Roger Teale is known in his village as Inspector Tearle or just Inspector. His office is in a tree house next to his family's home. For a 12 year old boy, he has built up a big reputation with his detecting skills. With the assistance of his twin sister Shirley and pal Thumbs, they are quite the team.

Roger's skills are put to the test when there is a fire in the barn at Fieldcrest, a valuable Stutz Bearcat and family station wagon are burnt up, and Roger finds Hazy Milford hiding in the tree house office! Not only is Hazy the son of the owner of Fieldcrest he also has a reputation as a firebug.

Hazy asks Roger to help him hide and to find out who set the fire and why. Hazy swears he didn't do it as he really loved the Stutz. Roger is a bit leery but takes on the assignment.

Even when Roger is sent to bed with a cold, he still manages to sneak out and sleuth around to find clues to solve this mystery. Along the way, he and associates find that Hazy isn't such a bad guy after all. And so does Hazy's father.

A good book for showing determination and the importance of friendship. By persistence and thinking things through, the solution to the mystery is found. ( )