Book 1

Dead Man's Cove

by Lauren St John

Published 5 August 2010
When orphaned Laura Marlin moves from a children's home to live with her uncle in Cornwall, she longs for a life of excitement just like the characters in her favourite detective novels. A real life adventure is on hand as she is deposited at her uncle's spooky house ...Why does her uncle, Calvin Redfern, forbid her to go to Dead Man's Cove? What's the truth about Tariq, the silent Indian boy who lives with the flamboyant Mukthars? Who is J? Who has left the message in a bottle for Laura to discover? Mysteries abound and who better to solve them than Laura Marlin, ace detective? Accompanied by her trusty companion, Skye, a three-legged husky, the dog she's always wanted, Laura's adventures begin in this first captivating mystery, winner of the 2011 Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Book 2

Kidnap in the Caribbean

by Lauren St John

Published 7 July 2011

From Cornwall to the Caribbean, 11-year-old ace detective Laura Marlin comes face to face with pirates, sharks, criminal masterminds and an erupting volcano in her second mystery adventure, from award-winning author Lauren St John.

Laura cannot contain her excitement when she wins a trip to the Caribbean for herself and her uncle, Calvin Redfern, especially when her best friend, Tariq, and her three-legged husky, Skye, accidentally find themselves on board too. But when they dock at Antigua, they discover that Calvin Redfern has vanished, and Laura and Tariq are about to be kidnapped by the fearsome Straight A gang. Dramatic escapes, an erupting volcano and a race against time to stop the deadly undercover 'Marine Concern' make Laura's second adventure every bit as exciting as the first.


Rendezvous in Russia

by Lauren St John

Published 1 August 2013
From Cornwall to Russia. Laura, her faithful husky Skye and Tariq are whirled into a breathtaking mystery adventure when they join the film crew on the set of THE ARISTOCRATIC THIEF about an art heist that could never be pulled off in real life. Or could it? Adventure and drama just seem to find Laura even when she's not looking for it.

2-in-1 edition of the first two stories in the BLUE PETER AWARD-winning mystery adventure series about 11-year-old ace detective, Laura Marlin.

In KENTUCKY THRILLER, Laura is ecstatic when her uncle agrees to let her keep a horse after they rescue it from an overturned horsebox. But he has one condition - before he will allow her to adopt it they have to find its former owner, just to ensure that it hasn't been stolen. A visit to Newmarket to investigate the thoroughbred's origins leads Laura to the Kentucky Derby in the US and deep into the murky world of race-fixing.

And in RENDEZVOUS IN RUSSIA, Laura, Skye and Tariq are whirled into a breathtaking mystery adventure when they join the film crew on the set of THE ARISTOCRATIC THIEF about an art heist that could never be pulled off in real life. Or could it? Adventure and drama just seem to find Laura even when she's not looking for it.


Kentucky Thriller

by Lauren St John

Published 2 August 2012
Laura Marlin's two greatest loves in life are detective novels and animals, so she is ecstatic when her uncle agrees to let her keep a horse after they rescue it, crazed with fear, from an overturned horsebox. But he has a condition. Before he will allow her to adopt it they have to find its former owner, just to ensure that it hasn't been stolen. A visit to Newmarket to investigate the thoroughbred's origins leads Laura to the Kentucky Derby in the US and deep into the murky world of race-fixing.

The Midnight Picnic

by Lauren St John

Published 6 March 2014

Ace detective Laura Marlin returns in another gripping adventure mystery for World Book Day 2014, from award-winning author, Lauren St John.

When a prize-winning essay earns Laura Marlin an invitation to a midnight picnic on mysterious Bodmin Moor she can hardly wait, especially since her best friend, Tariq, and husky, Skye, get to come too.

But Bodmin is a place steeped in legend and as the fog descends it becomes hard to separate myth from reality. When a freak accident leaves the children alone, Laura has to use all her powers of deduction to outwit an enemy who may not even exist.


2-in-1 edition of the first two stories in the BLUE PETER AWARD-winning mystery adventure series about11-year-old ace detective, Laura Marlin.

BLUE PETER AWARD-winning DEAD MAN'S COVE is the first in a new detective adventure series from the author of the much-loved White Giraffe series. Orphaned Laura is sent to live with her uncle in Cornwall, convinced that a life of adventure is hers at last - and everywhere she turns she's confronted with mysteries. Is Tariq, the shopkeeper's silent son, a friend or an enemy? Why does her uncle seem intent on erasing his own past? And why is everyone so afraid of Dead Man's Cove?

And in KIDNAP IN THE CARIBBEAN Laura Marlin has no idea that her dream holiday to the Caribbean might cost her and everyone she loves their lives, as they come face to face with pirates, a volcano and hungry sharks.


Eleven-year-old ace detective Laura Marlin is back for her next exciting adventure in the fifth mystery from award-winning author Lauren St John. After helping to capture Mr A, the notorious leader of the Straight A gang, Laura Marlin is looking forward to taking a break from mysteries and relaxing on her school trip to Australia. But then Mr A escapes from prison and suspicious accidents start happening around Laura. Laura is sure that Mr A is out to get revenge on her. But will she be able to convince her friends that the danger is real before one of the accidents becomes deadly?