even possible? Are the two connected? Our four young detectives must connect the dots, otherwise. . .
The "mystery searchers" are born, but are they about to step straight into danger?
Good, old-fashioned sleuthing and a range of hi-tech tools are deployed in a clean, wholesome crime drones, web-enabled cameras, listening bugs, GPS tools and more. . . much more! In this series, you will step into the modern-day heart of Arizona’s Old West with our young high desert rolling hills, pine-dotted mountains, and the immense Prescott National Forest; the famous old Opera House; Whiskey Row (not what you’d think); Yavapai County Courthouse, and Skull Valley. Whoa!
Deserted mansions, lonely valleys, and hidden treasures. . . action and adventure, crime and mystery, clean and wholesome. This a ride you won’t want to miss!
Interview with the author
Q - What makes The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series so special?
It’s a mix of things, really. When I started the series, I wanted to integrate the things that I liked as a 10-15 year-old. . . from the 4th or 5th grade all the way into junior high school. I loved mystery books which lead, often, to mystery solving, crime and detective stories, and action and adventure. So I would devour books like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five series. I quickly realized that clean, wholesome books were important too, and I’ve integrated that concept in every Mystery Searchers installment.
Q - What order should I read the books in?
I’ve written the series so that you can read them in any order. By the time you finish any one of the books, all the threads will come together.
Q – Are there more installments coming in the series?
None currently planned, but there ARE twelve exciting books in the series to enjoy.
Q - Does the author offer any other clean, wholesome books for this age group?
Yes! The first installment of The Time Travelers Series will be released in July, 2023.
“What? Wait! Is that a little girl running onto the highway? Right in front of us? Oh my gosh!”
Only a hair-raising rescue can save a small child from certain death, but who is the mystery girl? Where did she come from? What happened to her family? Why is she out in Arizona’s rugged canyon country, just outside Prescott, all by herself?
What happens to her if there are no answers?
And is one mystery about to become two? How is that even possible? Are the two connected? Our four young detectives must connect the dots, otherwise. . .
The "mystery searchers" are born, but are they about to step straight into danger?
Good, old-fashioned sleuthing and a range of hi-tech tools are deployed in a clean, wholesome crime drones, web-enabled cameras, listening bugs, GPS tools and more. . . much more! In this series, you will step into the modern-day heart of Arizona’s Old West with our young high desert rolling hills, pine-dotted mountains, and the immense Prescott National Forest; the famous old Opera House; Whiskey Row (not what you’d think); Yavapai County Courthouse, and Skull Valley. Whoa!
Deserted mansions, lonely valleys, and hidden treasures. . . action and adventure, crime and mystery, clean and wholesome. This a ride you won’t want to miss!
Interview with the author
Q - What makes The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series so special?
It’s a mix of things, really. When I started the series, I wanted to integrate the things that I liked as a 10-15 year-old. . . from the 4th or 5th grade all the way into junior high school. I loved mystery books which lead, often, to mystery solving, crime and detective stories, and action and adventure. So I would devour books like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five series. I quickly realized that clean, wholesome books were important too, and I’ve integrated that concept in every Mystery Searchers installment.
Q - What order should I read the books in?
I’ve written the series so that you can read them in any order. By the time you finish any one of the books, all the threads will come together.
Q – Are there more installments coming in the series?
None currently planned, but there ARE twelve exciting books in the series to enjoy.
Q - Does the author offer any other clean, wholesome books for this age group?
Yes! The first installment of The Time Travelers Series will be released in July, 2023.
- GenresMystery
146 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2019
About the author
Barry Forbes
30 books3 followersBarry Forbes began his writing career in 1980, writing and producing literally hundreds of film and video corporate presentations, winning a handful of industry awards along the way. At the same time, he served as an editorial writer for Tribune Newspapers and wrote his first two books, both non-fiction.
In 1997, he founded and served as CEO for Sales Simplicity Software, a market leader which was sold two decades later.
What next? "I always loved mystery stories and one of my favorite places to visit was Prescott, Arizona. It's situated in rugged Central Arizona with tremendous locales for mysteries." In 2017, Barry merged his interest in mystery and his skills in writing, adding in a large dollop of technology. The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series was born. The first seven books are available now, and book eight will be released Spring, 2021.
Barry's wife, Linda, passed away in 2019 and The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series is dedicated to her. "Linda proofed the initial drafts of each book and acted as my chief advisor." The couple had been married for 49 years and had two children. A number of their fifteen grandchildren provided feedback on each book. Contact Barry: barry@mysterysearchers.com
In 1997, he founded and served as CEO for Sales Simplicity Software, a market leader which was sold two decades later.
What next? "I always loved mystery stories and one of my favorite places to visit was Prescott, Arizona. It's situated in rugged Central Arizona with tremendous locales for mysteries." In 2017, Barry merged his interest in mystery and his skills in writing, adding in a large dollop of technology. The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series was born. The first seven books are available now, and book eight will be released Spring, 2021.
Barry's wife, Linda, passed away in 2019 and The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series is dedicated to her. "Linda proofed the initial drafts of each book and acted as my chief advisor." The couple had been married for 49 years and had two children. A number of their fifteen grandchildren provided feedback on each book. Contact Barry: barry@mysterysearchers.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 31, 2021
The Mystery on Apache Canyon Drive is the first novel in the mystery searchers series, which incorporates four teenagers (siblings and friends) who live in Prescott, Arizona who solves mysteries.
For only being about 120 odd pages, this novel was wholesome with two great mysteries. A child is found on a highway and while the four mystery searchers investigate into finding her mother, another mystery springs up. Now the question to answer: Are the two mysteries tied together?
The plot of the novel felt very much like an Encyclopedia Brown novel except there’s more than one “detective” but there is also a father who is in law enforcement.
I also enjoyed that the plot takes place in Arizona and the mention of spicy Mexican food brings back memories of me living in Minnesota and missing the good ole’ Mexican food that Arizona has to offer.
I highly recommend this fast pace novel to any middle grader intrigued by a good mystery book.
For only being about 120 odd pages, this novel was wholesome with two great mysteries. A child is found on a highway and while the four mystery searchers investigate into finding her mother, another mystery springs up. Now the question to answer: Are the two mysteries tied together?
The plot of the novel felt very much like an Encyclopedia Brown novel except there’s more than one “detective” but there is also a father who is in law enforcement.
I also enjoyed that the plot takes place in Arizona and the mention of spicy Mexican food brings back memories of me living in Minnesota and missing the good ole’ Mexican food that Arizona has to offer.
I highly recommend this fast pace novel to any middle grader intrigued by a good mystery book.
May 19, 2020
I had never heard of this series before, but as most of you know I am a big supporter of daily read aloud time & I am always searching for new books. So when the author, Barry Forbes, asked me if Jack and I would like to review this book I immediately said yes.
The “Mystery Searchers” pulled out all of the stops to solve their first mystery together. They interviewed neighbors, went undercover in a warehouse, put up spy cameras, and even flew drones to gather enough evidence to bring the bad guys down.
This was a great “clean” page-turner. Jack kept asking me to read more… Fast forward three hours and we were done! When you read a book in one sitting, you know it is a good one.
A special thank you to Barry Forbes for sending us a copy of your book. We look forward to reading the rest of the series soon.
The “Mystery Searchers” pulled out all of the stops to solve their first mystery together. They interviewed neighbors, went undercover in a warehouse, put up spy cameras, and even flew drones to gather enough evidence to bring the bad guys down.
This was a great “clean” page-turner. Jack kept asking me to read more… Fast forward three hours and we were done! When you read a book in one sitting, you know it is a good one.
A special thank you to Barry Forbes for sending us a copy of your book. We look forward to reading the rest of the series soon.
November 17, 2021
By: Desmond
Age: 14
Book: The Mystery on Apache Canyon Drive
Author: Barry Forbes
The Mystery on Apache Canyon Drive kept me interested throughout the book, and I do not regret reading it. The beginning of the book started very intriguingly, and I found it enjoyable. A great introduction seemed necessary to draw me into the plot and the setting and even learn some backstory. The characters seemed likable and were very interesting to learn about. This book is a great, wholesome novel for mature middle schoolers who can handle some sensitive topics. In the book, there is very little violence and absolutely no bad language. At times I felt a lot of suspense and commonly found myself sitting at the edge of my seat. This novel has many great things about it, however, the slightly unrealistic elements are certainly a downside to this novel. I feel the adults trust their kids a bit too much, to be believable. The four main teenagers go on intense, and dangerous missions that should only be for law enforcement. Overall I did enjoy this novel and recommend it for mature middle schoolers, and for studying in class.
Age: 14
Book: The Mystery on Apache Canyon Drive
Author: Barry Forbes
The Mystery on Apache Canyon Drive kept me interested throughout the book, and I do not regret reading it. The beginning of the book started very intriguingly, and I found it enjoyable. A great introduction seemed necessary to draw me into the plot and the setting and even learn some backstory. The characters seemed likable and were very interesting to learn about. This book is a great, wholesome novel for mature middle schoolers who can handle some sensitive topics. In the book, there is very little violence and absolutely no bad language. At times I felt a lot of suspense and commonly found myself sitting at the edge of my seat. This novel has many great things about it, however, the slightly unrealistic elements are certainly a downside to this novel. I feel the adults trust their kids a bit too much, to be believable. The four main teenagers go on intense, and dangerous missions that should only be for law enforcement. Overall I did enjoy this novel and recommend it for mature middle schoolers, and for studying in class.
November 17, 2021
The Mystery On Apache Canyon Drive, by Barry Forbes, proves both his writing talent and his flaws, while this novel, at times, fails to captivate me, it still succeeds at entertaining me, at age 12.
First, the flaws act as ailments of the story and do their best to drag it down. One of the most prominent, and frustrating, flaws in this story, the main characters always maintaining an unbelievable perfection, manifests itself throughout the novel. For instance, regardless of what inconceivable crime currently besets the Arizona small town, the four children can always think of the perfect solution in a matter of minutes. In addition, their nonsensical schemes always end perfectly, even when they face dangerous criminals. The plot of this book, while mildly interesting, also finds itself riddled with issues, such as the fact that even with its suggesting title, this book suffers from a lack of mystery. This story also did not include a shocking twist ending, but instead brings forth a much-anticipated, and disappointing, ending. Furthermore, this book provides a myriad of information, long before the end of the story, failing to preserve even a morsel of room for a surprising ending. Although this book contains an abundance of flaws, it still manages to include an abundance of good and intricate details.
The many enjoyable elements of this novel outweigh the negative sections, without question. Firstly, while I generally found that it neglects to feature a multitude of gripping moments of suspense, it luckily still kept me on the edge of my seat. When the brave mystery searchers help a poor woman, Teresa Perez, escape a sweatshop. This riveting scene in this novel forced my heart to pound uncontrollably, the amazing writing of this section fulfills its job by completely transporting me into the moment, and making me feel as if I had turned into a mystery searcher, myself! This book, in addition to its transcendent scenes, also contains a sufficient level of entertainment. Moderately interesting plots fill this book and help to make it remarkable. Additionally, the villains remain well-developed characters who effectively cause revulsion, and utterly embody malevolence. Regardless, of the negative components of this story, Forbes’s writing still succeeded in holding my attention
All things considered, this novel, even with its great moments, just does not measure up, and in all honesty, I do not recommend it.
First, the flaws act as ailments of the story and do their best to drag it down. One of the most prominent, and frustrating, flaws in this story, the main characters always maintaining an unbelievable perfection, manifests itself throughout the novel. For instance, regardless of what inconceivable crime currently besets the Arizona small town, the four children can always think of the perfect solution in a matter of minutes. In addition, their nonsensical schemes always end perfectly, even when they face dangerous criminals. The plot of this book, while mildly interesting, also finds itself riddled with issues, such as the fact that even with its suggesting title, this book suffers from a lack of mystery. This story also did not include a shocking twist ending, but instead brings forth a much-anticipated, and disappointing, ending. Furthermore, this book provides a myriad of information, long before the end of the story, failing to preserve even a morsel of room for a surprising ending. Although this book contains an abundance of flaws, it still manages to include an abundance of good and intricate details.
The many enjoyable elements of this novel outweigh the negative sections, without question. Firstly, while I generally found that it neglects to feature a multitude of gripping moments of suspense, it luckily still kept me on the edge of my seat. When the brave mystery searchers help a poor woman, Teresa Perez, escape a sweatshop. This riveting scene in this novel forced my heart to pound uncontrollably, the amazing writing of this section fulfills its job by completely transporting me into the moment, and making me feel as if I had turned into a mystery searcher, myself! This book, in addition to its transcendent scenes, also contains a sufficient level of entertainment. Moderately interesting plots fill this book and help to make it remarkable. Additionally, the villains remain well-developed characters who effectively cause revulsion, and utterly embody malevolence. Regardless, of the negative components of this story, Forbes’s writing still succeeded in holding my attention
All things considered, this novel, even with its great moments, just does not measure up, and in all honesty, I do not recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2024
I love that there are mystery books for tweens. A great way to get them thinking about what to do and who did it, etc.
This story is about a brother and sister, (twins) who find a baby on the side of the road. They engage their two other friends and start looking into where this little girl came from.
With more digging they uncover something else very sinister and with the help of their dad, who is the Sheriff, they find the girl's mom and help the police with the other 'bad' issue.
What I really didn't like was the fact that the father, the Chief of police, letting the kids wander around, ask questions and get involved in the mess. If that was my dad, he would lock me in my room until he solved the mystery. But no, they tell him what's going on, he says, "oh that sounds dangerous, so be careful!" BE CAREFUL!!! REALLY?!?! Didn't like that at all.
But overall good mystery.
This story is about a brother and sister, (twins) who find a baby on the side of the road. They engage their two other friends and start looking into where this little girl came from.
With more digging they uncover something else very sinister and with the help of their dad, who is the Sheriff, they find the girl's mom and help the police with the other 'bad' issue.
What I really didn't like was the fact that the father, the Chief of police, letting the kids wander around, ask questions and get involved in the mess. If that was my dad, he would lock me in my room until he solved the mystery. But no, they tell him what's going on, he says, "oh that sounds dangerous, so be careful!" BE CAREFUL!!! REALLY?!?! Didn't like that at all.
But overall good mystery.
December 29, 2025
A little Hispanic girl (about 4 or 5) runs into the middle of the road. She’s hurt and starving, so teenage siblings take her in, with the help of their police officer father.
When they pull over after saving the girl, a giant scary man in a black van pulls over and mimes shooting the teens.
While handing out fliers asking people for info about the mute-from-trauma girl, they find the wack job that pretended to shoot them.
The brother thinks that’s fine, nothing to worry about, and doesn’t question him.
The police officer father thinks that’s fine, nothing to worry about, and does NOT protect his kids and does NOT question the scary man who is CLEARLY A HUMAN TRAFFICKER!!
Still a good book!
When they pull over after saving the girl, a giant scary man in a black van pulls over and mimes shooting the teens.
While handing out fliers asking people for info about the mute-from-trauma girl, they find the wack job that pretended to shoot them.
The brother thinks that’s fine, nothing to worry about, and doesn’t question him.
The police officer father thinks that’s fine, nothing to worry about, and does NOT protect his kids and does NOT question the scary man who is CLEARLY A HUMAN TRAFFICKER!!
Still a good book!
September 19, 2020
Book one in the Mystery Searchers book series is an exciting middle-grade read reminiscent of Enid Blyton's Famous Five. In their first mystery, the Mystery Searchers, a group of two brother/sister duos, go all out to figure out why a little girl was left alone on a remote stretch of highway. With the aid of new technology, the gang interview persons of interest, go undercover, and do everything they can to gather enough evidence to uncover a wider mystery. This was a fun and relatively quick read of just under 125 pages. The Mystery on Apache Canyon Drive provides good, clean entertainment for middle-graders who love an adventure.
April 13, 2022
This is a well-written & edited story about young people who work together to disrupt a human trafficking ring in Arizona. There is enough plot and technical detail in the story to keep detail-oriented young readers engaged for sure. I was hoping the finale would be a little more explosive but I don't think this detracted from the book's purpose. The unique scene settings in northern Arizona (an area I'm familiar with) are a welcome change in a genre where too many stories seem to be set in Manhattan. And, as the author advertises, this book is certainly clean enough for readers whose parents have a preference for minimal profanity/vulgarity/sexual content.
January 15, 2021
Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys set in this generation, high-tech mystery solving! This is book one in a series of 8 (and counting); clean, wholesome, and heart-racing action. It is marketed for ages 10-15, my only concern with that is, book one deals with a heavy topic (human trafficking). It is not one I would just hand to my middle schooler to read on his own. But the author offers free study guides that go with each book, which are perfect discussion starters for some really important topics in this day and age. It is an excellent series to read with your tweens and teens and discuss.
Want to Read
January 31, 2023I think that this book is really good it has an interesting story line and altogether a decent plot, but there were parts of this book that I didn't like. one of these parts was the repetition. the four main characters were ALWAYS referred to as the "foursome" all of the time. at some parts you couldn't go a page without reading the word. it was so common in the book that i stopped enjoying it as much. don't get me wrong I do suggest this book for early teens and tweens but be carful you don't get angry reading the same word over and over again.
May 10, 2021
My 13 year old grandson read this book. He said it was a great read that held his attention from page one. It had twists and turns that had you coming back to see what happened next. He can’t wait to read another by this author. It is recommended for 11-15 and it was a definite hit for us!
September 15, 2025
This one had my daughter and me hooked from the first page. Great characters and connections! The content was a bit heavy for a 9 year old- discussing human smuggling, immigration, etc. But; overall a great read. She is ready to dive into the next book.
August 23, 2020
A fun read for young people! Lots of action and excitement.
September 29, 2020
I really enjoyed it. I can’t wait to read book 2!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews