• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Amateur detective and singing sensation Dinah Galloway has enough on her plate without having to worry about being pursued by a vengeful stalker. The red-headed twelve-year-old is in the running to sing in commercials promoting beautiful British Columbia. To clinch the job, Dinah has to get fit at a wellness retreat on Salt Spring Island. Veggies? Exercise? Yech! Grudgingly, though, Dinah admits that her lifestyle could be a little healthier. Off to Salt Spring she goes, along with the two other finalists: one friendly, the other the last word in sulky. Her friends Talbot and Pantelli make their usual disruptive appearances, along with Dinah's ever-anxious mother and cool, elegant sister Madge. Hoping to shed not only pounds but her crazed pursuer, Dinah learns the true meaning of personal best—it truly is how you play the game, not whether you win or lose.

Scottish-born and mystery-minded, Melanie Jackson is the author of Orca's Dinah Galloway Mystery Series for eight-to-11-year-olds, and young-adult suspensers such as The Big Dip and High Wire. Melanie, who lives in Vancouver with her husband Bart, is a business/advertising writer and editor. She's a member of the Vancouver Sun's Book Club, which reviews current novels in print and online. Melanie likes hiking, piano, English/Scottish history—and continually learning from the kids she works with as a writing mentor with the Vancouver School Board.

Melanie teaches a mystery unit to Grades 8 and 9 at two Vancouver secondary schools. She welcomes schools’ inquiries about her presentations for intermediate and secondary classes. For more information, e-mail Melanie or visit her blog.

Melanie Jackson's profile page

• Short-listed, M.Y.R.C.A nominee
• Commended, CCBC Best Books

"Fans of Melanie Jackson's Dinah Galloway mysteries will not be disappointed in the latest book in the series...This is a fun mystery series for girls who don't mind imperfections in their main characters."

Puget Sound Council

"Readers will embrace high-energy Dinah, the story's surprise revelations, and the slapsticks pranks, including a memorable fart-cushion incident that's sure to please the middle-grade audience."

Booklist

"[There are] moments of brilliance like when Dinah realizes that she wears her weight as a mask, to hide her feelings of inadequacy...There are some wonderful cliff-hanger endings on many of the chapters."

Resource Links

"Dinah's fans will enjoy this new escapade...There are many plot twists to keep readers guessing who is trying to sabotage Dinah, but her thorough detective work and help from true friends will catch the "Queen of Disguise" in action. Readers will appreciate this strong-willed, sassy heroine who has a heart of gold."

School Library Journal

"Followers of this lively series set in British Columbia will be in for a treat as they re-connect to the liveliest 12-year-old on the west coast. Recommended."

CM Magazine