Morley's Crossing Mysteries

In Morley's Crossing, Ohio,
news doesn't travel.

It's just already there when you arrive. Warm, funny small-town mysteries for readers 9 to 12, by J.J. Calder.

The books

Cover of The Dead Letter Box
Book 1

The Dead Letter Box

Forty years ago, someone hid a letter under the post office floor. Now three girls have until Thanksgiving to deliver it.

When twelve-year-old Josie Merritt finds a sealed, never-mailed letter under a floorboard in the little post office where her mom works, she and her friends Tess and Mari follow the clues: a twenty-two-cent stamp, a tiny drawing of a bird, and an old woman who has never once stepped on that board.

Coming soon to Amazon
Cover art for The Snow Day Secret
Coming next · Book 2

The Snow Day Secret

A snow day, a missing baby shoe, and a dog with a silver star on his collar. Some things in Morley's Crossing have been waiting a very long time to be found.

Check back here for news.

Meet the girls

Josie MerrittTwelve and a half. Keeps a green notebook that says TOWN GOSSIP. FOR SCIENCE. on the cover.
TessJosie's fearless best friend. Barn coat, stocking cap, and one boot held together with silver tape.
MariThe new girl. Tall, with a dark braid and a pair of binoculars, and she notices what everyone else misses.

Free extras

The town map

Find the post office, the blinking light and the Liars' Bench. Spoiler-free.

See the map

Josie's case notebook

Print your own Town List and Case Notes pages. Three pages, free for home and classroom.

Print it (PDF)

For grown-ups

The Morley's Crossing Mysteries are clean, gentle mysteries about friendship, forgiveness and a town where everybody knows your business. They're written for ages 9 to 12.

About the author. J.J. Calder lives in Ohio and drives a school bus, which is a fine place to learn what kids notice (everything).

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