Books with author Charles J. Shields

Amanda, Jonathon and Sam, the sleuths of Curious Cases, Inc., have been looking for a mystery to solve. One day their teacher, Miss Imagine, suggests they try looking for mysteries inside their local library. The three detectives are skeptical at first, but decide to take the case. There, they meet Miss Preface, the mysterious librarian who starts them out on a fast-paced journey to a magical place known as Information Aisleland-a land full of books where nothing is quite as it seems. The three sleuths soon learn that Miser Snoot, the evil bookkeeper, has stolen all of the Aisleland's books and it's up to Curious Cases, Inc. to get them back. As they meet the strange inhabitants of Information Aisleland, they collect new clues and soon discover that the key to stopping Snoot lies in learning the importance of reading the very books they are trying to save. This Curious Case unravels the secrets of reading and proves that even a local library can be a great place to start an adventure!

Fantasy Adventure (8 years old and older)SYNOPSISEllie is eleven-years-old. A haunting experience in her local park in Torquay leads her to seek the advice of her great-grandmother in nearby Totnes.Told to return to Cary Park in order to discover the meaning of the bizarre events that have occurred, Ellie finds that she is unable to unravel this mystery alone.The highly emotional climax is set in Cary Park itself, and here Ellie learns what her true purpose has been in this strange affair.It also prompts her dad to consider his own future...Steve AugardeThe Various...Smarties Prize Winner 2003 Celandine...Carnegie Nomination 2006Winter Wood 'Charlie Shields' time-shifting mystery tale is full of local colour. Whether you know and love the area as he does, or come to these gates as a stranger, you won't find it easy to escape the hold of Cary Park. A real old-fashioned ghost story, with a modern twist.' Book Review Service Ellie is eleven years old and appears to be a typical young girl of the 21st century, living in Torquay. But she is about to be caught up in an extraordinary adventure that will involve four generations of her family and change their lives forever. All of the action unfolds during two weeks in August, where Ellie experiences a spooky incident in a local park, and then finds that her grandmother once had the same experience in the same place. She turns for explanation to her great-grandmother, Granny Durney, well-known for her stock of ghost stories. Ellie follows the advice and comes to believe that she is the only person who can solve the mysterious connection between her family and the people who lived in a long-since demolished house. This is a time-travelling ghost story, set in real South Devon locations. It is clearly written, creates a strong atmosphere of the locality and progresses satisfyingly through a well thought out story line to an emotional climax. The Mystery of Cary Park is the first book by Charlie Shields, who had the confidence to self-publish. That confidence was not misplaced as his book was an immediate success in his Torquay hometown, with one local bookshop quickly selling over 400 copies. The book is something of a family venture as Charlie's wife, Rebecca, produced the cover design. It's good to see that, unlike many self-published books, it carries a sensible price tag. It's a promising start to his career as a novelist. I understand a second book is in the pipeline but, in the meantime, this one is worth attention. A good read for children in the 8-12 age range, but it is one of those children's books that will also be enjoyed by adults; particularly those living in, or visiting, the Torquay area.