L. L. Owens

books for children and young adults

Tales of Mystery

Cover illustration by Susan C. Cornelison

This book offers a new spin on several classic mystery stories by such authors as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Mary Wilkins Freeman, Mrs. Molesworth, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Retellings in this collection include "The Adventure of the Dancing Men," "The Lost Ghost," "The Man with the Cough," "The Prophetic Pictures," and "The Beetle Hunter." Hi-Lo: RL 3.2; IL 4–9.

Tales of Mystery is available in paperback (PB) and reinforced library binding (RLB) editions. Perfection Learning, 2005; 78 pages; PB ISBN 0-7891-6268-7; RLB ISBN 0-7569-2833-8.

To order the book, please call 1-800-831-4190, fax 1-800-543-2745, or click here.

Note: The publisher also offers Accelerated Reader® software and a Teacher Resource for this title.

Excerpt from Tale 5: "The Beetle Hunter"

Later, I was awakened by a sharp tug at my sleeve.

"Quick!" said Lord Linchmere as I sprang out of bed.

He pulled me into the corner of the room. "Hush! Listen!"

I could hear someone coming down the hall. The person paused for a time after every step.

Lord Linchmere was trembling with excitement. "It's Sir Thomas!" he said.

"What does he want?"

"Hush! Do nothing until I tell you."

Someone was quietly trying the door. It opened just a sliver. The lamp in the hall cast enough light for me to see the dark figure of a man. He was crouching.

In an instant, the door swung open and the crouching figure shot up. He sprang across the room like a tiger. Then—THUD! THUD! THUD! The figure struck the bed with a hammer three times with all his might.

Excerpt © 2005 Perfection Learning.