Elspeth Campbell Murphy

"[FIVE STARS] This book [WHITE ELEPHANT] is WONDERFUL! I liked this book because I didn't figure out the solution to the mystery until the end of the book. It kept my attention and I couldn't even sleep because of it. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries."
—A kid reviewer on amazon.com

"Sarah-Jane, Timothy, and Titus are not only cousins, but also best friends and members of the THREE COUSINS DETECTIVE CLUB. [In THE MYSTERY OF THE DANCING ANGELS] their lazy summer days are interrupted by the arrival of distant cousin Patience, a precocious and demanding four-year-old, and by a family riddle, 'Grasp the clouds by will or chance, and you shall see the angels dance,' that is related to the mystery of great-great-grandmother Patience's missing necklace. Clever dialogue and some apt description set the stage for the briskly plotted chapter book, which will appeal not only because of the mystery, but also because of the engaging characters and worthy message about patience and tolerance. A sketch of a family tree showing how the cousins are related will spark curiosity about 'Longago Patience' and the lost necklace."
—Booklist

"Sarah-Jane, Timothy, and Titus are cousins in a 'good-boring' situation: they are spending a week with their grandmother [and grandfather]. They visit an old house in which their great-great-great- grandfather did the woodwork, and find that they have a mystery to solve. Patience, their four-year-old third cousin, is an aggravation, but she eventually helps them find some missing jewels and reveal the secret behind an old family rhyme. Along the way, the children learn something about being patient with difficult people. Endearing characters, just enough suspense, and intriguing plot twists make this series entry one that deserves consideration. The message is delivered naturally, without intruding on the plot. The writing quality compares favorably with Elizabeth Levy's 'Something Queer' books (Hyperion) and David Adler's 'Cam Jansen' series (Viking), but the addition of a religious point of view gives it something extra. Quality Christian fiction, especially on this level, is hard to find. Give this little gem a look."
—School Library Journal

[FIVE STARS]
"The Three Cousins Detective Club series is a wonderful series for 7-10 year olds. They are funny, and they are exciting mysteries. Everyone should read this series–even adults! You will get many laughs out of these books–guaranteed!"
—A kid's review on Amazon.com

[FIVE STARS]
“I collect The Three Cousins Detective Club books, these are really, really good books to collect!"
—Another kid's review on Amazon.com

"Murphy's 'Three Cousins Detective Club' chapter books are very popular with intermediate grade readers. This latest addition, The Mystery of the Attic Lion, is sure to be a hit as well. Everyone eagerly makes the trip to the attic only to find dusty footprints across the attic floor leading to the spot where the [stone] lion was last seen. This is surely one for the Three Cousins Detective Club to solve." —Amazon.com

Book #1 in the enduring and endearing "Three Cousins Detective Club" series ... thirty 64-page first chapter books, for ages 7–10, featuring the three famous detective-cousins, Timothy, Titus, and Sarah-Jane.

The 30 titles are ...

"Clever dialogue and some apt description set the stage for the briskly plotted chapter book, which will appeal not only because of the mystery, but also because of the engaging characters and worthy message about patience and tolerance."—Booklist

A C. S. Lewis Noteworthy Book

"The story is told in lively, natural dialogue, and the author’s enthusiasm for lighthouses and their lore makes it delightful reading." —Booklist

"In this [book] from the values-oriented Three Cousins Detective Club series, 10-year-old cousins Timothy, Titus, and Sarah-Jane persevere in their search for who stole an elderly woman's antique necklace at a beachside community. The cousins ask good questions and play off each other's strengths in a nice display of team detecting."
—Book Links (American Library Association)

WHAT MAKES THE "THREE COUSINS" BOOKS SO POPULAR?

APPEALING CHARACTERS
As cousins, Timothy, Titus, and Sarah-Jane share a special bond (and aren’t encumbered by sibling rivalry!). And since two of the three main characters are boys, the books appeal equally well to boys and girls. In fact, most of the fan mail comes from boys!

ABUNDANT HUMOR
Mid-elementary kids can be wild and crazy people! So Cousins Mysteries are filled with humor–humor that's warm and real, and never condescending.

REALITY-BASED
Times have changed, and kids are not as free to roam and explore as they once were. So Cousins Mysteries avoid plot extremes and keep the characters out of harm's way–while still sending them off on exciting and fast-paced quests and adventures.

IMPORTANT THEMES
Mysteries and morality go together by definition: good versus evil, right versus wrong. And the moral grounding of the Cousins Mysteries in classical virtues and timeless truths gives them remarkable depth and substance. The books are never didactic, but they offer parents and teachers the option of discussing with children the important themes, such as honesty and integrity, that are subtly interwoven into the stories. Many teachers use the books to teach reading and writing, and many public and school libraries have to keep replacing the books because they wear out from so much use!

WISE INVESTMENT
A clearly defined story structure–and a satisfying payoff at the end–encourage young readers to see each story through. And see them through they do! Many fans (who range in age from 6 to 12) report that they read the books over and over again. And some of those fans keep writing to Elspeth even after they've gone on to high school and, in one case, college!

There are more than 2 million Timothy, Titus, and Sarah-Jane stories in print worldwide.