Upas Street: Shocking Specter (The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries Book 6)
by Sherrill Joseph
September 7, 2024
Genre: Middle Grade Paranormal Mystery
Do you dare enter Dr. Frankenstein’s la-BOR-uh-tree?
A fearless quartet of teen sleuths, the Botanic Hill detectives, travel to Llanfair, a fictitious Welsh village in present-day California, to solve the mystery of the Shocking Specter.
The green-glowing apparition reportedly roams the countryside, setting fire to buildings and meadows during the new moon. The occurrences began shortly after a motion picture stagehand Scotty Roberts’s accidental death by electrocution in this case inspired by the filming of Universal Pictures 1931 classic horror movie Frankenstein.
Supernatural?
Coincidence?
Or is criminal activity at work?
And why, nearly a century later, has the Shocking Specter returned?
Readers will enjoy learning about real-life horror film star Boris Karloff, Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, other key players in the movie’s production, and some early Hollywood cinematic history. Our fabulous four might need to kick some monsters to the curb to solve this challenging mystery!
For ages 9 to 14. Adults like this series, too! My present-day Middle-Grade mysteries have a twist of history, this time, harking to the filming of 1931's Universal Pictures classic horror movie Frankenstein. It is not within the Young-Adult genre that serves ages 14 to 18.
What readers are saying:
“Follow our detectives to the fictitious Welsh settlement of Llanfair, California, as they chase a green-glowing specter and get caught up in a riveting mystery that will introduce young readers to the magic of old Hollywood horror movies. Kids will stay intrigued from start to finish.”
--KIMBERLEY KRAMER, Literacy Specialist, Saint Katharine Drexel Academy, San Diego, CA
“I loved this book and could not put it down! I loved learning about the Hollywood monsters from the old-time days and meeting the people of Llanfair. You will not be sad that you chose this book to read.”
--SOPHIA O., age 10, San Diego, CA
“As a professor of History of Film and Monster and Character Makeup Design, I was intrigued from the first page of this book! The Golden Age of Hollywood is brought to life in the eyes of the young protagonists through their exploration of Universal Studios’ Frankenstein franchise. Joseph not only captured my attention with the charm and intelligence of her four detectives but had me searching for clues and secret messages (Easter eggs) to unravel this horror-movie-inspired mystery. Joseph includes facts about Boris Karloff that I did not know, which delighted me to no end. Jack Pierce may have never received an Oscar for his iconic makeup designs, but he gets a wonderful tribute through this exciting story. A must-read for mystery lovers and film buffs of all ages.”
--SHARON LYNN, award-winning author of A Cotswold Crimes Mystery series; aka SHARON BOLMAN, Senior Professor of Digital Video and General Education, University of Advancing Technology, Tempe, AZ
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Background: The four Botanic Hill detectives are having dinner with their Llanfair hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Llewellyn. There was one night to go before the new moon and the specter’s likely appearance, so this evening should be relaxing . . .
The detectives took turns filling the couple in on all the clues and leads they had gathered so far. As usual, Lanny was quick to remind everyone that evidence was scarce so far, but they hoped they were on the right track.
The diners also discussed the day’s unlocked-door issue at the tower museum and were glad the problem seemed under control now. But it would be critical to find out who made a duplicate key and why.
As Moki was reaching for dessert, a powerful, clanging sound began.
The Llewellyns pushed back their chairs immediately and headed for the front door.
Mrs. Llewellyn turned around to the detectives. “It’s a warning bell coming from the village church. Something terrible must have happened! Come with us, quickly.”
Everyone abandoned the dinner table and bolted outdoors. Smoke was already clogging the air, and the group heard a roaring sound. But they continued toward the source. Soon, they joined other villagers, who were shouting and gathering in the town square.
The detectives noticed a large wooden structure on fire! The fire brigade was on the scene trying to douse the tall flames.
“What’s burning?” Lanny asked anyone who would answer.
“Our St. David’s Day festival stage!” said a young woman with a catch in her voice. “We thought building it early would be a good idea, but . . . ” She shook her head.
Lanny looked at the squad. “Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yep,” replied Lexi. “The Shocking Specter did this to distract everyone. It’s on the run—a day early!”
Lanny exhaled. “Ugh! And it’s got a jump on us.”
Rani tugged on Lanny’s sleeve. “Then, what are we waiting for? Let’s go after it.” The athletic girl raced ahead without waiting for a reply. Her three friends followed.
The Shocking Specter likely had a good head start, so the squad decided to go right to the cemetery and tower, ignoring the pond and bridge. The detectives traversed the grassy field in record time. No villagers followed them. Upon reaching the cemetery, Lanny told Moki and Lexi to check there while he and Rani would see if there was any trouble at the tower or its back door.
Soon, the four met between the two destinations.
Lexi held up a large corpse candle. It was a duplicate of the one Lanny had found in the pond, only hers was sparkling a bright red. “We found it by Scotty Roberts’s grave! And congratulations, Moki, for not complaining about returning to your least favorite spot in Llanfair.”
Without waiting for Moki’s reply, Rani said, “The tower museum’s door is still locked, thank goodness, but the doorknob’s loose as if someone’s been tugging on it. And we found a speck of its costume on the bush going down the steps!” She smiled and held up a few threads of fabric, brilliantly glowing green in the dark.
“Hey, guys. Look out there!” Lanny said, pointing.
Far off in the deserted meadow, running northwest toward the dense woods, was the Shocking Specter. It glowed a ghastly green from head to toe, shimmering and pulsating like an animated, computer-generated image. Just as Lanny was going to suggest they follow it, the apparition vanished— as if its lights had been switched off!
**Don’t miss the rest of the series!**
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Sherrill Joseph was a shy kid whose BFF was Nancy Drew. From her, the author learned to seek adventures, be kind and fair, help others everywhere, and become a mystery author someday.
Convinced early on that she was an architect in a former life, Sherrill was receptive to the magic of her Southern California neighborhood’s historic houses. To this day, she dramatizes those old “castles,” filling them with mysteries, staircases, a ghost or two, and exaggerated occurrences.
The author graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from San Diego State University. Once retired in 2013 after teaching kids for thirty-five years in the San Diego public schools, the inner child in Sherrill created the multi award-winning Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries series so her grandkids and all kids can gallop with her and her four forever-thirteen-year-old sleuths in their standalone cases after clues to nab the bad guys.
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