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KYLE & COREY and the Game-Store Mystery
Kyle & Corey Holley (15 and 12) live in Fairly Springs, a small southern beach town. Kyle is a budding engineer; Corey is impetuous, funny and sports-crazy. Like most brothers, they fight often, but they also solve crimes-like the rash of recent robberies around town. When Kyle and Corey investigate, they learn that in each robbery, the thieves stole a high-end desktop computer. Why? What are they looking for? And how soon till they find it? Other complications include Corey's wheelchair-bound math tutor, Kyle's after-school job in a local game store and a revolutionary new video game launching soon. Kyle and Corey: Brothers. Best Friends. Detectives. They don't go looking for trouble; it has them on speed dial!
- GenresMiddle Grade
250 pages, Paperback
Published June 13, 2021
1 person is currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Joe Stephens
19 books21 followersJoe Stephens is a National Board Certified Teacher at Parkersburg High School. He was a 2005 recipient of the Milken National Educator Award. He has a bachelor’s degree from Glenville State College and a master’s from Walden University. He has self-published five books in the Shalan Adventures series and is working on the sixth while seeking an agent to represent him in selling the whole series for traditional publication.
He is married to the woman of his dreams, Sarah, and has a bonus daughter, Lauren.
He is married to the woman of his dreams, Sarah, and has a bonus daughter, Lauren.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 30, 2021
Kyle & Corey love to go looking for trouble, and they find plenty of it in the Game Story Mystery. The older brother, Kyle, gets really good grades in school and Corey loves playing baseball. They both love video games and Kyle even gets a part-time job in the local game store. He wonders why so many kids at school were fired after just working there for a short time.
Kyle starts to feel like something there might be illegal. He becomes even more curious when a string of burglaries come to their normally-peaceful town. Corey and Kyle have a history of trying to solve mysteries in their town, and now they begin their own investigation. They even try to get information from the police chief.
After another school-mate is brutally attacked by the burglars, Kyle decides to set a trap and try to catch the criminals. He thinks he knows who they are, but is he right? Could he be in danger? The reader will be in for quite a few surprises in this suspense-filled book for juveniles and young adults.
You’ll find 2-3 mild curse words. This is well-written and a real page-turner that young people will enjoy.
Kyle & Corey love to go looking for trouble, and they find plenty of it in the Game Story Mystery. The older brother, Kyle, gets really good grades in school and Corey loves playing baseball. They both love video games and Kyle even gets a part-time job in the local game store. He wonders why so many kids at school were fired after just working there for a short time.
Kyle starts to feel like something there might be illegal. He becomes even more curious when a string of burglaries come to their normally-peaceful town. Corey and Kyle have a history of trying to solve mysteries in their town, and now they begin their own investigation. They even try to get information from the police chief.
After another school-mate is brutally attacked by the burglars, Kyle decides to set a trap and try to catch the criminals. He thinks he knows who they are, but is he right? Could he be in danger? The reader will be in for quite a few surprises in this suspense-filled book for juveniles and young adults.
You’ll find 2-3 mild curse words. This is well-written and a real page-turner that young people will enjoy.
Kyle starts to feel like something there might be illegal. He becomes even more curious when a string of burglaries come to their normally-peaceful town. Corey and Kyle have a history of trying to solve mysteries in their town, and now they begin their own investigation. They even try to get information from the police chief.
After another school-mate is brutally attacked by the burglars, Kyle decides to set a trap and try to catch the criminals. He thinks he knows who they are, but is he right? Could he be in danger? The reader will be in for quite a few surprises in this suspense-filled book for juveniles and young adults.
You’ll find 2-3 mild curse words. This is well-written and a real page-turner that young people will enjoy.
Kyle & Corey love to go looking for trouble, and they find plenty of it in the Game Story Mystery. The older brother, Kyle, gets really good grades in school and Corey loves playing baseball. They both love video games and Kyle even gets a part-time job in the local game store. He wonders why so many kids at school were fired after just working there for a short time.
Kyle starts to feel like something there might be illegal. He becomes even more curious when a string of burglaries come to their normally-peaceful town. Corey and Kyle have a history of trying to solve mysteries in their town, and now they begin their own investigation. They even try to get information from the police chief.
After another school-mate is brutally attacked by the burglars, Kyle decides to set a trap and try to catch the criminals. He thinks he knows who they are, but is he right? Could he be in danger? The reader will be in for quite a few surprises in this suspense-filled book for juveniles and young adults.
You’ll find 2-3 mild curse words. This is well-written and a real page-turner that young people will enjoy.
October 13, 2021
It's been a while since I read a middle grade/YA mystery novel. Even though this is a lot more modern because it deals with gaming and technology, it did take me back to my childhood when I was reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.
These two brothers apparently have a knack for solving mysteries that tend to stump the police and other adults. In fact, in this story, it's their second go-round. So I admit that I was looking for the first book in the series, though this is actually the first book. We get an overview of the first mystery that they solved and I would love to see that fleshed out in its own book some day. Maybe a prequel then? That's the one that sets up their reputation. And this mystery is the one that cements their status.
People are getting robbed in this normally sleep little town, and they all seem to be big ticket items like desktop gaming computers. There's also something fishy going on at the new gaming store that opened up in the past several months. And the brothers are determined to get to the bottom of both of these mysteries.
I admit I had a lot of it figured out pretty quickly, but there were a couple little twists thrown in that kept it entertaining. We also get a good look at the boys' normal lives, between the gaming and the sports and interactions at school, which helps them seem quite realistic and relatable. I felt like I went to school with them.
They make a lot of new friends during this adventurous investigation, and I feel like these other people, including Matthew and the twins, are going to play bigger roles in future cases that may pop up.
Overall, it was quite an entertaining mystery read that I think older kids and teens are going to enjoy. I know I am looking forward to future installments!
Thank you to Goddess Fish and the author for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
These two brothers apparently have a knack for solving mysteries that tend to stump the police and other adults. In fact, in this story, it's their second go-round. So I admit that I was looking for the first book in the series, though this is actually the first book. We get an overview of the first mystery that they solved and I would love to see that fleshed out in its own book some day. Maybe a prequel then? That's the one that sets up their reputation. And this mystery is the one that cements their status.
People are getting robbed in this normally sleep little town, and they all seem to be big ticket items like desktop gaming computers. There's also something fishy going on at the new gaming store that opened up in the past several months. And the brothers are determined to get to the bottom of both of these mysteries.
I admit I had a lot of it figured out pretty quickly, but there were a couple little twists thrown in that kept it entertaining. We also get a good look at the boys' normal lives, between the gaming and the sports and interactions at school, which helps them seem quite realistic and relatable. I felt like I went to school with them.
They make a lot of new friends during this adventurous investigation, and I feel like these other people, including Matthew and the twins, are going to play bigger roles in future cases that may pop up.
Overall, it was quite an entertaining mystery read that I think older kids and teens are going to enjoy. I know I am looking forward to future installments!
Thank you to Goddess Fish and the author for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 15, 2021
4.5 stars
“Kyle and Corey and the Game-Story Mystery” by Joe Stephens centers around two brothers who join together, despite their sibling rivalry, to investigate a string of robberies in their typically quiet town. Kyle, the eldest, is a video game enthusiast, and his specialized knowledge helps him discover a few clues, but it turns out that he needs the help of his younger brother, Corey, to finally crack the case.
This young-adult mystery was such a fun read. I was captured from the very beginning, and I enjoyed watching the brothers approach both the mystery affecting their classmates and their individual responsibilities so differently. I was a big fan of the Hardy Boys, and this evokes their adventures with a modern twist. These two were a bit too perfect in some respects, but I enjoyed their interactions and the compassion they displayed. Those who are concerned with such things should be warned that the point of view switches a bit frequently, but I don’t think it detracted from the mounting suspense and the action.
There are references to a previous case the brothers worked on, but I am under the impression that this is the first in the series and I can’t wait to read more adventures featuring the charismatic Kyle and Corey.
A copy of this title was provided for review
“Kyle and Corey and the Game-Story Mystery” by Joe Stephens centers around two brothers who join together, despite their sibling rivalry, to investigate a string of robberies in their typically quiet town. Kyle, the eldest, is a video game enthusiast, and his specialized knowledge helps him discover a few clues, but it turns out that he needs the help of his younger brother, Corey, to finally crack the case.
This young-adult mystery was such a fun read. I was captured from the very beginning, and I enjoyed watching the brothers approach both the mystery affecting their classmates and their individual responsibilities so differently. I was a big fan of the Hardy Boys, and this evokes their adventures with a modern twist. These two were a bit too perfect in some respects, but I enjoyed their interactions and the compassion they displayed. Those who are concerned with such things should be warned that the point of view switches a bit frequently, but I don’t think it detracted from the mounting suspense and the action.
There are references to a previous case the brothers worked on, but I am under the impression that this is the first in the series and I can’t wait to read more adventures featuring the charismatic Kyle and Corey.
A copy of this title was provided for review
October 14, 2021
I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was a wonderful “blast to the past,” if you will, even though it’s not historical at all. It’s been years since my hardcore gamer days, and this book really put me back in that mindset (minus all the frustration when I couldn’t complete a level I’d done with no problem last time). The video game angle gave this mystery a fun spin, and I enjoyed watching everything unfold.
The characters were pretty great, too. Kyle and Corey’s relationship felt very genuine. I figured out the mystery a bit before the boys did, but that didn’t stop me from admiring their powers of deduction or their very different personalities. Oh, and solving the mystery a bit before them (literally, it was a few pages) in no way means this was poorly plotted. It kept me guessing, and there were lots of possibilities to consider.
I would have loved some more gameplay time, but that didn’t detract either from the story or my enjoyment. I recommend this to fans of YA mystery or 90’s kid mystery books (maybe even 80’s mystery books). I’d definitely pick up more from this author.
More reviews at kitnkabookle.com
This was a wonderful “blast to the past,” if you will, even though it’s not historical at all. It’s been years since my hardcore gamer days, and this book really put me back in that mindset (minus all the frustration when I couldn’t complete a level I’d done with no problem last time). The video game angle gave this mystery a fun spin, and I enjoyed watching everything unfold.
The characters were pretty great, too. Kyle and Corey’s relationship felt very genuine. I figured out the mystery a bit before the boys did, but that didn’t stop me from admiring their powers of deduction or their very different personalities. Oh, and solving the mystery a bit before them (literally, it was a few pages) in no way means this was poorly plotted. It kept me guessing, and there were lots of possibilities to consider.
I would have loved some more gameplay time, but that didn’t detract either from the story or my enjoyment. I recommend this to fans of YA mystery or 90’s kid mystery books (maybe even 80’s mystery books). I’d definitely pick up more from this author.
More reviews at kitnkabookle.com
September 10, 2021
How fun to read. Some of it entirely fiction and other parts as realistic as can be. Brothers argue and pick at one another. True life lessons are learned about acceptance of others. I guess I’m trying to say this is just what I love in a book for a young person. There’s plenty of excitement and mystery here but in all the fun, there is something to learn, something to set aside, an idea to draw on when as a kid you need to make a decision.
Not trying to make this out to be a deep classic. I’m trying to explain that if reading should be fun and yet a learning experience this is a perfect example. I am most certainly not a kid anymore, but I sure didn’t take many breaks while reading it. It was fun and well-written. I’d say the ideal reading age here is maybe age 8 to 13. It could easily vary depending on the reading skills.
If this is a debut for Joe Stephens, he has a winner of a series. Hope he’s writing Book 2 as we speak.
Not trying to make this out to be a deep classic. I’m trying to explain that if reading should be fun and yet a learning experience this is a perfect example. I am most certainly not a kid anymore, but I sure didn’t take many breaks while reading it. It was fun and well-written. I’d say the ideal reading age here is maybe age 8 to 13. It could easily vary depending on the reading skills.
If this is a debut for Joe Stephens, he has a winner of a series. Hope he’s writing Book 2 as we speak.
September 16, 2021
What a fun read! Two brothers working together to solve crime in their hometown in the middle of having regular teen (Kyle) and pre-teen (Corey) challenges makes for a great story. My son is a gamer, so I best connected to how Kyle’s storyline unfolded.
What I enjoyed about Stephens’ work is that he dropped just the right amount of clues to move the story along. It was an easy and engaging read from beginning to end. Though I had figured out most of the pieces before I got there, I still felt satisfied once the story concluded.
The reader will also find a preview from the second book in the Kyle & Corey Mystery series included. I’m glad there will be future adventures for these two brothers. I look forward to more!
What I enjoyed about Stephens’ work is that he dropped just the right amount of clues to move the story along. It was an easy and engaging read from beginning to end. Though I had figured out most of the pieces before I got there, I still felt satisfied once the story concluded.
The reader will also find a preview from the second book in the Kyle & Corey Mystery series included. I’m glad there will be future adventures for these two brothers. I look forward to more!
August 28, 2021
Wouldn’t every young child want to be a hero to their classmates and friends? They can have that vicarious thrill while reading Kyle and Corey. These two brothers who quibble as brothers do, manage to get to the bottom of some mysterious robberies. Along the way they meet a new boy who happens to be in a wheelchair. They forge a friendship through mutual interests as Kyle and Corey learn acceptance and marvel at their new friend’s attitude about life with challenges. Important life lessons are imparted within a fast-paced intrigue with many twists and turns.
September 5, 2021
15-year-old Kyle loves video games and has a knack for solving mysteries. He soon starts working after school at a gaming shop, where he gets an unusual feeling about something. He can’t help his suspicions. Along with his little brother, Corey, he works on several, little mysteries that don’t always involve the game store.
An easy read overall. You mostly hear about the boys in school and in sports. There were some lagging areas, so it took a while to get to the mysteries. It wasn’t as focused on the game store, which was the titular role of the book. Still a nice read.
An easy read overall. You mostly hear about the boys in school and in sports. There were some lagging areas, so it took a while to get to the mysteries. It wasn’t as focused on the game store, which was the titular role of the book. Still a nice read.
December 20, 2021
I loved the themes of this book. Family and sibling relationships were highlighted. They all have their ups and downs and I loved the two boys banter.
Friendships.. they make new friends and encounter many personalities along the way.
Right and wrong. These boys have a drive to help when things go wrong. I love their aspiration to solve the mysteries.
No, it's not the hardest whodunit to uncover, but I still think it will keep young readers entertained and thinking.
Well done, this series and these characters are definitely worth the read of future mysteries.
Friendships.. they make new friends and encounter many personalities along the way.
Right and wrong. These boys have a drive to help when things go wrong. I love their aspiration to solve the mysteries.
No, it's not the hardest whodunit to uncover, but I still think it will keep young readers entertained and thinking.
Well done, this series and these characters are definitely worth the read of future mysteries.
January 4, 2022
This story is above all else, fun and well-written. The main characters are really well developed over the course of the story.
Mystery, a sense of wonder, humor, and mystery are at the forefront and definitely come through and the value is quickly understood and appreciated by the young readers.
A story of mystery and suspense that leads to understanding how to change difficulties into solutions.
It is an entertaining story that shows children the power of their choices.
I love that the audio was able to have the humor come through the pages. These characters really shined.
Mystery, a sense of wonder, humor, and mystery are at the forefront and definitely come through and the value is quickly understood and appreciated by the young readers.
A story of mystery and suspense that leads to understanding how to change difficulties into solutions.
It is an entertaining story that shows children the power of their choices.
I love that the audio was able to have the humor come through the pages. These characters really shined.
July 21, 2021
Delightful story for boys that looks like it can go on and on! Kyle and Corey are real, fleshed-out characters who interact with each other so well, we're always rooting for them.
The story is a complex and layered mystery set in a small town, which gives us time to know the boys and their world, while also pondering the crimes and who- and how-dunit? As it's the first in a series, I look forward to more Kyle & Corey from this talented first-time author!
The story is a complex and layered mystery set in a small town, which gives us time to know the boys and their world, while also pondering the crimes and who- and how-dunit? As it's the first in a series, I look forward to more Kyle & Corey from this talented first-time author!
December 23, 2021
I think this is a great book not only for middle-schoolers but I think it will keep the entire family entertained.
Fun characters who really shined. A mystery that will keep the reader guessing and involved in the story the entire way through.
Great narration that really added to the story and made it an enjoyable experience.
Fun characters who really shined. A mystery that will keep the reader guessing and involved in the story the entire way through.
Great narration that really added to the story and made it an enjoyable experience.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews