The Ghost and Max Monroe

When Max Monroe discovers an old detective agency in his grandfather's backyard, he also uncovers a spooky secret: the ghost of his great-uncle Larry! Max has always been obsessed with mystery books, so when Larry is given a second chance to prove he's a capable detective, they team up to help find a missing birthday girl. Can they rule out the many suspects -- including a clown and a practical joker -- before the birthday girl's mom comes home? The Magic Box is the first mystery in The Ghost and Max Monroe series, featuring a sharp ten-year-old detective and his frightfully funny sidekick. Ideal for emergent readers, the books feature short sentences and snappy dialogue, and chapters are divided into easily digestible segments.