Craig Sharmat

A strange piece of paper with a mysterious tune is the perfect puzzle for a master detective. Nate the Great has just received a very unusual musical note that holds a secret message. The note is supposed to tell his friend Pip what to do at four o clock, but there is a catch. Their quirky friend Rosamond has turned the instructions into a complicated riddle. Now, Nate and his reliable dog, Sludge, are racing against the clock to figure out what the music means before time runs out. They search Rosamond's garage for hidden evidence, but the answers are not easy to find. With the afternoon ticking away, Nate must use all his logical thinking to decode the musical puzzle and help Pip follow his mother's directions. This engaging mystery challenges readers to look closely at the facts and think creatively to solve a truly melodic brainteaser.

A relaxing backyard vacation is suddenly cut short when a delicious mystery lands right in the lap of the world's greatest young detective. Nate the Great is trying to enjoy a peaceful day off, but his friend Claude has a major problem. Claude has completely lost his grocery list, and if he does not find it soon, lunch will be ruined for everyone. Nate knows that a true detective never takes a break when a friend is in need, especially when food is involved. With his loyal dog, Sludge, ready to help, Nate sets out to retrace Claude's steps and locate the missing piece of paper. The clues are confusing, and time is running out before their stomachs start rumbling. Readers will love following the hungry heroes as they piece together the evidence and try to save their midday meal in this fast-paced and funny neighborhood caper.

A beautiful day in the garden turns into a slow-motion mystery for the neighborhood's smartest detective. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and someone is quietly taking giant bites out of the flowers in Nate the Great's backyard. The culprit turns out to be a mysterious green tortoise who is slowly creeping across the lawn. Nate knows that a tortoise does not belong in his flowerbed, but he has no idea where the wandering reptile actually came from. With his faithful dog, Sludge, by his side, Nate takes on the case of the lost pet. Tracking down the tortoise's real home requires a very careful investigation and a massive amount of patience. Following this slow-moving suspect might just be the hardest challenge Nate has ever faced. Young readers will love piecing together the clues as they learn that solving a mystery sometimes takes a lot of time and observation.

The holiday season is usually merry and bright, but a missing piece of mail threatens to ruin the festive cheer. Annie's giant dog, Fang, is feeling incredibly sad, and when Fang is unhappy, the entire neighborhood feels it. Nate the Great discovers that a very special Christmas card sent from Fang's mother has mysteriously vanished in the mail. Even though it is freezing cold and snowing heavily outside, Nate knows he cannot let his friend's dog suffer through a miserable holiday. Bundled up against the winter weather, Nate and his brave dog, Sludge, set out to sniff out the missing envelope. Retracing the mail route through the deep snow is not going to be easy. Young readers will eagerly follow along as Nate uses his sharpest detective skills to crack the case and ensure that everyone has a crunchy, munchy, and truly happy Christmas.