• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

Sixteen-year-old Penny Capelli has moved with her mom and huge dog, Ollie, to live above a small-town pub owned by her aunt.

It's a relief to start over in a place where no one knows Penny's father is in prison. It's summer and the only person she knows is her nerdy cousin, Simon. Soon she meets Simon's best friend, Brent, and Brent's twin sister, Tara, and their pug, Wolfgang. Penny starts thinking this summer won't be so bad after all. But then Ollie digs up a bone in the backyard of the pub. A human bone. And then a few more. It turns out the bone is over twenty years old. Who could it be? Penny and Simon decide to investigate. Together with Brent and Tara, they form the Crime Club. And before long they discover one thing: if you've killed before, you can kill again.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Melodie Campbell's profile page

Melodie Campbell is the winner of many awards, including the Derringer and Arthur Ellis Awards for crime writing. She has over 200 publications, including 100 comedy credits, 40 short stories and the Goddaughter series in the Rapid Reads collection. Her work has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Star Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, Canadian Living, the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail and many more. Melodie lives in Burlington, Ontario.

"Fun thriller...An accessible thriller for reluctant readers."

Kirkus Reviews

“Campbell’s intriguing, plot-driven mystery for high-low readers will hold teens’ attention and keep them guessing.”

Booklist

“Written in a simple and straightforward way with short sentences and an easy vocabulary, making it an excellent choice for a struggling reader or a reader learning English. The fast pace and plot focus will also please any reader looking for a quick mystery read.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“A breezy engaging read, particularly for reluctant readers.”

Dr. Larry Recommends

“This is a very good book for hi/lo readers who like a quick trip through a plot to the resolution without a lot of detours. Middle and high school libraries will want to stock this one as much for its very navigable plot as for its interesting characters.”

Must Read Literature