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I've always loved Mary Downing Hahn's children's ghost stories. They're wonderful fall reading. I thought I would try out one of her books that weren't in this category and chose The Dead man in Indian Creek. For a mystery geared towards middle grade readers, the book was surprisingly well written. Though the cast of characters capable of being the "bad guy" is quite short and therefore it's easy to figure out where the plot is going, the characters seem realistic and well written. The small town setting in the 80's or 90's is among my favorites as I can connect it to my own past. Overall, this was a wonderful book and I enjoyed reading it. ( )

This is a mystery book. There is this boy named Matthew and Parker finds an dead old man in the Indian Creek. Parker says that it was Evan who is fell in love with his mom, and killed the old man. ( )

From back cover: The face stared up with dead eyes, it's mouth open, its hair swirling in the creek water. Matt and his friend Parker found the dead man. He'd been murdered. And the worst part is, Parker thinks he knows the killer. He knows him all too well. But he needs some proof.

The evidence may be out at the olde Mill, but Parker and Matt have to sneak out into the darkness to get it because nobody takes their story seriously. Nobody, that is, except the killer. And he takes them very seriously.

Two boys, Parker and his best friend Matt discover a body near the woods where they are camping. Parker's mom, Pam, has recently taken up with a shady antique dealer named Evans. When the boys see Evans, shortly before they find the body, they are convinced that he has something to do with the death, so they inform the police and then take it upon themselves to stake out Evans' store and watch for further suspicious behavior. They soon discover that Pam is involved more deeply than they'd like, and what they discover puts them into very serious danger. This is a fast enjoyable mystery for reluctant readers. ( )