The Cat Burglar, in Book 1, introduces Nicholas and the other stars of the Twit mysteries including Malcolm.

When Mr and Mrs Basket receive two bits of bad news, Nicholas offers to help. How would Sherlock Holmes solve these mysteries? Nicholas sets off to investigate but soon finds himself trapped. He’s a prisoner. Here’s part of The Cat Burglar.

Nicholas pushed the roof higher. He climbed onto the top shelf and squeezed through the gap. The rain fell on his head. Oh no! Messy hair!

He couldn’t see his feet. He kicked a tin which crashed to the floor. Malcolm howled. The back door of the house opened and Mr Franklin wasn’t smiling.

"Hey!" he yelled and raced across the yard. Nicholas had no choice. He was half way out when Mr Franklin came around the side of the shed. There were weeds and blackberries below Nicholas and Mr Franklin cut himself. Wow! Could he swear!

He reached up to grab Nicholas. It was difficult for the prisoner to escape and just as difficult for the furious Mr Franklin. Suddenly he gave up and went away. Nicholas felt safe.

Then the shed door opened and Mr Franklin was very close. ‘Gotcha now, kid,” oozed Mr Franklin as he grabbed the young boy’s ankles. Hard.

Too late to kick and now Nicholas felt himself being pulled back into the shed. The roof scratched him and it hurt. He decided to scream but someone beat him to it. Mr Franklin. He gave a weird cry and released Nicholas. Go son! Nicholas heaved himself up and grabbed hold of the back fence. He stepped on the wall and ....

The Goldfields Ghost Adventure, in Book 2, is set in far-flung Walhalla where Nicholas spent an exciting weekend. Here’s part of the mystery.

Feeling brave, Nicholas quietly opened the door. The moon flicked a switch and once more the Walhalla valley was bathed in the softest of soft lights. It was unreal. Beautiful silence.

Nicholas raised his binoculars and swept the area. He saw two people heading out of town. They carried a box. Who were they? What was in the box?

Then it happened. The people started running and raced off the road into the bush. They were close to the Walhalla cemetery. They might be grave robbers or vampires. Vampires! Settle down, Nicholas, even Mr Holmes would draw the line at the supernatural.

Then Nicholas saw why the people had taken cover. In the distance a person was running. It was a man in shorts and a tee-shirt. He ran past the hidden couple and into Walhalla. Who runs through a tiny, isolated town at midnight? Was he a ghost? Do ghosts go jogging or have tattoos?

The Ned Kelly Adventure, in Book 3, is full of twists and turns. Felicity has stumbled upon a mystery. Mrs Basket's hairdresser is secretly handed special envelopes. Is the hairdresser a spy? Here’s part of the mystery.

Felicity opened the door of the hairdressing salon. The last customer was just leaving. The woman who took the envelopes was not there.

A girl, not much older than Felicity, came forward, chewing.

"Yeah? Wotcha want?"

"I'm looking for the lady who does the appointments."

"She ain't 'ere."

"When will she be back?"

"Dunno."

"Could I see the appointment book, please?"

"We don't do children."

"It's for Mrs Basket."

The girl shook her head but kept chewing then finally opened the book. She turned it around and Felicity started looking. But what for? Do spies write in code? She started to read. Thursday. 2pm. Mrs Fazackerly. Perm. Was this a code? Did it mean 'Sleepers awake'? or 'Watch out for man with part of one finger missing'? Felicity turned the page.

"Can I help you?" Felicity nearly died. Standing in the back of the salon was the woman who took the envelopes. She moved steadily towards Felicity. Time to run. But spies have guns. Felicity could be shot in the back. What should she do? What could she do?

Click. Felicity spun round. The girl with the chewing gum was locking the front door.

The police are involved in the Nicholas Twit mysteries. Sherlock Holmes often worked with the police and Nicholas and “Dr Watson” soon find a partner in Detective Sergeant Lesley Trade.

There are many mysteries for all to enjoy.