Greetings from Somewhere Ten-Book Collection

The Mystery of the Gold Coin

When Ethan and Ella learn that their mother has accepted the position of travel writer for The Brookeston Times, they are not happy. Move away from Brookeston? Say good-bye to all their friends? What could be worse? Their mom and dad promise them that this will be a great experience, but that doesn’t make the kids feel any better.

The day before they are set to leave, their beloved Grandpa Harry stops by. As a gift, he gives Ella a pretty journal since he knows she loves to write, and he gives Ethan a gold coin that Ethan decides he will always keep in his pocket. But the morning of their departure, Ethan realizes he's lost the coin! Together, he and Ella must retrace their steps from the day before. Will they solve the mystery of the missing coin before it’s time to head to the airport?

The Mystery of the Mosaic

When Ethan and Ella first land in Venice, they are in awe of all the canals and tiny little streets. They’re especially excited to look for a five-hundred-year-old-mosaic near Calle Farnese that Grandpa Harry tells them about. While the twins are out getting gelato later that day, they notice someone looking around suspiciously as he unties a gondola from a dock.

The next morning, the twins hear two gondoliers arguing, one of them accusing the other of stealing his most beautiful boat. The gondolier begs Ethan and Ella to help him find the boat. They agree, and also tell the man they need to get to Calle Farnese. Will the twins be able to find the stolen gondola and their Grandpa’s favorite mosaic...before dinner?

The Mystery of the Stolen Painting

Ethan and Ella are excited to get to Paris—they’ve only ever seen pictures of the Eiffel Tower! After arriving, the twins receive an email from their beloved Grandpa Harry. He tells them that there’s a secret bakery near the Louvre museum—so secret, in fact, that you need a password to get inside. Lucky for the twins, their dad wants to take them to see some artwork at the Louvre.

But while they’re browsing paintings at the museum, alarms suddenly go off, the building is evacuated, and tons of police show up outside. A painting has been stolen! And Ethan and Ella are on the case! Can they manage to find the stolen painting and the secret bakery without giving themselves away?

The Mystery in the Forbidden City

From the Great Wall to the dumplings, Ethan and Ella love China so far. And the Forbidden City in Beijing doesn’t leave anything to be desired, either! When the twins get separated from their parents, however, they get do some exploring on their own.

As they are wandering, the twins happen across an ancient-looking scroll that appears to have a map on it. Being the mystery-solving duo they are, Ethan and Ella attempt to navigate the map...but they get lost in the palace. There are thousands of rooms, and they all seem to look the same! Will the twins figure out where the map is leading them? And will they ever make their way out of the Forbidden City?

The Mystery of the Lion’s Tail

Ethan, Ella, and their parents travel to the Maasai Mara in Kenya where they stay in a cabin and venture out on safaris every day in search of The Big Five game animals—the African elephant, the Cape buffalo, the leopard, the rhinoceros, and, of course, the lion. The kids are so excited when they see four of the five animals within the first few days, but where are the lions? Both Ethan and Ella could swear they’ve seen a lion’s tail poking out from behind a tree, but they cannot seem to find the animal itself!

Then, the twins talk to a boy and girl who live in the Maasai Mara. The locals give Ethan and Ella some clues about spotting lions. With a little help and some good detective work, the twins discover a whole lion family on their last day in Kenya!

The Mystery of the Suspicious Spices

Ethan and Ella venture into the bustling markets of Mumbai, India, where there are tons of beautiful sights and smells—from silky fabrics to bread being baked to jars of spices. When one of the spice sellers starts getting complaints about his saffron, he is beside himself. His spices have always been known to be the purest in the market. Ethan and Ella are on the case—and they soon discover that someone has been meddling with the spices!

The Mystery Across the Secret Bridge

The Briar family is off to Peru! They explore small towns within the Sacred Valley, go horseback riding up into ancient salt mines, help weave alpaca wool into blankets, and then travel to Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” While Ethan and Ella are exploring the incredible site, they come across a wooden bridge that leads them to a mysterious stone structure. What is it, why haven’t they heard about it—and why does it seem to look like a snake, a bird, and a puma at the same time?

The Mystery at the Coral Reef

Ethan and Ella are in Australia, home to beautiful beaches and some of the most famous coral reefs in the world—plus tons of cool fish and other underwater creatures! And not only that, Australia is home to Ethan and Ella’s aunt, uncle, and cousin. The twins dive right into the water for some snorkeling at their cousin’s beach house, and while they’re exploring, they come across a watch that’s still ticking. Whose is it? Then they hear reports of fishermen illegally taking coral from the reefs nearby. Could Ethan and Ella be on the trail of a coral thief?

The Mystery of the Icy Paw Prints

Ethan and Ella are back in the USA, though they’re still far from home. While visiting Alaska, the twins see glaciers and grizzlies, kayak through fjords, and learn about polar bears! They also meet some native people who tell them that lately their food supplies have been going missing. And when Ethan and Ella spot some nearby paw prints, they wonder who the paws belong to…and if they might belong to the thief responsible for stealing all the food!

Please note: makes reference to the Earth being over 10,000 years old

The Mystery of the Secret Society

Ethan and Ella have never been anywhere as cool—or as old—as Athens, Greece. Surrounded by crumbling buildings and ancient sculptures, the twins are excited to follow in their Grandpa Harry’s footsteps and explore the ruins. While they’re exploring, they stumble upon a mysterious painting on an underground wall. What is it? And what in the world is the Society of Apollo?