The Cryptic Code on Dead Man's Pass

by Barry Forbes

A wholesome family mystery series for tweens and teens, 10-15 years Heidi Hoover—star reporter of The Daily Pilot and good friend of The Mystery Searchers—opens a letter addressed to the “World’s Best Reporter.” Inside is an intriguing four-line poem, a quatrain, that Search for a crime on Dead Man’s Pass, A secret run at the midnight hour. But beware of a dangerous few, Engaged beside the granite tower. Wow! Who could have sent the letter? And why? Is it real—or fake? Time for a winter visit to the dangerous canyon badlands of Dead Man’s Pass. The Mystery Searchers take on another mystery with their good friend, Heidi. What a way to spend New Year's Eve! Interview with the author Q - What makes The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series so special? It’s a mix of things, really. When I started the series, I wanted to integrate the things that I liked as a 10-15 year-old. . . from the 4th or 5th grade all the way into junior high school. I loved mystery books which lead, often, to mystery solving, crime and detective stories, and action and adventure. So I would devour books like the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five series. I quickly realized that clean, wholesome books were important too, and I’ve integrated that concept in every Mystery Searchers installment. Q - What order should I read the books in? I’ve written the series so that you can read them in any order. By the time you finish any one of the books, all the threads will come together. Q – Are there more installments coming in the series? None currently planned, but there ARE twelve exciting books in the series to enjoy. Q - Does the author offer any other clean, wholesome books for this age group? Yes! The first installment of The Time Travelers Series will be released in July, 2023.

132 pages, Hardcover

Published April 16, 2023

About the author

Barry Forbes began his writing career in 1980, writing and producing literally hundreds of film and video corporate presentations, winning a handful of industry awards along the way. At the same time, he served as an editorial writer for Tribune Newspapers and wrote his first two books, both non-fiction.

In 1997, he founded and served as CEO for Sales Simplicity Software, a market leader which was sold two decades later.

What next? "I always loved mystery stories and one of my favorite places to visit was Prescott, Arizona. It's situated in rugged Central Arizona with tremendous locales for mysteries." In 2017, Barry merged his interest in mystery and his skills in writing, adding in a large dollop of technology. The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series was born. The first seven books are available now, and book eight will be released Spring, 2021.

Barry's wife, Linda, passed away in 2019 and The Mystery Searchers Family Book Series is dedicated to her. "Linda proofed the initial drafts of each book and acted as my chief advisor." The couple had been married for 49 years and had two children. A number of their fifteen grandchildren provided feedback on each book. Contact Barry: barry@mysterysearchers.com