Mary Ann Carr began writing mysteries for kids to solve while teaching gifted students. Each of her mystery books are designed to develop critical thinking skills. She has taught grades 1-7, working with gifted children as a Gifted and Talented Education Resource teacher for 14 years. Prior to this experience, she worked in Richmond, VA, first as a classroom teacher then in a Chapter I program, teaching photography and video to struggling learners in the inner city. Carr was an educational consultant for 7 years, hired by school systems to conduct workshops in differentiation for classroom teachers. She holds a master's degree in curriculum development from Virginia Commonwealth University. She currently teaches in the College of William and Mary's summer enrichment program. Carr recently retired as a resource teacher and lives on the Chesapeake Bay in a rural county in Virginia.