• Age: 8 to 12
• Grade: 3 to 7
• Reading age: 8 to 12

Three trouble-prone friends become pawns in a criminal cover-up after they discover an old bronze statue in a local pond.

When Cody and Eric are denied permission to pick up golf balls from the ponds at their local golf course, they decide to trespass on the property at night. But they end up finding a lot more than just golf balls in the murky waters: they uncover a life-size bronze statue of a man!

Following their discovery, the best friends start getting mysterious phone calls warning them to stay away from the golf course property, or else! But these threats only make Cody and Eric more determined to go back to steal the statue and figure out its origins. With the help of Eric’s sister, Rachel, they raise the bronze and begin unravelling clues that lead them to a long-forgotten crime. Then, just when the three think they’ve got it all figured out, they’re kidnapped! With so many suspects in the town of Sultana, including Cody’s own father, perhaps the answers to this mystery should have been left in the depths…

Andreas Oertel has travelled all over the world and had a hundred different jobs -- everything from rickshaw driver to health inspector -- but his favourite occupation is writing. His middle grade fiction is critically acclaimed and has been nominated for several awards, including the Silver Birch Award, Manitoba Young Reader's Choice Award, and Charlotte Award. Andreas spends much of his free time visiting schools, and in 2012 and 2013 he was Writer in Residence at Lac du Bonnet's Centennial School. He lives with his wife, Diane, next to the Lee River in Manitoba.

Andreas Oertel's profile page

Lac Du Bonnet author Andreas Oertel scored with juvenile readers with his Shenanigans series featuring adventures of early teens Cody, Eric and Rachel. In his fifth book of the series, these amateur sleuths discover a missing Indigenous artifact while snorkelling for golf balls in the golf-course pool. As usual, Cody is thoughtful, Eric is spontaneous (and always hungry) and Rachel is practical and efficient. Oertel’s trio provides plenty of humour, suspense and intrigue. His new book should rate highly with mid-level readers.

Winnipeg Free Press

This book’s well-structured plot blends suspense with humour, and the pace is quick.

BC Books for BC Schools

“The Shenanigans Series engages readers of all ages, and Andreas has once again captivated the natural curiosity of teenagers. Speaking as an educator, students will make personal connections to the characters, the outdoor setting, and the dynamics of a small town.”—Angela Chamberlin Osarchuk, Grade 6-7 teacher, École Edward Schreyer School

École Edward Schreyer School

In Too Deep is a middle school novel filled with mystery, danger, humour and quirky characters. The plot is plausible and something that has realistic overtones for readers. . . The author uses his love of archaeology and history to make In Too Deep an endearing story for young people, often conducting research to authenticate the story's nuances and happenings.

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