Best Selling Books by Joan Lowery Nixon

As the saga of the Kelly children continues, Mike Kelly is adopted by a German immigrant farm family living in Missouri. Although they are kind to him, they are mainly interested in having cheap labor.

Agatha Mae Vaughn is 12 years old in 1866, and she lives in the Asylum for Homeless Waifs, where she''s always in trouble or in the way. So when she''s told she''s being sent west on the orphan train, Aggie isn''t sad. She''s looking forward to starting fresh and finding the family she''s never had. But instead of young parents and maybe even a little brother or sister, Aggie gets the Bradons. Bertha and Eldon Bradon are an elderly couple who live on a farm with their two older children--Leon, a budding inventor, and Penelope, a crusader for women''s right to vote. This is not the family Aggie had in mind. Will she ever fit in?

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Who Are You? from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Kristi Evans and her parents can’t understand why police detectives are telling them that a man named Douglas Merson has been shot. They’ve never heard of him. But it becomes important when they learn that Mr. Merson has kept a secret file on Kristi for her entire life. Suddenly Kristi finds herself investigating who this man is and why he has intruded on her privacy. When Kristi goes to see Mr. Merson in the hospital, she discovers he is a professional artist; he even offers to help her pursue her own dream of being an artist. Kristi has always wanted someone with whom she could share her passion for art. Her parents not only don’t understand it, they want her to do something more practical. Now this stranger seems to be offering Kristi the piece that has been missing from her life all along, but at what cost to her relationship to her parents? Who is this man who seems too good to be true? “[A] fast-paced mystery…[that] hook[s] and hold[s] readers until all is resolved at the finish.” –Publishers Weekly “Appealing characters, an interesting scenario, and a fascinating peek into the big-money art world will keep the pages turning.” –Booklist “Lots of action and Kristi is a likable heroine…A solid offering for mystery fans.” –School Library Journal

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Search for the Shadowman from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Twelve-year-old Andy Thomas isn’t thrilled with his teacher’s assignment to explore family history. But when he starts asking questions about his ancestors, he is surprised to discover a black sheep named Coley Joe Bonner. No one wants to discuss what happened in the family’s past. Everyone, including Andy’s own relatives, advises him to stop his investigation. But Andy continues and searches everywhere, from the Internet to the local cemetery, to discover the truth. Will Andy’s search hurt those he loves or make them realize that it’s never too late to seek social justice? “A riveting tale of suspense set against a background of fascinating historical context.” –School Library Journal “Hints of disgrace and treachery…children will read the story for the fun of guessing who is warning Andy off the case.” –Booklist

Danny and his younger sister, Peg, are placed in St. Joseph, Missouri, with kind Alfrid and Olga Swenson. Danny is thrilled to have a "real" father again, but when Olga suddenly dies, he is devastated—until he thinks of an ingenious plan to find Alfrid a new wife.

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Spirit Seeker from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Holly Campbell’s life has suddenly become a newspaper-headline nightmare. The parents of her friend Cody Garnett have just been found in their home, brutally murdered, and Cody is the main suspect. Holly’s father is the police detective in charge of the investigation, and even he thinks the evidence points right at Cody. Holly knows it’s up to her to prove what she believes it the truth: Cody is innocent. Against her father’s wishes, secretly crossing the barrier of police tape and television reporters that surrounds the Garnetts’ house, she begins her own investigation. Computer files, an odd neighbor, and a mysterious psychic—each might have the evidence Holly needs to help Cody. Or they could all be red herrings that will waste Holly’s precious time. A teenager seeking justice and her interactions with the spirit world make this spine-tingling new novel from the only four-time winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award a surefire winner for mystery fans. “Tightly plotted.” –School Library Journal “Enriched with family troubles, guilty secrets, and a whiff of the supernatural, this page-turner will please.” –Kirkus Reviews “Readers will enjoy.” –Booklist

EDGAR AWARD WINNER For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes The Other Side of Dark from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Stacy wakes up in a hospital room, in a body she doesn’t recognize. Her mother is dead—murdered—and Stacy is recovering from a gunshot wound. She is the sole eyewitness to the crime, but she has only a shadowy memory of the killer’s face. Will Stacy be able to regain a clear memory of that fateful day before the killer reaches her? The Other Side of Dark is one of Joan Lowery Nixon’s most intriguing, suspenseful, and dramatic mysteries. “The compelling premise…and Nixon’s mastery of suspense are gripping.” –Publishers Weekly “Tense and dramatic…[The Other Side of Dark has a] quick pace, and the determined protagonist should attract and hold readers.” –School Library Journal

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Whispers from the Dead from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Only Sarah senses the horror. The minute she steps through the doorway of her family’s new home, Sarah feels a smothering cold mist, and hears the echo of a scream and a heartbreaking whisper in Spanish, “Help me!” Sarah feels compelled to find out who is trying to reach her. But can she uncover the mysteries of the past before terror strikes again? “A master at creating compelling suspense novels, Nixon has written yet another carefully plotted, subtly terrifying thriller.” –Publishers Weekly

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Murdered, My Sweet from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Jenny Jakes and her mother, a famous mystery writer, travel to San Antonio to see their cousin, Arnold Harmony, who’s made his fortune in the chocolate business. Harmony, an eccentric millionaire, wants his will read publicly before he dies; since everyone wants a piece of the pie, this announcement causes quite a stir. When Harmony’s son is murdered just before the reading, Jenny’s mother decides to spring into action as a real-life detective. But Jenny’s mother doesn’t have a clue about solving a real crime, so it’s up to Jenny to use her wits, not only to save her mother’s reputation, but also to keep herself from being killed. “Lively characters...(and insightful) humor.” –Publishers Weekly “Another solid Nixon mystery without too much violence and lots of suspense.” –Booklist “Jenny’s covering for her mother is funny.” –Kirkus Reviews

The middle-grade answer to Christina Baker Kline''s New York Times bestselling Orphan Train, this is a shockingly timely historical adventure. Imagine being taken from your home. Imagine your mother is the one who lets it happen. This is the fate that befalls the Kelly children. It’s 1856, and their widowed mother has sent them west from New York City because she’s convinced that she can’t give them the life they deserve. The Kellys board an “orphan train” and are taken to St. Joseph, Missouri, where their problems only grow worse. It was bad enough that they had to say goodbye to their mother, but now they’re forced to part ways with their fellow siblings as well. Thirteen-year-old Frances won’t stand for it. She’s going to protect her brothers and sisters, even if it means dressing up like a boy and putting herself in danger. Will Frances be able to save her siblings? And what about her mom—was splitting up their family really her greatest act of love? Ride the rails with Frances and her siblings to find out! “This is as close to a perfect book as you’ll buy this year.” –VOYA

Inside a time capsule, Brian and Sean discover a decades-old mystery In 1918, the people of Redoaks buried a time capsule full of messages for the future. Besides all the grown-up stuff, the fourth-graders of 1918 included a packet of letters to the fourth-graders of today—which means Sean Quinn is about to get a letter straight from the past! But when it comes time to crack the capsule''s seal, Sean and his brother Brian learn that its contents could change the town''s future forever. Boris Vlado, the only surviving member of the fourth-graders of 1918, warns the boys that the time capsule holds a dangerous secret. But when they open the capsule, there''s nothing inside! To find out why, Brian and Sean will have to solve a historic mystery that involves bank robbery, corruption, and the most valuable stamp collection Redoaks has ever seen.

While on vacation in Oregon, Chris and Sean encounter a meat-locker mystery Piney Point is one of the most beautiful places Sean and Brian Quinn have ever seen, but as far as Brian is concerned, it''s not half as pretty as Jennifer Hicks. And getting to know the hotel manager''s daughter while his younger brother goofs off in the pool sounds like the perfect vacation. But when a string of thefts upset Brian''s new friend, vacation is over, and the Casebusters spring into action. Large amounts of expensive meat have been disappearing from the Piney Point kitchens, and Jennifer''s dad can''t figure out who''s the thief. Could it be the bellhop? The chef? Or even the security manager? Brian and Sean had better figure it out quickly, or they''ll end up just like the missing steaks—dead meat!

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes The Weekend was Murder! from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. Mary Elizabeth can’t wait for the weekend to begin at the Ridley Hotel, where a famous mystery writer and a troupe of actors are coming to enact a murder mystery for 150 amateur sleuths. Mary Elizabeth’s role is to discover the “body” in Room 1927, which is supposed to be haunted. But nothing prepares her for the real body she finds in Room 1927… “A masterfully constructed, engaging read that…[is] ingeniously plotted, fast-paced and lighthearted.” –Publishers Weekly “Fans will love wading through the myriad details and placing bets on the outcome.” –Kirkus Reviews “Mystery fans will…enjoy trying to solve the various crimes.” –School Library Journal

For fans of Gillian Flynn, Caroline Cooney, and R.L. Stine comes Don’t Scream from four-time Edgar Allen Poe Young Adult Mystery Award winner Joan Lowery Nixon. When two new guys start at Jess’s high school, she thinks the year is really looking up. What she can’t know is that there is a connection between them. One has been given a new identity by the government. The other is seeking revenge. Jess doesn’t know whom she can trust. Will she be the next victim? “A page-turner.” –VOYA “An exciting thriller that will keep teens on the edge of their seats.” –School Library Journal

David finds all sorts of missing items for other people but cannot locate his own possessions.

Novelist Augustus Trevor has written a manuscript that reveals the darkest secrets of his guests. Whoever can solve Trevor''s clues can have his story removed from the book. But when Trevor is bludgeoned to death, the survivors (along with the reader) are challenged to find both the manuscript and the murderer.

Paul, with his Indian ancestry, not only guesses what is in Michael John''s box, but knows how to find it when it escapes.

Soon after she and her mother come to the small Texas town of Kluney and experience a series of menacing events, Katie begins to suspect that there is something sinister going on.