Finally, Something Mysterious (The One and Onlys #1)

by Doug Cornett (Author)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

The best mysteries can only be solved with your best friends. The perfect summer read for fans of Stuart Gibbs.

Paul Marconi has always thought that Bellwood was a strange town, but also a boring one. Not much for an eleven-year-old to do. Fires are burning nearby, Paul's parents are obsessed with winning a bratwurst contest, and his best friend, one of the founding members of their only-child detective club, the One and Onlys, is about to acquire a younger sister, sort of undoing their whole reason for existing. But then! Hundreds of rubber duckies have appeared on the lawn of poor Mr. Babbage without any explanation. Finally! There is something that Paul and his friends can actually investigate.

In the face of all these bizarre occurrences, Paul is convinced that uncovering who deposited the duckies will finally bring some sense to what has become an upside-down world. Soon the three friends have a long list of suspects, all with their own motives, but no clear culprit. When everything comes to a head at the town's annual Bellwood Bratwurst Bonanza, Paul discovers that some things don't have an easy explanation and not every mystery can be solved.

A perfect summer story about friends, amateur sleuthing, and a whole lot of rubber duckies.

"The perfect mix of hilarious and heartwarming--kids won't be able to get enough of Paul and his friends' Bellwood adventures."--Elsie Chapman, author of All the Ways Home

"Delightful fun for budding mystery fans."--Kirkus

"A diverting mystery with clever misdirection that will keep readers guessing until the end."--The Bulletin

"The quirkiness of the premise and the light, punny humor give the narrative its momentum."--Booklist

"The One and Onlys seem primed to become a popular trio among readers who enjoy an old-fashioned whodunit."--Publishers Weekly

Select format:
Paperback
$7.99

More books in the series - See All

ALA/Booklist

[A] feel-good middle-grade debut.... The quirkiness of the premise and the light, punny humor give the narrative its momentum.

Kirkus

Delightful fun for budding mystery fans.

Review quotes

"A diverting mystery with clever misdirection that will keep readers guessing until the end." -The Bulletin
Doug Cornett
Doug Cornett received his MFA from Portland State University and in 2016 was awarded first prize for the William Van Dyke Short Story Contest from Ruminate Magazine. Finally, Something Mysterious is his first novel. He lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his family. Follow him on Twitter at @MrDougCornett.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593488317
Lexile Measure
790
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Yearling Books
Publication date
November 20, 2022
Series
The One and Onlys
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
Library of Congress categories
-

Subscribe to our delicious e-newsletter!