Trevor has started his first job at Ashton's Fresh Marketplace, where someone has been tampering with the food.

Cayenne has been sprinkled on cookies, garlic put in coffee, and plastic insects hidden in fruit displays to terrify customers. Trevor and his friends Nick and Robyn decide to find out who is out to destroy the store's reputation. Is it Mattie, the disgruntled ex-employee? Or perhaps the competition? Or is it Alex, their schoolmate who doesn't know when a joke has gone too far? Their snooping makes the kids themselves seem suspicious, and soon they realize they have to solve the mystery before Trevor gets fired for a crime he didn't commit.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Michele Martin Bossley was born in Boston, Massachusetts, but grew up in Calgary, Alberta. Her sixth grade teacher encouraged her to write down the stories she enjoyed creating, but it wasn't until high school that Michele really began to consider writing as a career. She graduated from the University of Calgary in 1991, and began working seriously on writing children's books.

Michele is the author of eighteen novels for young people. Ten of her books have been chosen by the Canadian Children's Book Centre for the Our Choice list. Others have been nominated for the Manitoba and Alberta Reader's Choice Award, and she was runner-up for the 1997 Writer's Guild of Alberta R. Ross Annett Children's Literature award.

Many of Michele's books focus on different sports. As a former athlete, she was involved in synchronized swimming in her teens and competitive swimming in university. She has also coached young swimmers, in addition to coaching her twin sons' soccer and hockey teams, and draws on much of that experience for her books.

A frequent speaker at writing conferences and schools, Michele divides her time between writing and parenting her four sons. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Michele Martin Bossley's profile page

"A fun addition to a quick read collection; even an enjoyable read-aloud."

Resource Links

"A quick whodunit for reluctant readers. Chapters are short and direct. There is enough action in the book to keep kids reading. The characters are believable and realistic, as is the plot...A good hi/lo choice for the older middle school age group."

Library Media Connection

"A finely crafted story, one in which readers, along with Trevor, will overcome obstacles to find that truth and justice prevail. The novel’s a page turner, and I highly recommended to both school and public libraries for their teen collections."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"A story about friendship and team work...This was a very fast read but still had enjoyable characters and story line."

Lower Columbia Review Group WLMA