AustLit

'There's a lot 13-year-old Saffie Grundig doesn't know about her older sister, Cassie. Like what's really going on at the sleazy Comedy House, where Cassie has a cleaning job. When Cassie starts coming home later than usual, Saffi decides it's time she knew everything. She sets about investigating these strange activities, but doesn't count on the assistance of her dotty old neighbour, Ted Burgess. Ted is a retired actor who starred for years in the TV police show, 'Cops', as Sergeant Davies. The trouble is, Ted can't stop being Sergeant Davies. If only Saffi could stop the 'sarge' from standing on her toes, then she could set things right before there's blood on the microphone!' (Publication summary)

'Tom Petkovic walks in the city while his father is working night shifts. He is a loner, drawn to look in at the family lives of others. But lately, more and more curtains have been closed, the windows dark — except for one, where a girl sits watching, night after night. In the park Tom hears a puzzling argument between two men. They seem to be shouting about the Aztecs. Then he sees one of them drag the other, limp and bleeding, into the back of a van. Tom writes about the scene, weaving it into a short story which he enters in a newspaper competition, hoping to give the police some clues. He is afraid for his life — and not without reason, as more and more children are afflicted with a mysterious illness. This well-plotted and satisfying story has enough twists to keep the most demanding reader enthralled.' (Publication summary)

'Oh sure, the name Cygnet might sound cute, but this place was no downy swan's nest. The town was more like a hornet's nest. A swarm of buzzing, busy-bodying gossips whose sting was not in their tail, but in their vicious tongues.

'Jayd was beautiful but she had a bad reputation. She was on her third foster home and her fifth town, and in this town everybody hated her. Everybody except Madeleine, the daughter of Jayd's new foster parents. And when Jayd disappeared Maddy refused to believe that she had simply shot through to the big city. Especially when she found the unmistakable bright green hairs from her missing friend's skull woven into a wagtail's nest. ' (Publication summary)

'Dear old Mrs Tuck has run the school canteen for years. But after a chain of nasty culinary upsets, she gets the chop and a slick new commercial caterer is appointed. Angelo Martinelli, junior private eye, smells a rat and not just the dead one in the canteen. Is it sabotage, or is it a red herring? Can The Angel get to the bottom of the mystery that has the whole school on the run?

'"Dead Red" is a saucy detective story from bestselling author Ruth Starke, full of humour and the kind of explosive jokes that children love.' (Publication summary)

'Crime novel for late primary school and early high school-age readers in the Crime Waves series. Justine's uncle is famous for writing crime thrillers, but he is caught up in a real-life mystery when a blonde doll that is his writing mascot disappears from his desk, swiftly followed by the disappearance of blonde Kara from across the street. Author's previous titles include 'What are ya?', winner of the Angus and Robertson Junior Writers Fellowship, and 'Mr Enigmatic', winner of the 1995 New South Wales Premier's Prize for Children's Literature.' (Publication summary)

'Crime novel for late primary and early high school-age readers in the Crime Waves series. Sequel to 'Looking for Blondie'. Justine and Uncle are detecting again. Their neighbour has been caught up in an internet-based ostrich farming scam, and in their quest to help him they come across a Crocodile Dundee look-alike, an ostrich and some twisted clues. Author is a prolific children's author whose previous titles include 'The Rings' and 'What Are Ya?'.' (Publication summary)

'Everything pointed to Ben ? the three-pronged knife, the scratches on his face. And why was he out and about that dark night?

'Penelope Thanatopoulos doesn't like Benjamin Thorpe but she is shocked when he is suspected of attacking Kevin Friend at the zoo where they are on work experience. Who stabbed Kevin and threw him into the seal pool?

'Penelope makes it her business to find out.' (Publication summary)

Marc and Nikki's dad is a rich businessman, owner of a marina and a fast-car enthusiast. In the lead-up to the international car racing, amidst the champagne parties and media hype, his car tyres are slashed and his family is threatened in a series of increasingly violent incidents. Marc and Nikki are in deadly danger. When the storm of menace finally breaks, it is blind Nikki that Marc fears for, but her courage and perception are the key to their rescue.

Source: Trove

'Selling your own produce at the market isn't as easy as it seems as fourteen-year-old Emma soon discovers when she is fostered to a family in the country - it can be downright dangerous.' (Publication summary)

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'After a wave of highly professional burglaries in the exclusive suburb of Hyland leaves the police frustrated, two mall-loving teenage girls begin to develop their own theory when they see delivery boys from rival restaurants at a secret meeting. Sandra and Simone begin to investigate, but have little idea of the dangers they are stepping into.' (Publication summary)

'Tim's stuff is disappearing and not just little stuff - things like his wardrobe and clothes. When he and his best mate set up a sting to catch the thieves, he is amazed to discover it's his parents!' (Publication summary)

'Penelope and Benny from the Three-Pronged Dagger have another crime to solve. There are hints of Satanic goings-on in the cemetery, and a precious icon has disappeared from the local Greek church.' (Publication summary)

Novel for young readers about a boy who must prove himself innocent of murder in light of overwhelming evidence against him. Jason sets a trap to catch the thieves who are stealing from the supermarket, but the plan backfires when Jason is accused of murdering the supermarket owner. The police, his girlfriend, his principal, the supermarket manager, and his father all think he's guilty. He has an alibi, but can he prove it?' (Publication summary)

'A log rolled on the fire and the whole clearing lit up. Lying in the bracken was something that looked very much like a body! They'd only gone out sailing, but when the wind died and they had to drag the dingy home along the lake edge, they ended up with more than just a dead wind. Joshua has never met his American cousin, Zoe, before these holidays and he doesn't like her much. But at least she's a good sailor. When the two of them discover a body on the lake shore, Zoe proves that she can handle more than rough weather... Especially when neither their parents nor the police believe the 'tall story'... And even more so when they find a very dangerous character talking to Joshua's little brother. But they know what they've seen and go looking for some answers... or is it just looking for trouble?' (Publication summary)

'Concerned about his safety at their new caravan, Shane's father buys Caddy, an ex-police dog, who starts uncovering bones. Clarry, their next-door neighbour, becomes oddly agitated by the finds.' (Publication summary)

'Kate hangs about the TV soap set and witnesses tension between her crush Nathan, leading lady Chantelle Peters, and network owner Jeffrey. Then Chantelle's body is found washed up on the island...' (Publication summary)

'Penelope (not Penny!) and Benny have another mystery to solve. Penelope has to delve into her Yaiyai's old Greek stories to find out if the partly burned old Harrison house is actually haunted.' (Publication summary)

'Uncle and Just get involved in another investigation after a tarot reading predicting 'death by water'. Uncle is invited to a Murder Weekend on a houseboat - the murders are suppose to be a party game, but it soon appears that someone is taking the Murder Weekend very seriously. By the author of 'The Rings' and 'Looking for Blondie'.' (Publication summary)