The Rose City Riddle

Coming in 2026

Josh and Lyla are excited to spend their summer holidays in the ancient city of Petra, helping their archaeologist uncle on a fascinating excavation. But it is when the cousins unearth a clue to a long-forgotten mystery that has been buried for centuries that their real adventure begins. What secrets lie buried beneath the Rose City? Where will their perilous journey take them, and who is doing their best to thwart them at every step?

Join the adventurous cousins as they explore the legendary Rose City of Petra. Wander through magnificent monuments carved into towering red cliffs, uncover the ingenious engineering of the Nabataeans and Romans, and follow hidden passages, cryptic clues, and ancient riddles. In this thrilling Solve-It Mystery, you are part of the adventure, piecing together the evidence to unlock Petra’s greatest secret.

Visiting Petra was a dream come true, and I was thrilled to be able to set Josh and Lyla’s next adventure in this fascinating city. The ruins are incredible to see, and the feats of engineering of the ancient inhabitants still amaze me to this day. I drew on my extensive collection of photos to help illustrate this story, but like the cousins, seeing them in person takes the experience to a whole new level. I hope you, too, can marvel at this Wonder of the World and have fun joining the cousins in solving the mystery.

Coming in 2026.

The Japanese Enigma

Jun 2026

Josh and Lyla are thrilled to be travelling to Japan to help a trainee archaeologist unravel the secrets of a newly discovered diary written by Senhime (Princess Sen) of the Edo period. What are the chadōgu of the Toyotomi clan that she refers to — and why did she hide them from the Tokugawa clan? Could the rare and prized chawan still be hidden, waiting to be found?

Join the intrepid cousins as they delve into the Japanese enigma, solving tricky puzzles while discovering Japanese culture and the history of the Edo period. Visit the historic locations of Himeji, Kyoto, Tokyo and Kamakura. Explore the beauty of Japanese gardens, soak in hot springs, and learn the Way of Tea (chadō) in this thrilling Solve-It Mystery, where you are at the heart of the adventure.

I fell in love with Japan when I visited the country in 2017. The scenery, culture and food were all amazing, and I did my best to bring them to life in Josh and Lyla’s adventure. Every location featured in the book was one that I visited, including the opening setting of Himeji Castle, one of the best castles I have visited. The display on Princess Sen in the castle’s West Bailey was the inspiration for this story, and the fascinating history of this remarkable woman was a delight to research. I hope that you, too, enjoy the vibrancy of Tokyo, the serenity of Hakone, the history of Kyoto and the beauty of Kamakura.

You can find a copy of the book available for purchase on Amazon.

The Secret of Pine Island

Apr 2026

When Josh and Lyla arrive on Pine Island to help their archaeologist uncle, they are expecting an exciting summer of discovery. What they don’t expect is for him to vanish without a trace. With only their wits and courage to guide them, the cousins must crack secret codes, follow mysterious clues, and chart a perilous course across land and sea. Every puzzle brings them closer to the hidden secret of Pine Island.

Packed with puzzles, riddles, and interactive challenges, this thrilling Solve-It Mystery puts you at the heart of the adventure. Learn about the notorious pirate Captain Kidd, master nautical know-how, and help Josh and Lyla unlock the secret of Pine Island.

What boy hasn’t dreamt of being a pirate? One of my favourite childhood novels was Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, and the adventures of Jim Hawkins still resonate with me to this day. This book led me to do quite a bit of research on one of New England’s notorious pirates, Captain Kidd. Whether his treasure remains to be found is a matter of conjecture, but Lyla and Josh are most definitely up for the challenge. Oak Island was the inspiration for Pine Island, and I spent quite a number of hours researching its fascinating history as well. Here, too, is a mystery waiting to be solved.

You can find a copy of the book available for purchase on Amazon.

The Case of the Missing Body

Dec 2025

Cousins Josh and Lyla are captivated by the stories of two boys, Joshua and Lucius, who witnessed the extraordinary events of Passover in 33 CE Jerusalem. When the much-talked-about rabbi they have been following for the past week is killed, a chain of bewildering events unfolds across the city.

Together with Lucius’ centurion father, who is tasked with locating the missing body of the rabbi Yeshua, the boys navigate conflicting accounts from soldiers, mourners and disciples to uncover the truth behind the greatest story ever told.

Packed with puzzles to solve, codes to crack and riddles to unravel, this interactive Solve-It Mystery invites you to join the adventure. Experience the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, explore the grandeur of Herod’s Temple, and witness the remarkable events that led to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This has to be one of the easiest plots that I have written — after all, the story is well known, as is the ending. It was a lot of fun to insert my two fictional characters into this Biblical account and see the events unfold through their eyes, particularly since they provide two contrasting perspectives — one from a Jewish boy’s perspective and the other from a Roman boy’s. Having these two characters also allowed me to narrate events that may have been impossible from the perspective of just one character. I very much enjoyed writing the story, and I hope that you, too, can enjoy reading about the greatest story ever told.

You can find a copy of the book available for purchase on Amazon.

Mystery on the Orient Express

Nov 2025

The third book sees cousins Josh and Lyla travel to Europe as the winners of a contest. There, they are to join their fellow amateur sleuths aboard the famous Orient Express to solve a series of puzzles as part of a competition. However, the mystery soon becomes all too real when the contestants discover that several valuable items have been stolen. Who is the thief? Why were the items taken, and how was it done? Match your wits with Josh and Lyla as you help them solve the Mystery on the Orient Express.

Thinking of new puzzles to avoid repetition can be quite a challenge, sometimes even more so than solving them. Having said that, this book has some of the most challenging puzzles in the series, some of which, now that time has passed, even I struggle to solve. Luckily, there are hints to help you without giving away the answers. See how well you do! I also very much enjoyed illustrating the various places that Josh and Lyla visit on their journey. With the exception of Sophia, they are all cities that I have travelled to, and it was wonderful to relive the memories of these fascinating locations.

You can find a copy of the book available for purchase on Amazon.

Mystery of the Conquistadors

Nov 2025

The second book sees cousins Josh and Lyla travel to Peru with their archaeologist uncle to help unravel the mystery behind a letter sent by Francisco Pizarro to one of his ‘Famous Thirteen’. This story is loosely based on Pizarro’s second expedition to Peru in 1526–28, during which he and his men explored the northern part of the country. In my fictional account, the group of conquistadors ventures further south into the heart of the Inca Empire, ultimately making a discovery that forms the basis of this mystery.

I’m quite pleased with the results — the puzzles are challenging, the illustrations have improved, and the plot is (I hope) engaging.

You can find a copy of the book available for purchase on Amazon.

Sydney Sleuths

Aug 2025, Revised Sep 2026

This was the first book in the series that I wrote. It introduces us to Josh and Lyla, two teenage cousins who are invited to assist their archaeologist uncle at a museum in Sydney, Australia. Their uncle writes to tell them that he is researching an Inca statuette that he has recently discovered in the museum’s basement. Upon arriving to help him, Josh and Lyla discover that the statuette has been stolen by a notorious international art thief known as Chat Noir. The thief has left a clue that leads the cousins to more riddles, codes and puzzles that they must solve.

The cousins need to travel across Sydney as part of their adventure, and I spent a lot of time visiting each location to capture the scenes accurately. Many of the places are real, though some are drawn from my imagination or used in a fictitious way to fit the story.

Countless hours of drawing illustrations for what is now seven titles have seen my drawing skills improve. Revisiting my first book showed me just how far I have come, especially when it came to drawing people. A much-needed makeover has breathed new life into the book, and it is now more like I had originally envisioned it. Practice does improve skills!

The cousins ultimately solve the mystery and reveal the identity of the thief. Can you?

You can find a copy of the book available for purchase on Amazon.