#sleuthdrew

A newspaper article covering the opening events of The Secret of the Summer Sweetheart: A Cozy Paranormal Mystery Novel.

The book opens in the final moments of The Perplexing Case of the Perilous Prom, where Danny and Mary-Sue pursue "The Phantom of Prom," a mysterious figure who has been threatening to ruin the Bonnifield Junior High prom for weeks. Though The Britannica Junior Detectives ultimately capture the fiend, the disturbing motivations behind his villainous scheme linger in both of the young detectives' minds for some time.

The newspaper account of the story conspicuously leaves Mary-Sue's accomplishments out entirely, a fact which she'll soon come to resent, and which will fuel her to pursue her own case—with or without her sleuthing partner.

        ‘ AND IT TOOK ONE NIGHT FOR THE TOWN TO DECIDE I’M AFFLICTED BY THE CURSE . ’

It wasn’t the first time he’d had handcuffs on, but it was the first time he’d been in a stranger’s basement hooked to someone else. This had not at all been the plan, but he was learning that with Nancy, things rarely went that way. There was always a wrench thrown into something, though this was quite the sizeable wrench. Wiggling his wrist around in the cuff, he felt the cold metal bite against his skin and instantly fell limp again. 

Green eyes were turned up towards the ceiling, tracking the steps back and forth above -- thinking as rationally as he could, trying to formulate some drastic idea about how they were supposed to get out of this one alive. Drawn back to the room by her voice, he turned his head sharply towards her, then to the pile of her things on the floor. Out of her reach, yes. But he had far longer legs than her.

        ‘ you really shouldn’t sneak up on me before training.   ‘  

❝  𝐢  𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭  𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞  𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭  𝐦𝐲  𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲  ,  𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐲  ,  ❞  it  probably  wasn’t  helping  his  case  ,  but  he  meant  it  .  his  safety  has  never  been  his  number  one  priority  ,  they  both  threw  themselves  into  danger  during  cases  too  much  for  that  .  but  his  first  concern  was  for  nancy  .  as  it  always  was  .  ❝  if  you’re  in  trouble  i’m  gonna  help  ,  alright  ?  ❞  nancy  was  never  too  proud  ---  or  too  scared  to  ask  for  help  ,  and  he  was  always  just  a  phone  call  away  to  provide  that  help  .  being  barred  from  doing  so  scared  him  .  she  was  really  in  trouble  if  she  wasn’t  going  to  let  him  help  .  an  urgent  hand  grabs  her’s  ,  to  bring  her  attention  to  him  ,  to  comfort  her  ,  maybe  ?  to  comfort  himself  ,  probably  .

                    ❝Well what are ya gonna do, STAB ME?❞ slight irritation was evident but Gwen knew the girl couldn’t help it, she was scared more than likely, finding herself in a strange place with no way out that was obvious ; Gwen would have felt the same if the roles were switched so she eased up, raising her hands in surrender, showing she wouldn’t do any harm.

ooh spill that tea