A Fun Read From An Innocent Era In Children's Mystery Literature
345537
I generally credit the Brains Benton books with jolting me into the life-long habit of reading.  It was the early 1970s and I was perhaps nine or ten years old; they were just the right length and style for my reading skills and I inhaled all six titles in the series with a single, mighty breath.  Three decades and then some later, I still have them on my shelf, and from time to time I take one down for nostalgia's sake.

Published in 1959, THE CASE OF THE MISSING MESSAGE is the first in the series.  Written by Charles Spain Verral, an author who specialized in pulp-style adventure stories, the book introduces to the characters that will continue throughout the series: Jimmy Carson, an average "All American" boy with a paper route, and Barclay "Brains" Benton, whose bright red hair and extraordinary intelligence sets him apart from the crowd.

Together they are the Benton and Carson International Detective Agency, and when Jimmy tries to sell a newspaper subscription at an isolated and delapidated house he plunges both of them into mystery up to their eyeballs.  In this instance, the mystery concerns a child who has been cheated of his inheritance: a carnival!  Needless to say, the circumstance allows for plenty of colorful characterizations that range from a clown and a fortune teller to a wacky parrot and a stampeding elephant.

Brains has rigged up a crime lab over the family garage: press a nail in the board of alley fence and the wall slides back and a staircase slides down.  They refer to each other as "X" and "Operative Three."  Jimmy is fond of Cherry Fizz, his mother is always dieting, and his father likes a game of golf; Brains' parents teach at the local college.  Details such as these make the books tremendous fun, and the author handles them very skillfully; unlike the Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books, the Brains Benton books never feel as if they have been written by a committee to a very specific formula.

All of this said, I very much doubt that the books would appeal to a modern child plugged into the multi-media experience of our computer age.  But adult fans of children's literature will find them a great deal of fun--and if you remember Jimmy and Brains from your own childhood, it will be a nostalgic treat.  Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
2507290
This used library book from the late 1950s - early 1960s still has stories that could still be enjoyable for kids today. I purchased the book in order to have a copy of an old favorite called "William and Jane." It is a rather silly story about gardener who moves very slowly through his day and the young girl of the house who typically runs everywhere at top speed. I'm very pleased with the condition of the book and am glad I purchased it.
829310
The children will enjoy the characters and the story.  The adults will appreciate the Dragnet references and other phrases that are likely above the children's heads.  A fun addition to any children's library.
832734
What I liked about this book:

Each page has a giant letter and a simple paragraph that explains that character--a good mix of characters from all of the standard works.

The illustrations are colorful with a wee twist. On my second read-through (ok, not the most observant), I noticed what I thought were quirky, random items added to the scenes, but duh, they all start with the same letter of that page. Some are hidden--fun and imaginative.

I think this book will hold children's attention for several readings.
2330518
I bought both Swindled and Nabbed for my nieces and nephews, but before turning them over to the kids, read them myself!  The books each provide an engaging mystery set in a different time period, and give kids the opportunity to learn about events going on at that time.  One particularly nice thing about the books is that they will appeal to a wide variety of children -- some will be taken with the story alone, others will really enjoy learning about the history of the US, forensic science, and detective skills.
1688267
This was a fun book to read especially when I recognized street and local people names. I wonder if people living in Coolidge know there is an enjoyable adventure fiction book about their little city to read? It is nostalgic in it's style and timing, only adding to the fun. The only critical thing I can think of is that it could use some more proof reading.
470556
I finally got around to reading this children's classsic and enjoyed getting to know all these characters I had heard about. An amusing nonsensical read.
3714740
I am a big fan of 1920s, 1930s, and 40s mysteries and style.  A burning candle in a dark room, an old creepy house, a hidden stairway, and of course a good logical mystery that's not too campy.  This book is a picture book with pull outs and how Nancy is over the years.  I like the retro look and it's nicely presented.
4761741
Twelve-year-olds, Ginny Davis and Kevin Williams, are best friends and have been for many years. They hang out together in the summer and after school during the rest of the year. Kevin is a bit bookish, the son of a physics professor. Ginny is both bright and attractive with an active imagination. Together they form the Holmes & Watson Mysterious Events & Objects Consortium, a two-person club that meets in Kevin's tree house and tries to discover answers to questions that may present themselves as they go about their rather ordinary small-town lives.

At the opening of the book, the object they are dealing with is an apparently dead squirrel on the sidewalk between their houses. They decide to bury it, but it disappears while they search for a box. Where did it go? The same thing happens to a dead rabbit they find later that day. Then Ginny's cat disappears. What is going on?

In the clubhouse, they keep a journal to record their thoughts on these sorts of problems. They also have a collection of items they have picked up while doing investigations: snakeskins, rocks, and an odd metal thing they found in the local stream one day.

Elmore Hammes created this story for his nieces and nephews-and he did a great job. The book takes two ordinary kids and involves them in a situation worthy of Harry Potter and yet they and their friends act and react like real kids.

Besides the problems of disappearing dead animals, Kevin has to deal with hassling from a group of more athletically inclined classmates-particularly Daniel, his next-door neighbor. Kevin and Ginny are also becoming aware of special feelings for each other that they hope won't get in the way of being best friends.

I really enjoyed the book and I think it would appeal to many middle-school readers. It is suggested for 10-14 but I think down to age 8 would also greatly enjoy it.

Armchair Interviews says: Fun book for young readers.
3600637
This is a wonderful little book that children will enjoy.  Attention-getting with vibrant color, the stories hold a child's interest with experiences of friendship and solving problems.  Highly recommended in an era of diminishing hard-copy books.
1633311
These are fun-to-read, well-written, wholesome YA mystery novels conveniently collected into one well-formatted bundle. Somehow, these escaped me when I was the age for which these were originally intended, but even as an adult (okay, a "senior citizen") I am greatly enjoying them. They do reflect the simpler times in which they were written (which for me is a plus), but are not so outdated that a modern young reader would find them hopelessly antiquated. The mysteries are appropriate for the age of their youthful protagonists, not far-fetched or inappropriately staged and thus realistic within the time and place in which they're set. However, the benefit of purchasing a collection such as this, even though the individual titles can be had for free, is the convenience of downloading one rather than many titles, having them altogether in one TOC accessible package, and knowing it is complete. But this is NOT complete since the complete series consists of 17 titles, of which #'s 1 and 2 are NOT included in this set. The two missing titles ("Tale of the Witch Doll" and "The Vanishing Houseboat") reportedly have copyright issues which prevent Wildside (publisher of this Megapack) from including them. Apparently, Amazon regards their copyright status differently, or is not aware of the problem, because (for now) you can still download those two titles (or any of the entire series, for that matter) as public domain freebies in the Kindle Store. (I downloaded all 17 separately, but would gladly have purchased this Megapack if it contained them all.)

UPDATE 10/29/17: The two titles mentioned above, not included in this collection, are STILL available in the Kindle Store as public domain freebies. If you purchase this Megapack, be sure to also download them.
4044360
My kindergartner has recently started reading chapter books, though she continues to read readers and these Cam Jansen readers are among her favorites. This book is a Level 2 book which is recommended for ages 5-8, Grades K-2. The story is divided into several chapters and is illustrated throughout which motivates young readers to develop an interest in the story.

Cam Jansen is an interesting character (personally I find her to be a refreshing character compared to the annoying Junie B. Jones character which my daughter likes). The reason for her nickname Cam is because she has an excellent memory like a camera (hence the shortened nickname "Cam"), and uses this talent to solve mysteries. Cam is usually accompanied by her good friends in solving mysteries relating to everyday things. In this story, Cam solves the mystery of a missing speedy car belonging to one of the participants at her school's Green Fair. The story is engaging and makes an excellent reader for young children.
4729419
"The Alphabet Burglar" is just what I had in mind for teaching children to read. A children's book collector has added it to her library.
3861754
Thank-you to Goodreads and Bloomsbury Publishing for a free copy of this book. This is a fun and bit silly read and I think any child in its targeted age group (Age 8-12; Grades 3-6) would enjoy it. The plot has a quick pace and its filled with quirky characters. I wish there was a bit more magic and maybe more detail, at times it feels like it jumps from scene to scene and gives details in the wrong places. I would give a big shout out to the illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson as I think the pictures in the book really help the book and create a mood for the story. The illustrations also tie in nicely with the fashion theme and I think grade school girls would really love that. All-in-all I would recommend this book, mostly to Grades 3-6 girls as I know my son in Grade 4 would likely not be interested in the story.
1139826
I'm not sure how we came across the first book of this series but since reading it with my son my wife and I have since purchased them all. They all seem very age appropriate in both context and difficulty. They're attention holding and enjoyable (reading is by no means my son's favorite past time), especially for anyone who enjoys mysteries. They are on par with the Cam Jansen mystery series. I would recommend for second or even third graders.
2157062
Someone keeps stealing cookies as quickly as Maggie Maes grandmother can get them baked and bagged for an upcoming bake sale.  By asking questions, taking notes, and evaluating suspects, Maggie Mae tackles this case with energy and quick-thinking skills.  Margo Dill has crafted a fun book for kids who like mysteries, while Jack Fosters detailed illustrations make the case real for young people.  This is a cute story that will inspire children to be creative and imaginative.
 Reading is always a great pastime for kids.  Margo Dill doubles the benefit by telling a story kids can place themselves in and become.  Acting out scenarios, learning more about detective work, figuring out the most probable solution are all reasonable follow-ups to this book.  Dill not only entertains readers with Maggie Mae, but also teaches them to think.  A wonderful project!
2504248
Wow, was this a fun read! I own print versions of several old Nancy Drew mystery books from my childhood, and I'm so delighted to see them all available now as Kindle books. I'm not sure what prompted me to begin my trek down Memory Lane with this particular book, but it was an excellent place to begin re-reading all these beloved stories from my youth. I remember so fondly obsessively borrowing and reading Nancy Drew mystery stories from my elementary school library. Now, at age 50, I'm having a blast re-reading them again as Kindle books. Although many things in life have changed over the four decades-plus since I first discovered these wonderful books, but one thing that has not changed in the least is how much fun, how truly entertaining, and how thoroughly enjoyable Nancy Drew mystery stories still are  even as an adult child beginning my second half-century of life. Even though quite a bit tamer than many mysteries, thrillers, suspense, and horror titles I read as an adult, these books still hold enough suspense, drama, interesting beloved characters, and twisting and turning plots to keep me interested from beginning to end. I'm amazed how much I do remember from my childhood reading of these wonderful books, as well as how much I didn't remember. What a joy to revisit this beloved chapter of days gone by. It's a joy to see how current these classics still remain, even today  so very appreciated. No wonder I gave this a five-star rating  I only wish it were possible to give it a whole lot more stars than just five It certainly deserves it