Hello, Readers,
Walnut Street: Phantom Rider officially launches on November 9. Here are the final excerpts from the last three chapters.
I hope you have enjoyed them as you anticipated the book’s release.
Now, at last, please click HERE if you’d like to purchase your own copy of the book!
From Chapter 23, “Spooky Moonlight”
As the six detectives are bagging cookies for tomorrow’s Halloween party, Cookie once again enters the kitchen through the back door! Gracie leads her horse back to the barn. 
They were almost at Cookie’s stall when Gracie sensed something. Was that a soft neigh she had heard from the back of the barn? There weren’t supposed to be any horses there.
Gracie gulped. “Is someone else in here?” No one answered. Her mind instantly raced back to the other barn incident that resulted in her kidnapping. She wanted to retreat. If only I could get to the light switch, she thought, chiding herself for not turning it on in the first place. But Cookie wasn’t in her stall yet, so Gracie’s path was blocked. And the switch panel was too far away. She froze and listened.
Slowly and almost noiselessly, something emerged from deep in the barn. . . . then, the moonlight revealed it . . .
From Chapter 24, “Tough Lessons”
The Phantom Rider and the other thieves have been captured. The six detectives and the Mayfield parents, however, are saddened to have been let down by some of Cody’s citizens turned criminals. The kids turn to more positive tasks like preparing for tonight’s Halloween and farewell barn dance. 
“And don’t forget about those dozen or so pumpkins on the back porch,” Aunt Maisie added. “Lots of helpers will be needed to turn them into jack-o’-lanterns.”
“Then let’s have a pumpkin carving contest,” Rani said with a welcomed, perky tone.
Lanny replied, “You’re on.” He was glad they would have some fun distractions as they awaited Sheriff Buckley’s promised arrival later that morning with more news about the case.
“I already know what I’m going to carve,” Ben said. But no matter how much he was begged, he wouldn’t tell. “Just wait and see. Maybe it’ll be one of life’s good surprises.”
From Chapter 25, “Halloween Barn Dance”
The Halloween barn dance is in full swing. As the four Botanic Hill Detectives look on, they start experiencing the old, empty feeling that overtakes them once a case is closed. They wonder how long they will have to wait before another mystery comes their way.
Lanny said, “I was just thinking. Doesn’t it seem that with each mystery we take on, the world gets a little smaller?”
“I think I know what you mean,” Lexi replied. “Even though we started this case at a party on Walnut Street in town last weekend, here we are, way out in the country at a party in a barn. Hey! This was our first ‘away’ case as an official detective agency . . . .”
Rani said, “ . . . we’re definitely outside the neighborhood.”
And,” Moki added, “this probably won’t be our last ‘away’ case.”
“Wait, Moki,” Lexi said. “Are you hinting like last time that you already know where our next mystery is? Because if you are . . .”
“Nope,” he replied. “Not a clue. But I do hope we get to cover some ground.”
“I hope you’re right, bro,” Lanny replied, gently jostling his friend’s shoulder.
If jack-o’-lanterns could speak, those in the barn might have begun whispering to the kids, saying, “Moki’s right. Your next mystery is already rumbling on Botanic Hill’s Saffron Street. And get ready—because it will take you even farther from home.”
