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The Mystery of the Missing Money (FREE KIDS MIDDLE GRADE MYSTERY ADVENTURE ACTION BOOK FOR CHILDREN AGES 5-15) (The Mystery Series, Short Story 1) Kindle Edition

by Paul Moxham (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 4,657 ratings
See all formats and editions
No. 1 of 15 in the bestselling standalone short story middle grade mystery series!
Collect All 15 Short Stories and 21 Full Length Novels
★★★★★ Over 15,000 reviews/ratings on Amazon

Are you up for a thrilling adventure?

The seaside village of Smugglers Cove is proving to be anything but quiet for the Mystery Kids as they encounter yet another mystery while exploring Brackness Castle. This ruined fortress sits on the outskirts of the village and, as they soon discover, holds more secrets than they could ever imagine.

Who is hiding in the dungeons? What is in the bag? Where does the secret tunnel lead to?

Set in 1950's Britain, this adventure story will suit anyone who enjoys Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys or the Famous Five.
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    7 - 10 years, from customers
  2. Book 1 of 15
    The Mystery Series Short Story
  3. Print length
    40 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Publication date
    June 22, 2014
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

money

gnomes

man

notebook

The Mystery of the Missing Money

The seaside village of Smugglers Cove is proving to be anything but quiet for the Mystery Kids as they encounter yet another mystery while exploring Brackness Castle. This ruined fortress sits on the outskirts of the village and, as they soon discover, holds more secrets than they could ever imagine.

The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes

Following on from their adventure at Brackness Castle, the Mystery Kids find themselves in another exciting mystery when gnomes start disappearing from people's gardens.

The Mystery of the Mysterious Man

While picnicking at Willow Lake, the Mystery Kids don’t pay much attention when they spot a man rowing to the small island. However, when another man rows there as well, shortly after the first one has departed, the children’s suspicious are aroused.

The Mystery of the Strange Notebook

With the end of summer approaching, the Mystery Kids take a trip to Heron Island. While walking along the beach, they are surprised to find a notebook wedged behind a rock.

book

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The Mystery of the Golden Elephant

When a daring thief robs a house in Smugglers Cove in broad daylight, the Mystery Kids are soon on the case. However, this rather simple case of robbery soon turns into a complex mystery as they discover that all is not as it seems.

The Mystery of the Red Balloon

When Joe spots a red balloon floating in the breeze, he runs towards it, wanting to be the first person to grab it. But within moments of catching it, he stops and stares in astonishment.

The Mystery of the Howling Dog

When Amy hears a dog howling in the woods, she’s the first to come to the animal’s aid. After taking the animal to the vet, the Mystery Kids attempt to locate his owner, but things don’t quite turn out as planned.

The Mystery of the Hidden Suitcase

For the first time in many years, it snows in the seaside village of Smugglers Cove. Delighted by this turn of events, the Mystery Kids go tobogganing near Brackness Castle and make a surprising discovery.

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The Mystery of the Burning Plane

When a plane crashes near Rose Cottage, the Mystery Kids are the first on the scene. However, when the men set fire to the aircraft, the children realize that something strange is going on and set about finding answers.

The Mystery of the Russian Spy

When the Mystery Kids learn that a Russian spy is headed to Smugglers Cove, they are warned by the police to stay clear in case the man has a gun. But this proves to be impossible when the spy takes them hostage.

The Mystery of the Perfect Thief

When a ring, a brooch, and other precious items are stolen, the Mystery Kids are determined to catch the thief. However, this proves to be more difficult than they anticipate since no clues have been left.

The Mystery of the Underwater Car

While out bike riding, the Mystery Kids hear strange noises coming from a parked van. Unable to resist investigating, they soon find themselves involved in a high speed chase in the English countryside.

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The Mystery of Danger Island

The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep

After meeting an American adventurer who is travelling around the world in an amphibious jeep, the Mystery Kids invite him to spend the evening at Rose Cottage. However, the night has barely began when the jeep is stolen by two men.

The Mystery of the Secret Hideout

While exploring an old castle near Silver Lake, the Mystery Kids stumble across a secret tunnel and discover two men hiding in the dungeon.

The Mystery of Danger Island

In a bid to rescue a girl whom they believe is being held against her will on a deserted island, the Mystery Kids stage a daring rescue, but things go horribly wrong.

Editorial Reviews

Review

PRAISE FOR THE MYSTERY SERIES:

"Moxham takes the reader on a whirlwind of chase scenarios that up the ante with each narrow escape." --- Amazon USA Reviewer

"I love this book, could not put it down and I felt as if I was standing beside the characters." --- Shelfari Reviewer

"This is an entertaining adventure story that would make pleasurable holiday reading for 7 to 10 year olds." --- Amazon UK Reviewer

"It's packed with adventure and courage, reminiscent of The Goonies." --- LibraryThing Reviewer

About the Author

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0083E6LBM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (June 22, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 22, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 434 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 4,657 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Paul Moxham

Paul Moxham

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Paul Moxham hails from Melbourne, Australia. He's best known for his children's mystery series which follows Joe, Amy, Sarah, and Will as they have adventures in 1950's Britain.

Are you an avid reader of Paul’s books? Do you like Crossword Puzzles? Word Searches? Then go to www.paulmoxham.com for these things and much more.

Sign up to his new release newsletter: eepurl.com/tC4_v

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
4,657 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

DD Gott - Donadees Corner
5.0 out of 5 stars How does a picnic on the beach lead to someone hiding in a dungeon? Another great adventure…
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Paul Moxham – The Mystery Series Short Bk 1 – The Mystery of the Missing Money – Reviewed 9/12/13

Are you up for a thrilling adventure? The seaside village of Smugglers Cove is proving to be anything but quiet for the Mystery Kids as they encounter yet another mystery while exploring Brackness Castle. This ruined fortress sits on the outskirts of the village and, as they soon discover, holds more secrets than they could ever imagine. Who is hiding in the dungeons? What is in the bag? Where does the secret tunnel lead to? Set in 1950's Britain, this adventure story will suit anyone who enjoys Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, or the Famous Five.

What did I like? I have read the first book in the regular series, but this short story is just as exciting. They are quick so they will hold the attention of even the youngest child in your reading group. Each story is beautifully written at the level of children but can be fascinating for the child in each of us adults.

What will you like? Even though this is short it is an exciting, excellent storyline, great action, unique and unusual characters. The storyline is professionally written with lots of descriptions and details so that you do not get lost. The details are very descriptive so that you can almost feel the wind on your face and the water in your toes. The excitement will keep everyone interested and will not be able to put this book down. A great read for everyone in the family, even you!

• File Size: 432 KB
• Print Length: 36 pages
• Publication Date: 9/12/13
• Updated: June 22, 2014
• ASIN: B0083E6LBM
• Genre: Children’s European Historical Fiction, Children’s Detectives Books
One person found this helpful
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Pop Bop
4.0 out of 5 stars A Dungeon, Loot, Bad Guys, and Daring Escapes for Early Readers
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2016
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These short stories, (currently there are nine), are set in 1950's Britain, and many editorial reviews and descriptions compare them favorably to the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Enid Blyton's Famous Five series. The comparison to the work of Enid Blyton is particularly apt. The stories vary a little bit in their age appeal, with some stories feeling a bit more advanced in terms of plot, dialogue, and characterization than others. To me, the stories seem to fit in between Blyton's early reader Secret Seven tales and her slightly older Famous Five. They are much younger than classic era Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.

I think the Moxham full length books, (there are currently seven), that feature these same characters are more rewarding than the short stories, which shouldn't be surprising. In the books you have more characters, more red herrings, more adventures and just a bigger canvas. For older readers, or for kids who have read all of the stories, I'd be on the lookout for those books. (For what it's worth, I'd try to read the first book, "Mystery of Smuggler Cove", first. It sets up the locale, the four kids, and the supporting characters. After that you can pretty much mix up the books and stories and read them out of order without missing the thread.)

The short stories are nice little snacks, and are great as an introduction to old-school mystery/action/adventure. The kids are just sketched in because you are familiar with them. There are fewer scenes, a little less suspense, and the wrap ups are a bit more pat. But, that's the nature of the short story and it shouldn't dissuade one from scooping them up to read as fun quickies.

Consider this story. Joe, his sisters Amy and Sarah, and friend Will are larking about and decide to look for hidden loot from an old robbery. There is an abandoned castle nearby, (why did I grow up near an abandoned quarry pit instead of a castle? That's why you need books like this.). Anyway, you end up with dungeons, bad guys, tunnels, escapes, captures, more escapes, cliffs, danger and derring do. Thrilling things happen and justice is done. Throughout it all the kids demonstrate grit, resourcefulness, courage, and loads of all the right stuff. The story is briskly paced, the action is clear, scenes are effectively set, and dialogue is fairly realistic in an action/suspense sort of way. Somebody almost always has a flashlight/torch with him.

This is a pretty nice package for an early reader. The effect is a bit of a thrill, and if it encourages the reader's taste for further reading, (and day dreaming), then that's just the icing on the cake.

Please note that I found this story while browsing Amazon Kindle freebies. I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
12 people found this helpful
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1perfectionist
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
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For such a short read, there was a good depth in the plot. It was a fun book to read to my kids.
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PAM
3.0 out of 5 stars Action Story
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2013
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The author has written a fast paced action short story that is gender based about 2 boys and 2 girls who I think are siblings. While all the children seem to work as a team, Joe a male, saves the day. I liked the action, the teamwork, the adventure. But my granddaughter questioned the setting (a castle, a dungeon, a tunnel) & the time period. She asked: Why didn't at least one of the children have a cell phone so they could call for help? An adult will have to set the scene. Not for younger children at bedtime.
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Jennifer C.
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun adventure
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2022
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What better way to spend an afternoon than a picnic and investigating an old castle? For siblings Joe, Sarah, and Amy, and their friend Will, there's not much better - unless you count also stumbling across two men who are supposed to be in jail for stealing money. The kids had already investigated the castle and the dungeon for the missing money and had gone down to the beach when Sarah realized that she must have lost her bracelet in the castle. It's when they go back up to the castle that they discover the two men. What are the kids going to do? Will they have time to alert the police before the men get away? And just how did the men end up back at the castle when they're supposed to be in jail?

This was definitely a fun short story and has interested me enough that I want to read more of these detective stories. They are very much in the vein of The Hardy Boys, which I loved as a kid, but I like that there are girls and boys represented in this investigative-crime-fighting group. Even without a detailed introduction to the characters that you would get in a full-length novel, there's enough to connect with the group and become interested in learning more about the kids.

I definitely want to read a full-length novel, though, as I'm sure that will provide more information about the setting of Smuggler's Cove - since all you get in this short story is the castle and a bit of the beach.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Himani
5.0 out of 5 stars Review of the missing money book
Reviewed in India on July 11, 2023
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I liked that there are no pictures and it was a mystery what was going to happen in this book that is why I love this book.
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Wendy
5.0 out of 5 stars a lovely kids short story
Reviewed in Australia on May 19, 2023
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This is a story for children which is suitable for adults to read. I enjoyed this short tale. It is about four children how solve a mystery.
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Glenn Lindsey
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Breezy Read
Reviewed in Canada on December 6, 2016
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Short read taking less than an hour. Story flows easily. with tension rising as Joe, Will, Amy (and the other you woman) are chased by the bad twins and trapped in a cave. Descriptions are brief but useful for imagining the scene; the characters are likable although I'd like to have known more about the 'bad guys'. All in all, makes me want to read another story by Paul Moxham.
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トゥミ
5.0 out of 5 stars 内容が良い
Reviewed in Japan on December 22, 2019
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分かりやすい英語で内容が興味深いものばかり。わくわくしながらあっという間に読み終わった。
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Pascale F.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent but........ too short!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2012
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I have really enjoyed The mystery of the Missing Money. We find the children, Joe and his two sisters, Sarah and Amy, in addition to Will, their new friend, hot on the search of some stolen money. But it has been so long ago, how could they find it when no one before them did?
I like this story because it is set in the 50's. No silly gadgets, the children have to rely on their wits alone. It figures the obligatory old ruins, the sea, the secret passage and the enigmatic figures seen through binoculars.
As much as I enjoyed the story, I deplore it was a short story. I wanted to give it 4.5 stars for this. It finished at about 70% (on my Kindle) of the story and the rest was the begining chapters of  The Mystery of Smugglers Cove , which I have to say, is excellent (we read it first).
But you should not be disappointed if you buy it. It is for smaller children, maybe up to 10. Good English, no slang. I would recommend to read  The Mystery of Smugglers Cove  first, although not necessary but it does introduce the children and why they are living at Smugglers Cove.
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