The Mariella Mystery Investigates Series

By Kate Pankhurst

Nine-year-old Mariella and her friends solve quirky mysteries through clues, drawings, humour and teamwork.

mysterious · humorous · quirky · spooky

What is The Mariella Mystery Investigates series by Kate Pankhurst about?

Written between 2013 and 2016, Kate Pankhurst’s eight-book Mariella Mystery Investigates series follows nine-year-old Mariella, a self-appointed detective with a notebook, sharp eyes and a talent for noticing clues. With the Mystery Girls, she tackles strange happenings in Puddleford, from missing pets and spooky sightings to baking disasters and baffling visitors. Presented through journal entries, drawings, lists and detective tips, these gently comic mysteries suit newly independent readers who enjoy friendship, humour and solving puzzles. Mild peril, suspense and occasional ghostly themes feature, but nothing is genuinely frightening.

Genres

Mystery Humour Animals Horror/Spooky

About the author

Kate Pankhurst is a talented author and illustrator who loves creating books about amazing women from history. Her popular series, 'Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World', inspires children to dream big and be curious. Kate enjoys drawing, exploring new ideas, and encouraging everyone to discover their own strengths.

All the books in The Mariella Mystery Investigates series (in order)

Mariella Mystery Investigates: The Ghostly Guinea Pig

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 1 of 8

A glowing guinea pig haunts the neighbourhood—but can the Mystery Girls uncover why?

Mariella Mystery Investigates a Cupcake Conundrum

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 2 of 8

Who is sabotaging Puddleford’s baking contest—and can Mariella uncover the culprit before disaster strikes?

Mariella Mystery Investigates: The Huge Hair Scare

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 3 of 8

When Puddleford’s fog turns ordinary hair wild and multicoloured, can Mariella unmask its mysterious cause?

Mariella Mystery Investigates: The Curse of the Pampered Poodle

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 4 of 8

A cursed toy, spooky clues and museum secrets leave Mariella asking: who’s really behind it?

The Spaghetti Yeti Mariella Mystery

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 5 of 8

A spaghetti-loving yeti appears—and campers vanish. Can Mariella solve this not-so-boring holiday mystery?

Mariella Mystery Investigates: A Kitty Calamity

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 6 of 8

When Watson disappears, Mariella’s top-secret journal reveals Puddleford’s cats face a mysterious danger.

Mariella Mystery Investigates: The Disappearance of Diana Dumpling

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 7 of 8

When the lunch lady vanishes, Mariella’s clues uncover a recipe for school-wide chaos.

Mariella Mystery Investigates: The Mystic Mustache

by Kate Pankhurst

Book 8 of 8

A thrilling sleuthing contest turns mysterious when the coveted Mystic Moustache vanishes.

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