Mole Hill Mysteries E-Book

Wayne Telford

• Herausgeber: novum pro Verlag
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 39

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Talpa and Pipistrellus, a clever mole and an inquisitive bat, are detectives on the case of a missing painting, and they want you to join them on their hunt for clues. The trail starts at the train station and on to a very grand house, where you and your detective friends will meet some interesting characters. As you investigate, you will make new friends, such as Neomys and Melus, a water shrew and a badger, who may not be all that they appear. Be careful when you get to the dump, as there may be danger waiting! Along the way, Talpa reveals the contents of his bag of hopes and dreams, a bag full of magical badges which give you powers such as responsibility, initiative and determination, all the things you need to piece together the evidence to identify the painting thief. Good luck!

Leseprobe

Imprint

All rights of distribution, also through movies, radio and television, photomechanical reproduction, sound carrier, electronic medium and reprinting in excerpts are reserved.

© 2023 novum publishing

ISBN print edition:978-3-99131-500-1

ISBN e-book: 978-3-99131-501-8

Editor:Charlotte Middleton

Cover images:Liusa, Jihane37, Blueringmedia, Domstock, Penwin | Dreamstime.com

Cover design, layout & typesetting: novum publishing

Images:Wayne Telford

www.novum-publishing.co.uk

A Visitor Has Arrived

Our story begins one morning. The sun is rising over a wonderful place known as the Grand Wood. There are tall trees as far as the eye can see. Grassy areas are dotted in amongst them. A snaking path leads to a large oak tree, now fallen. The stump forms the roof to a small house. Inside this house lives a mole, whom we will meet in a moment. His name isTalpa europea(Tal-pa your-oh-pea-ah). That is Latin. Knocking upon the door, it opens and there, standing before us, isTalpahimself. He is a minute, stout little creature, with clawed hands and a pink nose, a thick moustache and silver spectacles.Talpais a detective in the great wood, and it appears a new case has come to his attention.

Walking through the front door into a tunnel, a cramped room appears from the shadow. It is lit by a chandelier of bone and candles, and furniture is scattered around the room. There is a regal vanity carved from an old log, a writing desk made from an old match box, a wardrobe and chest set in stone and finally, a carpet of dog hair lining the floor. The walls of mud have paintings hanging on them, Wrenbrandt to Van Goat. It is quite the collection.

A letter arrives and is placed in a box. His receptionist is a garden spider. We will meet her shortly.Talpadresses himself in a fine black suit with cross-shaped cufflinks, small black Oxford shoes and a tie. Placing his bowler hat atop his head, his cane beneath his arm and turning toward us,Talpais ready to accept guests. “Oh, hello there. I did not see you without my glasses. Let me look at you. Ah yes, a fine helper you are. I have a case which merits my attention. Will you be of assistance to me? You will? That is good news.”

Talpaextends his finger, preparing to knock upon the door to the other room. “It is always polite to knock before entering a room,” saysTalpa,receiving a response.

“Hello there,Talpa. Please come in. Ah, I see you have a guest? Welcome. Please make yourself at home.”Araneus Diadematus(Ar-ane-ee-us Di-ah-dee-mah-tus) is her name.

“Araneus,might there be a letter for me and my helper?”Talpaenquires with a grin.

“Of course. Ah yes, here we are,Talpa.Have a good case,” she replies, waving her little leg asTalpaleaves.Araneusis dressed in a feather-like headband, a long golden pearl necklace, a short, wavy black dress and three pairs of gold, sparkling, strapped high-heel shoes. A large feathered pen lies atop her desk.

One More Assistant

Closing the door gently,Talpaadjusts his glasses and polishes them, breathing over each lens individually, wiping them with a clean handkerchief and placing them upon his face. “Let us go and meet our colleague and friend,Pipistrellus pipistrellus(Pip-ist-rell-us). He is an untidy sort but fun to have around,”Talparemarks. Walking through a doorway hollowed from a dirt wall and passing up a spiral staircase toward the upper room,Talpaprepares to awakenPipistrellus – if he has not woken up already. “Pipistrellus? Are you awake?”Talpaasks.

“I am awake,Talpa, thank you. Do you have news?” he responds.

“Yes – a new case and a helper as well,”Talpaadds.

“That is good news,Talpa. It is a pleasure to meet you, dear reader,”Pipistrellusassures. He opens the door, ensuring decency before doing so. “I do not wish to greet you unclothed. That would be shocking!”Pipistrellusjokes.Pipistrellusis a bat with a grey-buttoned and baggy shirt, a dark brown, slightly striated waistcoat, a red cloth tied around his neck and brownish-white Oxford shoes. His wings are tucked into his sleeves, and there is a scruffy patch of hair atop his head. Caused by sleeping upside down, I would gather.

“Pipistrellus,have you had breakfast? It is the most important meal of the day,”Talpaenquires.

“Why yes,Talpa.I have. Now, shall we look to preparing for this case? I am sure our guest is eager to begin?”Pipistrellusestimates.

“Of course; how silly of me to keep you waiting. This way please, dear reader,”Talpainstructs. You follow bothTalpaandPipistrellusback down the staircase toward the front room.Talpa