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The Dead Man in Indian Creek
When Parker Pettengill and Matt Armentrout find a dead man at the edge of Indian Creek, their camping trip comes to a close -- and a detective hunt begins. Evans, the creepy new boyfriend of Parker's mom, Pam, was seen at -- the place of the crime -- but there's no solid evidence that he committed the murder. Parker is convinced that Pam's boyfriend is to blame, and he will not rest until he has proof. And when Parker and Armentrout hide out in Pam's antique store and spy on Pam and Evans, they find out more than they bargained for....
144 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 1990
59 people are currently reading
1090 people want to read
About the author
Mary Downing Hahn
71 books4,377 followersI grew up in a small shingled house down at the end of Guilford Road in College Park, Maryland. Our block was loaded with kids my age. We spent hours outdoors playing "Kick the Can" and "Mother, May I" as well as cowboy and outlaw games that usually ended in quarrels about who shot whom. In the summer, we went on day long expeditions into forbidden territory -- the woods on the other side of the train tracks, the creek that wound its way through College Park, and the experimental farm run by the University of Maryland.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
In elementary school, I was known as the class artist. I loved to read and draw but I hated writing reports. Requirements such as outlines, perfect penmanship, and following directions killed my interest in putting words on paper. All those facts -- who cared what the principal products of Chile were? To me, writing reports was almost as boring as math.
Despite my dislike of writing, I loved to make up stories. Instead of telling them in words, I told them in pictures. My stories were usually about orphans who ran away and had the sort of exciting adventures I would have enjoyed if my mother hadn't always interfered.
When I was in junior high school, I developed an interest in more complex stories. I wanted to show how people felt, what they thought, what they said. For this, I needed words. Although I wasn't sure I was smart enough, I decided to write and illustrate children's books when I grew up. Consequently, at the age of thirteen, I began my first book. Small Town Life was about a girl named Susan, as tall and skinny and freckle faced as I was. Unlike her shy, self conscious creator, however, Susan was a leader who lived the life I wanted to live -- my ideal self, in other words. Although I never finished Small Town Life, it marked the start of a lifelong interest in writing.
In high school, I kept a diary. In college, I wrote poetry and short stories and dreamed of being published in The New Yorker. Unfortunately, I didn't have the courage or the confidence to send anything there.
By the time my first novel was published, I was 41 years old. That's how long it took me to get serious about writing. The Sara Summer took me a year to write, another year to find a publisher, and yet another year of revisions before Clarion accepted it.
Since Sara appeared in 1979, I've written an average of one book a year. If I have a plot firmly in mind when I begin, the writing goes fairly quickly. More typically, I start with a character or a situation and only a vague idea of what's going to happen. Therefore, I spend a lot of time revising and thinking things out. If I'd paid more attention to the craft of outlining back in elementary school, I might be a faster writer, but, on the other hand, if I knew everything that was going to happen in a story, I might be too bored to write it down. Writing is a journey of discovery. That's what makes it so exciting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 178 reviews
November 15, 2019
I had not heard of “The Dead Man In Indian Creek”, 1990, until finding it second-hand. It is not about ghosts or time travel but I admire a change in roster. Even better, the introduction reveals that this is a personal story. Boys found a man who died of natural causes in College Park, Maryland: Mary Downing Hahn’s town. She made a heart-pumping crime of it for us. To be accurate, she made it for school children; one of the reasons this adventure ranked a four-star level for me.
I never abide the bad habit of “have got” contraction dialogue. While I am glad the boys enlisted a sibling and school friend, Parker could have turned to Matt’s or Jennifer’s parents. I grant that parental help would not produce a tale of facing danger, thus allowances are due. They reported a familiar figure at the creek immediately, so inefficiency was the mistake of police. Two absurdities at which I winced, that Mary surely added for high drama, were the need for a toddler to sneak evidence past a crowd of adults. Any of them could have stepped-in for the children. Worse, a principal stopped the boys from fleeing and handed them to a criminal. One would think that he knew their parents or at the least, saw that he did not know that stranger!
As a whole, I was impressed by this adventure and did not anticipate appreciating it as much as I did. When the action got going, I was keen for the kids to stay out of harm and achieve their mission of delivering evidence to lazy police. It was gratifying to see that their fort-constructing security precautions were wisely architected! I loved their resourcefulness at evading capture. The unintentional involvement of Parker’s Mom was a realistic possibility.
I never abide the bad habit of “have got” contraction dialogue. While I am glad the boys enlisted a sibling and school friend, Parker could have turned to Matt’s or Jennifer’s parents. I grant that parental help would not produce a tale of facing danger, thus allowances are due. They reported a familiar figure at the creek immediately, so inefficiency was the mistake of police. Two absurdities at which I winced, that Mary surely added for high drama, were the need for a toddler to sneak evidence past a crowd of adults. Any of them could have stepped-in for the children. Worse, a principal stopped the boys from fleeing and handed them to a criminal. One would think that he knew their parents or at the least, saw that he did not know that stranger!
As a whole, I was impressed by this adventure and did not anticipate appreciating it as much as I did. When the action got going, I was keen for the kids to stay out of harm and achieve their mission of delivering evidence to lazy police. It was gratifying to see that their fort-constructing security precautions were wisely architected! I loved their resourcefulness at evading capture. The unintentional involvement of Parker’s Mom was a realistic possibility.
August 13, 2022
A very fast and easy middle grade mystery novel. It wasn't my favorite and honestly it bored me to the point I just listened to the audio book. Not a bad read but definitely not Mary Downing Hahns best work.
November 11, 2024
2024
2022
2020
2019
Parker and Matthew are best friends. One summer day they decide to go camping. While looking for a blue heron that morning, they see George Evans (the guy who is dating Parker's mom) standing on the bridge next to Indian Creek. Parker doesn't like Evans, so they hide to make sure he doesn't see them. Once they get near the bridge, Parker's German Shepherd, Otis, starts going nuts - he has found a dead body underneath the bridge.
Parker and Matthew are immediately thrust into a world of danger. They are determined to connect Evans to the murder. Sneaking around, they try to find evidence against him. Parker is more of the leader of the two, while Matthew is definitely the follower. Matthew doesn't want to get involved, but he doesn't want to leave it to Parker because he's worried Parker will put himself in danger.
It's honestly a really great story about friendship, loyalties, and doing the right thing, even if it's dangerous. Even when Parker learns about his mom's involvement, he still wants justice for the drug dealers/murderers (although, you'd think his mom would have bowed out of the business after she found out about the Indian Creek guy - she does have a kid to worry about. But I guess it goes to show you, that sometimes even grown ups don't have the best judgment).
2016
In this juvenile crime thriller, you'll find drug rings, late-night chases, and dead bodies (well, one anyway). While some of the action can seem a little improbable at times, Hahn's portrayal of the two boys and the troubles they face in this novel are very convincing.
2015
2022
2020
2019
Parker and Matthew are best friends. One summer day they decide to go camping. While looking for a blue heron that morning, they see George Evans (the guy who is dating Parker's mom) standing on the bridge next to Indian Creek. Parker doesn't like Evans, so they hide to make sure he doesn't see them. Once they get near the bridge, Parker's German Shepherd, Otis, starts going nuts - he has found a dead body underneath the bridge.
Parker and Matthew are immediately thrust into a world of danger. They are determined to connect Evans to the murder. Sneaking around, they try to find evidence against him. Parker is more of the leader of the two, while Matthew is definitely the follower. Matthew doesn't want to get involved, but he doesn't want to leave it to Parker because he's worried Parker will put himself in danger.
It's honestly a really great story about friendship, loyalties, and doing the right thing, even if it's dangerous. Even when Parker learns about his mom's involvement, he still wants justice for the drug dealers/murderers (although, you'd think his mom would have bowed out of the business after she found out about the Indian Creek guy - she does have a kid to worry about. But I guess it goes to show you, that sometimes even grown ups don't have the best judgment).
2016
In this juvenile crime thriller, you'll find drug rings, late-night chases, and dead bodies (well, one anyway). While some of the action can seem a little improbable at times, Hahn's portrayal of the two boys and the troubles they face in this novel are very convincing.
2015
March 23, 2011
The reason that i chose this book is because it sondid intersetin witch it was. This book is an ok book. It is an easy read it only took me a week to read the book. The setting of the book takes place in a small town and in the woods. The main characters are Parker Pettengill and Matt Armentrout they are to best frisnd and do a lot to gethere. The plot of the book is that the two kids are tring to figer out who killed the man in the creek because he looks fermilure. so they folow Parkers moms boyfriend a round and finds out that Flynn is the killer and Evans just dumped the body for him. The way that they find that out us by steling a doll that has $5000 werth of cocane in it. The conflict of the book was for the two to find out how killed th man in the creek. They folwed the man that they thaught was the killer and found out that he was not. This is a good book. It is a easy read book.
April 29, 2015
Did you ever as a child like to go exploring and camping with your best friend? As a kid everyone did but the two best friends, Matt and Parker in the book called "The Dead Man in Indian Creek," stopped going because they were afraid. Afraid of getting murdered. Dun, Dun, Dun! Ok, So my overall opinion about this book is that I really enjoyed it. I was fascinated from how the author wrote it. I would describe this book as Mystery because the characters had to play detective and find clues. One thing I was surprised by when I found out Parkers mom was in on something so disturbing. (You'll find out later on in the story.)
The setting is Indian Creek, it's relevant to the story because this is were they find the dead man and it builds up to the conflict.
On a beautiful day in October, Matt and His best friend, Parker, went to go camping in the Indian Creek. The next day they went exploring and they saw George Evans, someone everybody loved but Parker hated him because Evans and his mother Pam had an relationship. Parker and Matt wanted to know why Evans was being suspicious and In the woods miles away from the town. They went over to were Evans was once he left and realize they saw a dead body. They were so scared that when they arrived at the police station Matt threw up and was later on made fun of about it. They investigated and found out the dolls Parkers mom was bringing in was filled with cocaine. They knew something was wrong and Evans suspected they were up to something and kidnapped them into the woods. But Otis( Parkers brilliant dog) stopped them from getting hurt and Evans took Parkers mom and left but later got into a car crash leading both of the adults into a bad tragedy. To be continued..
Person vs. person because Matt and Parker have to go against murderers. There in a very dangerous situation and there only kids.
I wished that Parkers mother wouldn't have gotten in a relationship with Evans because he lead her onto something so dangerous when she had a child of her on. Parker felt neglected by his mother because she'd stay out till the morning comes back. What kid wants to be home alone without a parent to look up to. It's sad because I know similar stories like this happening around now. She's not even my mother but I kind of felt neglected too, because of what I read from Parkers point of view. I had predicted Parkers mom gotten herself in trouble because something about her was always suspicious. She couldn't even look her own creation in they eye and every time he'd say something about her being out and never being at home she would spazz out for no reason. I would've been very hurt and shocked most of all because that's just childish.
An interested thing I've learned from this book is to treat your siblings and parents and even children right. Don't just change for a stranger because at the end of the day family is all you have. I read a quote in a book and it said "Friends come and go just like a car driving by." Sometimes you have to realize that you can't change for your friend because they can lead you into trouble. Family is Family. Friends can end. I thought the ending of the book was going to be different because there isn't good things promised to people who done bad things. I feel as if Parkers mom and Evans she be put away. One for treating her son wrong and two for following around some jerk who's looking for trouble. That made me disappointed in her.
I rate this book as a 4.9 because I enjoyed it but hated some of the characters and I know hate is a strong word but the people's action made me want to jump in the book and teach them a lesson. I recommend this book to the people who get mistreated maybe you can connect to Parker and figure out something so you won't feel neglected. Learn a thing or two. Go to the library today, tomorrow, the day after that and get this book. I promise you, you'll love it and imari keeps her promises.
The setting is Indian Creek, it's relevant to the story because this is were they find the dead man and it builds up to the conflict.
On a beautiful day in October, Matt and His best friend, Parker, went to go camping in the Indian Creek. The next day they went exploring and they saw George Evans, someone everybody loved but Parker hated him because Evans and his mother Pam had an relationship. Parker and Matt wanted to know why Evans was being suspicious and In the woods miles away from the town. They went over to were Evans was once he left and realize they saw a dead body. They were so scared that when they arrived at the police station Matt threw up and was later on made fun of about it. They investigated and found out the dolls Parkers mom was bringing in was filled with cocaine. They knew something was wrong and Evans suspected they were up to something and kidnapped them into the woods. But Otis( Parkers brilliant dog) stopped them from getting hurt and Evans took Parkers mom and left but later got into a car crash leading both of the adults into a bad tragedy. To be continued..
Person vs. person because Matt and Parker have to go against murderers. There in a very dangerous situation and there only kids.
I wished that Parkers mother wouldn't have gotten in a relationship with Evans because he lead her onto something so dangerous when she had a child of her on. Parker felt neglected by his mother because she'd stay out till the morning comes back. What kid wants to be home alone without a parent to look up to. It's sad because I know similar stories like this happening around now. She's not even my mother but I kind of felt neglected too, because of what I read from Parkers point of view. I had predicted Parkers mom gotten herself in trouble because something about her was always suspicious. She couldn't even look her own creation in they eye and every time he'd say something about her being out and never being at home she would spazz out for no reason. I would've been very hurt and shocked most of all because that's just childish.
An interested thing I've learned from this book is to treat your siblings and parents and even children right. Don't just change for a stranger because at the end of the day family is all you have. I read a quote in a book and it said "Friends come and go just like a car driving by." Sometimes you have to realize that you can't change for your friend because they can lead you into trouble. Family is Family. Friends can end. I thought the ending of the book was going to be different because there isn't good things promised to people who done bad things. I feel as if Parkers mom and Evans she be put away. One for treating her son wrong and two for following around some jerk who's looking for trouble. That made me disappointed in her.
I rate this book as a 4.9 because I enjoyed it but hated some of the characters and I know hate is a strong word but the people's action made me want to jump in the book and teach them a lesson. I recommend this book to the people who get mistreated maybe you can connect to Parker and figure out something so you won't feel neglected. Learn a thing or two. Go to the library today, tomorrow, the day after that and get this book. I promise you, you'll love it and imari keeps her promises.
March 10, 2015
Do you like mystery books? If so than this is the book for you. The genre of this book is mystery. The Dead man in Indian creek has a lot of horrifying details that will leave you breathless. ***Spoiler alert*** Parker s mom boyfriend helped kill the man that appeared at the Indian creek!
The setting of this book is in a town called Woodcroft. The dead man in Indian creek is about two boys named Parker and Mathew and Mathews dog Otis. One day Parker and Mathew were hanging out and Mathew wants to go camping with Parker so they go to the Indian creek. The next day they were looking at birds when the saw a dead man with a bullet through his head Parker also sees George Evans one of his moms boyfriends. So Parker and Mathew went running to the police office. Later that day Parker went home and he started talking to his mom and her boyfriend George. Parker suspected that it was George because he saw him standing by the creek. So Parker and Mathew started investigating at first they didn't find anything but then they went to George Evans job he worked at the antique shop. Parker went in and he saw a lot of dolls so he grabbed one and he soon discovered that there was cocaine in the doll. Parker and Mathew went to the police and told them that their was cocaine in the dolls. After, that George discovers that one of his dolls were missing and he assumed it was Parker and Mathew. Parker and Mathew went to their friends house and stayed there so George wouldn't find out they were there. The next day they disguised themselves so George wouldn't see them but that didn't work George and his boss Flynn captured them and took them to the woods Parker saw her mom tied up. Then Mathews dog Otis attacked Flynn and the police came and took Flynn to jail and told them what happened. The Conflict is person vs. person because he has to figure out what happened to the dead man that was the creek.
An interesting thing i learned is that to never trust somebody that they just met. It could be a very scary thing. in the text is states that "the way he smiled at Pam you'd think it was her skin he was touching not the icebox which means that maybe he was suspicious of something. I was surprised when Pam had to do something with George. That was really creepy.
The characters actions were not believable when he started investigating because that could be really dangerous and something might happen to Parker and Mathew. my favorite part was when Otis saved Parker Mathew from getting hurt. This shows that he was really caring and that Mathew had become really close with Otis.
In conclusion, i would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because some parts were confusing but overall the book was really amazing. I would recommend this book to anybody that likes mystery books and like the author Mary Downing Hawn or read her books. This is why you should read this book there is a lot of horrifying details.
The setting of this book is in a town called Woodcroft. The dead man in Indian creek is about two boys named Parker and Mathew and Mathews dog Otis. One day Parker and Mathew were hanging out and Mathew wants to go camping with Parker so they go to the Indian creek. The next day they were looking at birds when the saw a dead man with a bullet through his head Parker also sees George Evans one of his moms boyfriends. So Parker and Mathew went running to the police office. Later that day Parker went home and he started talking to his mom and her boyfriend George. Parker suspected that it was George because he saw him standing by the creek. So Parker and Mathew started investigating at first they didn't find anything but then they went to George Evans job he worked at the antique shop. Parker went in and he saw a lot of dolls so he grabbed one and he soon discovered that there was cocaine in the doll. Parker and Mathew went to the police and told them that their was cocaine in the dolls. After, that George discovers that one of his dolls were missing and he assumed it was Parker and Mathew. Parker and Mathew went to their friends house and stayed there so George wouldn't find out they were there. The next day they disguised themselves so George wouldn't see them but that didn't work George and his boss Flynn captured them and took them to the woods Parker saw her mom tied up. Then Mathews dog Otis attacked Flynn and the police came and took Flynn to jail and told them what happened. The Conflict is person vs. person because he has to figure out what happened to the dead man that was the creek.
An interesting thing i learned is that to never trust somebody that they just met. It could be a very scary thing. in the text is states that "the way he smiled at Pam you'd think it was her skin he was touching not the icebox which means that maybe he was suspicious of something. I was surprised when Pam had to do something with George. That was really creepy.
The characters actions were not believable when he started investigating because that could be really dangerous and something might happen to Parker and Mathew. my favorite part was when Otis saved Parker Mathew from getting hurt. This shows that he was really caring and that Mathew had become really close with Otis.
In conclusion, i would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars because some parts were confusing but overall the book was really amazing. I would recommend this book to anybody that likes mystery books and like the author Mary Downing Hawn or read her books. This is why you should read this book there is a lot of horrifying details.
January 4, 2013
The Dead Man in Indian Creek
If you like a page turning book, then you should read The Dead Man in Indian Creek by Mary Downing Hahn. The book is about two boys named Parker and Matthew, who are best friends. On a hot summer day, Parker convinces Matt and his dog Otis to go on a camping trip with him by Indian Creek, as a last hurrah before summer ends. They bike there for eight miles and spend the night. The next morning, they go by Indian Creek to watch a blue heron and Otis starts jumping around and runs in the creek. They find a dead man. The boys run to the police station and report the dead man. Was it a murder? Will they ever find out who did it? Find out in the thrilling book The Dead man in Indian Creek.
I liked a lot of things about the book The Dead man in Indian Creek. I liked all of the characters in the book, including Parker, Matt, Jennifer, Otis Mr. Evans and Pam. They really made the story interesting. I liked the plot and the tension leading up to the lead. I really love the way that Hahn writes. I have read a lot more of her books, but I think that this one is the best. The only thing I did not like about this book was the stretch from the climax to the resolution. It got a little boring at times. I would rate this book a three out of five because it wasn’t the best book, but it wasn’t the worst. I would recommend this book to people 12 and up. It wouldn’t be the best book for people under 12 because it was a little bit confusing.
If you like a page turning book, then you should read The Dead Man in Indian Creek by Mary Downing Hahn. The book is about two boys named Parker and Matthew, who are best friends. On a hot summer day, Parker convinces Matt and his dog Otis to go on a camping trip with him by Indian Creek, as a last hurrah before summer ends. They bike there for eight miles and spend the night. The next morning, they go by Indian Creek to watch a blue heron and Otis starts jumping around and runs in the creek. They find a dead man. The boys run to the police station and report the dead man. Was it a murder? Will they ever find out who did it? Find out in the thrilling book The Dead man in Indian Creek.
I liked a lot of things about the book The Dead man in Indian Creek. I liked all of the characters in the book, including Parker, Matt, Jennifer, Otis Mr. Evans and Pam. They really made the story interesting. I liked the plot and the tension leading up to the lead. I really love the way that Hahn writes. I have read a lot more of her books, but I think that this one is the best. The only thing I did not like about this book was the stretch from the climax to the resolution. It got a little boring at times. I would rate this book a three out of five because it wasn’t the best book, but it wasn’t the worst. I would recommend this book to people 12 and up. It wouldn’t be the best book for people under 12 because it was a little bit confusing.
October 8, 2010
The reason i choose to read this book is because it sounded interesting i like books that have mysterys in them and this book did. This book is a relistic fiction. This book takes place in the present day in a smaller town. The main characters are Parker and Matthew. Parker is a skinny kid who is very active with blond hair. He is also very nosy and what's to know everything that is going on. Matthew is a chunkier kid but he still can keep up with Parker and he is always really carefull. Parker and Matthew go to there fort in a woods called indian creek. They bring there dog otis and they set up a tent. They make a fire and eat then they go to bed. The next morning they wake up early to watch birds but they see Parkers mom's boyfriend on the bridge and he looks suspicis so they go over there after he leaves and they see a dead body in the creek. They go to the police station and then the cops go out and investigate it. So they decide to follow Parkers mom cause they think she is up to no good. They found out that they are dealing with drugs so they go tell the police but they dont belive them. So they go get proof but I dont want to ruin the book so you will have to read it and find out. I thought the book was good but it got boring in the middle but the end was good.
October 15, 2009
This book was great fiction for me! Most of the time I read fantasy or Sci-fi books, and usually the things in those books don't exsist, so it's good for me to read a realistic adventure somtimes. The title may sound weird, but this book was certainly a page-turner. And since anything in this book coul've happened and probably did happen at one point in history, it makes the suspense even better! Great adventure and mystery!
June 10, 2014
I gave The Dead Man in Indian Creek by Mary Downing Hahn 5 out of 5 because it is the kind of book that is a non-put down book. i got the book when i was in Boston with my grandma and i couldn't put it down. I ended up finishing it that day. That's how good it was.i liked this book because if you like crime and suspense, than you would really like this book. there was nothing that i didn't like about this book. IT WAS GREAT!!!
October 28, 2019
I really enjoyed reading The Dead Man in Indian Creek by Mary Dowing Hahn, because I like horror but not to much horror or else I will get scared so this was a good book for me. I liked this book because with the case of Armentrout and Parker finding the dead body they find the body at the beginning and move on to trying to find the murderer. The author did a good job in leaving me in suspence, when the chapter would end. This story was a good little story where it didn't take my long to read it. I reccomend this book to someone who likes a little bit of horror and takes a while to read books. I enjoyed reading a little bit of horror without getting scared to my fullest.
June 22, 2017
This is a story of two young boys who find a dead man in a creek near where they were camping. It turns into much more than just discovering a dead body, though, when they discover why the man was killed and then dumped into the creek. It is an interesting tale of intrigue in a small town. I definitely recommend it for young mystery readers.
April 27, 2021
Another great story from MDH! Favorite author of the grandkids!
December 12, 2015
There were so many things I didn't like about this book, but to be fair, I will start with the things I did like:
-The writing style was perfect. I could not stop reading it, which is strange because I didn't even like the storyline.
-The characters were very relatable, and I like how the main character was a little chubby instead of your typical skinny, daring, adventurous kid.
-It dealt with real issues, such as a kid struggling with the prospect of a potential new step-father
Alright I have filled my fairness quota. Now for the rant:
What audience did the author have in mind? I remember seeing this book on the bookshelves while I was in elementary school, but I never got the chance to read it. Now that I have read it, I can't help but wonder if this book really should have been geared towards teens. I, personally, would not want my children reading this. It deals with a number of adult topics:
-Cocaine and drug dealing- it specifically describes cocaine as a white powder they discovered in little plastic bags
-Adult relationships- Parker's mother winds up with a man who goes by the name Evans. Parker, while eavesdropping, witnesses Evans caressing and kissing Parker's mother and eventually leading her into the house late at night. The lights turn off quickly afterward.
-A dead man in Indian Creek (surprise surprise)- it describes the corpse. There is a bullet hole in the forehead, and this image disturbs the kids for half the book.
-A kidnapping- First off, Parker's mother gets kidnapped (an adult woman being kidnapped by an adult man? Not good.) Also, while Parker and Matt try to get evidence to the police station, they are kidnapped and taken into the forest. Parker is hit across the face by a kidnapper (I've read stories about kids being kidnapped by the "bad guys," but a child/tween being violently hit by an adult was very upsetting).
There are also quite a few hidden messages that I would not want children to pick up. Though it is not intended, there is an overlying message that new step-parents are the bad guys. I mean, the entire purpose of the book was to stop Parker's mother from marrying Evans! By the end, you'll be saying 'wow it's a good thing she didn't marry him.' What if there is a child reading this book and is about have a new step-father/mother? Are they going to worry that this new figure in their lives is going to be bad like Evans was? Also, Parker and Matt refrain from telling any adults about the crisis. They had multiple opportunities to tell their parents (like they should have) but they kept it a secret because they're so heroic and can solve the mystery themselves. Never mind that a dangerous man is chasing them. No, they just keep it a secret and don't seek the help they need.
This book is not age appropriate for those little elementary kids looking for a book to read. I enjoyed it, but I am a young adult. This book should have been written for teenagers.
-The writing style was perfect. I could not stop reading it, which is strange because I didn't even like the storyline.
-The characters were very relatable, and I like how the main character was a little chubby instead of your typical skinny, daring, adventurous kid.
-It dealt with real issues, such as a kid struggling with the prospect of a potential new step-father
Alright I have filled my fairness quota. Now for the rant:
What audience did the author have in mind? I remember seeing this book on the bookshelves while I was in elementary school, but I never got the chance to read it. Now that I have read it, I can't help but wonder if this book really should have been geared towards teens. I, personally, would not want my children reading this. It deals with a number of adult topics:
-Cocaine and drug dealing- it specifically describes cocaine as a white powder they discovered in little plastic bags
-Adult relationships- Parker's mother winds up with a man who goes by the name Evans. Parker, while eavesdropping, witnesses Evans caressing and kissing Parker's mother and eventually leading her into the house late at night. The lights turn off quickly afterward.
-A dead man in Indian Creek (surprise surprise)- it describes the corpse. There is a bullet hole in the forehead, and this image disturbs the kids for half the book.
-A kidnapping- First off, Parker's mother gets kidnapped (an adult woman being kidnapped by an adult man? Not good.) Also, while Parker and Matt try to get evidence to the police station, they are kidnapped and taken into the forest. Parker is hit across the face by a kidnapper (I've read stories about kids being kidnapped by the "bad guys," but a child/tween being violently hit by an adult was very upsetting).
There are also quite a few hidden messages that I would not want children to pick up. Though it is not intended, there is an overlying message that new step-parents are the bad guys. I mean, the entire purpose of the book was to stop Parker's mother from marrying Evans! By the end, you'll be saying 'wow it's a good thing she didn't marry him.' What if there is a child reading this book and is about have a new step-father/mother? Are they going to worry that this new figure in their lives is going to be bad like Evans was? Also, Parker and Matt refrain from telling any adults about the crisis. They had multiple opportunities to tell their parents (like they should have) but they kept it a secret because they're so heroic and can solve the mystery themselves. Never mind that a dangerous man is chasing them. No, they just keep it a secret and don't seek the help they need.
This book is not age appropriate for those little elementary kids looking for a book to read. I enjoyed it, but I am a young adult. This book should have been written for teenagers.
October 23, 2009
i have learned that parker who's mom is never there has it way worse than i do. his mom ends up gettting involved in a drugs with his moms boyfriend who owns an antique shop and sells little old ladies dolls with cocaine in the head and evans the moms boyfriend dumps a body in indian creek and parker and matt see him do it so they go to the cops and nobody believes them so the case is unsolved but then on halloween they sneek into the antique shop and steel a doll that has drugs in it and than evans and his friend come to get the dolls and one is missing and the boys discover that the friend killed the dead man in indian creek because he got hosed on a drug deal and so the boys sneek out and they go to there friend jennys house to hide and than evans comes and knocks on her door looking for the boys and jennys parents come home so evans knocks on the door again and her parents say that they know that jenny would never have any one over and the boys dress in costumes and fall asleep in the basement and in the morning they pretend to be jennys friends and there plan is to go to the festival and than put the doll in jennys little sisters carrier and tell her that it is a game and get the doll to the police department and evans and his friend catch them but not the doll and throw them in the van and drive to the fort they had built and the friend gets a gun out and ties parker, matt and pam parkers mom to a tree and they say stop playing games! Then evans says dont be crazy so he grabs pam and drives off in the van and leaves the boys there all by them selves with the crazy dude that has a gun. So they get untied and lead the dude over to the trap they had built in there fort to stop people from getting in and they run like 10 miles all the way to town and find jenifers little sister and take the doll to the police and they call matts mother and she come to the police station and starts crying. the next day the mom takes the boys to the hospital to she parkers mom because evans crashed the van and pam broke her leg pam and parker both start crying and parker says when will i see you and pam says when i get out of jail and parker says but why mom why? pam says that she had a part in the drugs to so if she is good she can get out on parole and parker goes and lives with matt. i liked this book and gave it 5 stars because i think that it gives a message that if you truely have a feeling.... PROVE IT! and that is exactly what parker did
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2017
Phew. So I guess there are still some Mary Downing Hahn books I like after all. So glad my bad experience with Stepping on the Cracks didn’t repeat with this one. Maybe I should just focus on her mystery and/or ghost stories instead? Those are the ones I mostly read anyway as a kid.
The mystery in this was fun, albeit a little far-fetched at times, but overall it was a quick entertaining read, and good for Fall/October/Halloween time too. There were nerve-wracking moments in it too that kept you on the edge of your seat, but nothing over-the-top that a kid couldn’t handle. My only criticism is that it seemed like the kids didn’t have a lot of supervision…which I know, sometimes parents or adults can ruin the fun when it comes to a kid/teen adventure, but seriously. Two twelve-year old boys were allowed to go camping and sleep in the woods alone at night? I mean, I know they had the dog with them, and that it wasn’t far from home, and that the town was always a “safe” town where “nothing ever happened” (which is by far the lamest and oldest thing I’ve ever heard, and keep hearing. If something’s “never happened” before, it’s going to. No doubt), but did it never occur to them that there are dangerous things out there, ready to snatch up their kids? In fact, there were quite a few close-calls in here. And they didn’t even have any parental supervision whilst going trick-or-treating…while there’s a murderer on the loose…again, a little far-fetched. But hey, it’s also realistic I guess. For there ARE lots of irresponsible parents in real life, so meh.
Also, two thumbs up to the dog in this book. I’m afraid (and ashamed) that I don’t remember his name, but he was awesome. Definitely best character in here hands down.
The mystery in this was fun, albeit a little far-fetched at times, but overall it was a quick entertaining read, and good for Fall/October/Halloween time too. There were nerve-wracking moments in it too that kept you on the edge of your seat, but nothing over-the-top that a kid couldn’t handle. My only criticism is that it seemed like the kids didn’t have a lot of supervision…which I know, sometimes parents or adults can ruin the fun when it comes to a kid/teen adventure, but seriously. Two twelve-year old boys were allowed to go camping and sleep in the woods alone at night? I mean, I know they had the dog with them, and that it wasn’t far from home, and that the town was always a “safe” town where “nothing ever happened” (which is by far the lamest and oldest thing I’ve ever heard, and keep hearing. If something’s “never happened” before, it’s going to. No doubt), but did it never occur to them that there are dangerous things out there, ready to snatch up their kids? In fact, there were quite a few close-calls in here. And they didn’t even have any parental supervision whilst going trick-or-treating…while there’s a murderer on the loose…again, a little far-fetched. But hey, it’s also realistic I guess. For there ARE lots of irresponsible parents in real life, so meh.
Also, two thumbs up to the dog in this book. I’m afraid (and ashamed) that I don’t remember his name, but he was awesome. Definitely best character in here hands down.
September 22, 2014
Best friends, Matt and Parker, live in very different households...Matt, with his mom and dad who watch over him constantly and a little annoying sister, Charity, and Parker who lives with his beautiful, widowed, young mom, Pam who hardly knows what he's doing half the time. Pam, loves Parker, but loves her life too. She starts dating her rich, older boss and things really begin to change.
Matt and Parker decide to camp out one weekend before the weather turns colder, but much to their horror they discover a decaying body in the creek next to their campsite. But, what is even more troubling, is the fact that they spy Evans, Pam's boyfriend, looking over the creek on the bridge, just where the body is positioned. Did he have something to do with his murder?
Parker is worried about his mom especially since she has been short and impatient with him. He is determined to figure out what is going on. Little does he know that Pam is in deep danger, with criminals, drugs, and smuggling...led there by trust and love for a man she barely knows anything about. The Dead Man in Indian Creek, although a touch outdated, is still a sit-on-the-edge of your seat thriller for tweens. Even though you're quite sure who the murderer is, you aren't quite sure why or how it all ends until the last few pages.
Matt and Parker decide to camp out one weekend before the weather turns colder, but much to their horror they discover a decaying body in the creek next to their campsite. But, what is even more troubling, is the fact that they spy Evans, Pam's boyfriend, looking over the creek on the bridge, just where the body is positioned. Did he have something to do with his murder?
Parker is worried about his mom especially since she has been short and impatient with him. He is determined to figure out what is going on. Little does he know that Pam is in deep danger, with criminals, drugs, and smuggling...led there by trust and love for a man she barely knows anything about. The Dead Man in Indian Creek, although a touch outdated, is still a sit-on-the-edge of your seat thriller for tweens. Even though you're quite sure who the murderer is, you aren't quite sure why or how it all ends until the last few pages.
October 19, 2011
Dead Man in Indian Creek
By Mary Downing Hahn
“While camping near Indian Creek, Matt and his best friend, Parker, get up early to see if they can spot a blue heron. Instead, they find the body of a dead man floating in the clear water.
Parker is sure that George Evans, the smooth-talking antiques dealer who is dating his mother, must somehow be connected to the dead man, but matt isn’t so sure. But then, on Halloween night, while snooping around Evan’s antiques shop, the boys make another shocking discovery that puts their own lives in danger.
There are murderous adults that would do anything to keep what the boys found in the shop a secret, and now they’re after Parker and Matt. Are the boys clever enough to get away? Or will they, too, end up like the dead man in Indian Creek?”
I thought this was a fun, short, spooky read. It has drug abuse mentioned, and a small mention of underage drinking, but it isn’t a main feature, it’s talking about this remote area of the forest. I question the age range though, I think, while the plot is young, the content is a little old. I liked this book, it wasn’t bone chilling creepy, but it was a good (and a little humorous) story on Halloween.
By Mary Downing Hahn
“While camping near Indian Creek, Matt and his best friend, Parker, get up early to see if they can spot a blue heron. Instead, they find the body of a dead man floating in the clear water.
Parker is sure that George Evans, the smooth-talking antiques dealer who is dating his mother, must somehow be connected to the dead man, but matt isn’t so sure. But then, on Halloween night, while snooping around Evan’s antiques shop, the boys make another shocking discovery that puts their own lives in danger.
There are murderous adults that would do anything to keep what the boys found in the shop a secret, and now they’re after Parker and Matt. Are the boys clever enough to get away? Or will they, too, end up like the dead man in Indian Creek?”
I thought this was a fun, short, spooky read. It has drug abuse mentioned, and a small mention of underage drinking, but it isn’t a main feature, it’s talking about this remote area of the forest. I question the age range though, I think, while the plot is young, the content is a little old. I liked this book, it wasn’t bone chilling creepy, but it was a good (and a little humorous) story on Halloween.
April 12, 2016
In this story, the boys strengths and weakness because are very balanced through this story because ever since they seen the dead body they been scared and its hard for them to talk about it to the reports and all those people who tried to get information from them. When they saw Evans looking down on the old man on the bridge that made them even more scared and scared of him so now they think he killed the old man. There speaking habits are believable because the way they were explaning things to the cops seemed like they were really scared and worried. I learned that throughout the story they were scared but they did anything they could to make sure it was evans who killed the man and it was him and they were heros for trapping him and saving everyone else.
I found this author to be inspired because in the story the kids were being like suspicious about everything and in evans so everything they thought of it inspire them to spy on evans and stuff to really see if he killed the man that was in the creek. Like when one of the boys said lets go into the shop tonight to find any evidence on evans killing the man. I would reccomend this book to someone who's very interested in mystery books because it is a very good mystery book.
I found this author to be inspired because in the story the kids were being like suspicious about everything and in evans so everything they thought of it inspire them to spy on evans and stuff to really see if he killed the man that was in the creek. Like when one of the boys said lets go into the shop tonight to find any evidence on evans killing the man. I would reccomend this book to someone who's very interested in mystery books because it is a very good mystery book.
July 19, 2011
One evening, Matt and his friend Parker decide to go camping in the forest. Early the next morning while strolling through the woods, they found a dead man who had been murdered. Parker is pretty sure that he knows who is involved with this - George Evans, who owns the Olde Mill Antique Store in town. Parker saw George standing on the bridge looking down into the water where the dead man was found, and then he heard George’s loud car drive away.
Parker remembers where he has seen the man before - at the antique store. So he and Matt begin hanging around, looking for any clues they can find to help them solve the mystery of the dead man. One evening, while searching through the store, they see china dolls, the ones Pam (Parker’s mom) re-painted their faces. The boys are holding one, hiding in the store, when George and the other troublemakers come back looking for the dolls. Hidden inside are drugs.
Parker and Matt escape and do report their story to the police and the guilty are captured.
Parker remembers where he has seen the man before - at the antique store. So he and Matt begin hanging around, looking for any clues they can find to help them solve the mystery of the dead man. One evening, while searching through the store, they see china dolls, the ones Pam (Parker’s mom) re-painted their faces. The boys are holding one, hiding in the store, when George and the other troublemakers come back looking for the dolls. Hidden inside are drugs.
Parker and Matt escape and do report their story to the police and the guilty are captured.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2015
I picked up this book because my fiancé said this is his favorite book from his childhood. And he isn't exactly an avid reader so I thought there must be something intriguing about it if he said he loved it and still has the library's copy in his closet.
This book is a middle grade mystery about two friends who are camping and find a dead body in a creek. Surprisingly for a middle grade book, it involved a lot of adult concepts like drug dealing, affairs, and murder. But overall it was a fast-paced book that kept me interested in the plot until the end.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was still in middle school, but the fact that it was written for younger readers didn't take too much away from the story.
I didn't enjoy Matthew's character as much as Parker's and I think the story would have been better told from Parker's perspective rather than Matthew's. Parker seemed like a more adventurous character and also, all the plot was involving him and his mother. So it would have been nice to follow him instead of Matthew who was often outcasted and was rather cowardly.
This book is a middle grade mystery about two friends who are camping and find a dead body in a creek. Surprisingly for a middle grade book, it involved a lot of adult concepts like drug dealing, affairs, and murder. But overall it was a fast-paced book that kept me interested in the plot until the end.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if I was still in middle school, but the fact that it was written for younger readers didn't take too much away from the story.
I didn't enjoy Matthew's character as much as Parker's and I think the story would have been better told from Parker's perspective rather than Matthew's. Parker seemed like a more adventurous character and also, all the plot was involving him and his mother. So it would have been nice to follow him instead of Matthew who was often outcasted and was rather cowardly.
October 6, 2010
This book is called The Dead Man In Indian Creek. Written by Mary Downing Hahn.This book is in the mystery genre. This book fits weel in this genre because there is people looking for the dead man and they use clues and such during the hunt.I belive this books intended audience is ment for someone that genrally reads books, I feel this way because I feel like could not concentrate very well during this book.Some personal experiences i have to this book is playing the game grave yard with friends.I would recommend this book but i dont know what type of readers would read it other than mystery readers.This book is based in a forest where a couple of people find some suspicious things so they go on a hunt. They are so commited to finding out the mystery that they go every day after school.
October 15, 2014
Good mystery - especially for younger readers. Matt and Parker are great characters - believable and real. How they think about trying to find out what is really happening with Parker's mom and her boss sounds like many kids this age. Not too gruesome, but it is action packed.
What I wish...
Matt's parents are a little weak - they would NOT let their child go trick or treating with a murderer still lose and they are far too easy with Matt's sister, who has no redeeming qualities at all.
The ending is vague - no idea what happens to Pam.
What I wish...
Matt's parents are a little weak - they would NOT let their child go trick or treating with a murderer still lose and they are far too easy with Matt's sister, who has no redeeming qualities at all.
The ending is vague - no idea what happens to Pam.
November 11, 2014
I thought this book was very good! I have read a couple of Mary Downing Hahn's books and I have loved every single one of them. This book really caught my attention and it was difficult for me to put it down. It was very thrilling and I was excited to pick it up and read it. I think this book would be fun to read out loud to a class but I would definitely read it to an older grade level. It had some pretty controversial things within and I don't think younger children should quite be exposed to that yet.
September 24, 2014
What I think about it that you can relate a lot a thing to it. A trouble childhood lost his Dad then his mom is seeing guy and he put her in a drug related thing and the mom is making alots of money and she barely spend time with her son always hanging out. When it got to the end the cop were after them and the mother didn't want to be apart of it no more and they end up crashing and the mother break her leg.
February 22, 2015
The book started off very nice, I like to say that it went right to the point. The plot thickened just as her book always do. I glad to say that if you are looking for a book to pass time with and have fun with then this is the book. I liked the part where they are kidnapped(SPOILER ALERT!) and the dog, forgot his name, saves the boys and the mother gets kidnapped again. I would have liked it if the story continued because I have questions about what happens next. Overall I enjoyed it.
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April 28, 2016This book is about Parker and Matt who are friends and Parker's dog Otis. While camping they discover a dead body. Parker makes accusations about his mothers new boyfriend being the murderer. While playing detective they open a big can of worms. Turns out in Evans antique shop they have been hiding cocaine in the glass dolls. The boys get themselves into trouble and get themselves caught but Otis saves them. In the end Evans and his associate for sure get jail time and Pam may get a few years.
May 17, 2016
I let three of my boys choose this book to read with me; the back of the book proclaims it an "ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". It's a murder mystery/my-step-dad-might-be-a-murderer book. It's fast paced but devoid of any rich author's choices to discuss. I used it to practice locating evidence (it is, after all, a mystery) and to talk about how the main characters' relationship develops as pseudo brothers.
June 3, 2016
This story is about two boys named Parker and Matt, and when they went camping near Indian Creek, they found a deadman. The two boys decided to go on an investigation on this dead man. Parker's mom's cheesy boyfriend, Evans was there at the scene, but there's no solid proof. When they went spying and following Parker's mom and Evans, they found something they could never bear. I recommend this book to people who are in to mystery and suspense, because that's what this story is.
April 8, 2014
When thinking of books that got me through my preteen year Dead Man in Indian Creek is one of my fondest memories. Granted it isn't a piece of classic literature but it was a book that will always hold nostalgic value as many late nights on the edge of my bed with my little lamp giving me light were spent reading this fun little romp through teenage joy and conflict.
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