Publisher Description

From Edgar Award Winner Dori Hillestad Butler comes a new chapter book mystery series, The Treasure Troop! Join Marly, Isla, and Sai, three code-cracking kids on the hunt for an old neighbor's hidden treasure.From Edgar Award Winner Dori Hillestad Butler comes a new chapter book mystery series, The Treasure Troop! Join Marly, Isla, and Sai, three code-cracking kids on the hunt for an old neighbor's hidden treasure.Marly always knew Mr. Summerling as her friendly neighbor living in the big, old house next-door. Sure, he walked around with a metal detector and talked about being a "treasure hunter," but she didn't think much of it. But when news of Mr. Summerling's death arrives at her doorstep, Marly is brought into a treasure hunt of her own. In Mr. Summerling's will, he's left a treasure for Marly and her two classmates, Isla and Sai. The catch? They have to solve a series of riddles, puzzles, and clues to find its location. And not only that, they have to work together on it -- which Marly is not looking forward to. But with no other choice, she, Isla, and Sai set off on the hunt. Can the three kids come together to crack the code? And even if they do solve the clues... what could Mr. Summerling possibly have left them?

Author Biography

Dori Hillestad Butler's books have appeared on children's choice award lists in 18 different states. Trading Places with Tank Talbott won the Maryland Children's Choice Award in 2007, and The Buddy Files- Case of the Lost Boy won the 2011 Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery. She is the author of the successful Haunted Library series, and has also been a ghostwriter for the Sweet Valley Twins, Unicorn Club, and Boxcar Children series. She's published numerous short stories, plays, and educational materials, and has served as the Iowa Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' Regional Advisor. She grew up in southern Minnesota and now lives in Seattle with her husband, son, dog, and cat. She visits schools and leads writing workshops all over the country.Author Residence- Seattle, WashingtonTim Budgen is an illustrator and art teacher. For much of his life he has been scribbling down ideas and can usually be found with a pencil in one hand and a sketchbook in the other! He lives by the sea on Hayling Island, England, with his wife, Julia.Illustrator Residence- Hayling Island, England

Promotional "Headline"

From Edgar Award Winner Dori Hillestad Butler comes a new chapter book mystery series, The Treasure Troop! Join Marly, Isla, and Sai, three code-cracking kids on the hunt for an old neighbor's hidden treasure.

Excerpt from Book

Chapter 1 A Strange Letter Marly heard the doorbell ring, but she didn''t budge from the couch. Her best friend, Aubrey, had moved to Chicago at the beginning of the summer, so Marly was pretty sure that whoever was at the door wasn''t here to see her. And she didn''t want to pause the book she was listening to. Not when she was so close to finding out the truth about Sam Westing. "Can you get that, honey?" Mom called from the kitchen island. Marly''s mom was baking bread for the food pantry. She always did that on the third Saturday of the month. Sometimes Marly helped, but she didn''t feel like helping today. She didn''t feel like answering the door, either. She turned up the volume on her audiobook and pretended she couldn''t hear her mom. The doorbell rang again. "Please, Marly. My hands are covered in dough." Mom held up her hands. Marly sighed. Dad was out grocery shopping. Nick and Noah were at the pool. So she paused her book and dragged herself to the door. "It''s probably Ellen." Mom walked behind Marly, kneading a ball of dough between her hands. "She said she was going to drop off some work for me today." Marly''s mom was an accountant and Ellen was her boss. Marly peered out the narrow window beside the door and saw a curly--haired man standing on the porch. He wore a blue shirt and khaki pants, and he held a white envelope in his hands. "It''s not Ellen," Marly told her mom. "No? Then who is it?" Mom went to the window. Marly shrugged and opened the door. The man on the porch did a double--take when he saw her, then quickly turned his attention to Mom. "Marly Deaver?" he asked. "No, this is Marly." Mom tilted her head. "Oh." The man blinked in surprise. "Well, this envelope is for her," he said, as though Marly wasn''t standing right there. Marly was used to that. Grown--ups didn''t like to make eye contact with kids who wore eye patches. Mom didn''t have a free hand to take the envelope, so the man thrust it toward Marly. She grabbed it, and the man hurried away. "What is this?" Marly asked, turning the envelope over. There was no return address or stamp. Just her name typed in all capital letters: MARLENA MARIE DEAVER. "Excuse me?" Mom called to the man. "What''s this about?" He didn''t answer. Without even looking back, the man got into the red car he''d left running in the street and drove away. Marly tore open the envelope and pulled out a single, typed sheet of paper. It looked like the sort of letter you''d send to a grown--up, not an almost nine--year--old. Marly read the letter out loud while her mom looked over her shoulder: Dear Ms. Deaver, Your presence is requested at the office of Ms. Stella Lovelace, 120 Downtown Plaza, 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 24, for the reading of Mr. Harry Summerling''s will. Please let me know if you cannot attend. Sincerely, Stella Lovelace Attorney-

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