Thirteen-year-old Sebastian solves mysteries with his friends in their small college town, Pembroke. His father, Will Barth, manages a radio station, and Sebastian’s and his best friend, David, are allowed to have their own radio show, talking about things are are interesting to kids. Sebastian’s mother, Katie Hallem (she kept her maiden name after her marriage), owns a restaurant. Katie’s mother, Sebastian’s grandmother, also lives with the family. Sebastian is also friends with Corrie, the minister’s daughter, who moved to town in the first book in the series. Corrie believes in feminist ideals and campaigns, and she campaigned to be allowed to play on her school’s football team.
The mysteries that Sebastian and his friends solve touch on serious and sometimes very dark subjects, like drugs, murder, revenge, and psychologically disturbed people. Because Corrie is a minister’s daughter, there are sometimes morals that touch on Christianity although religion is not the main focus of the books, so I wouldn’t call this a Christian mystery series.
Books in the Series:
What Eric Knew (1985)
When Sebastian’s friend Eric moves away and sends him cryptic messages about secrets in their small town, Sebastian finds himself and other friends investigating a local ghost story.
Sebastian’s mother has an old friend who is an actress, Michaele. She is staying with Sebastian’s family while she’s starring in a live theater production, and she is being threatened by a series of strange messages.
When students get ill after eating in the school cafeteria, Sebastian and his friends start to suspect poison.
Dew Drop Dead
Jestress's Forgotten Books and Stories 