Ryan and Chris Taylor are a pair of thirteen-year-old fraternal twins who solve mysteries. Although they are not identical twins and have very different personalities and interests, they can sense each other’s thoughts. Ryan is three minutes older than Chris, and he constantly refers to Chris as his “little brother.” Ryan is the more studious twin, and he works for their junior high newspaper. Chris is the more athletic twin, and he is the captain of their school’s soccer team. They sometimes argue and tease each other about their different interests and priorities. 

Their mutual friend, Billy Maguire, is more athletic and tends to be closer to Chris than to Ryan because they have more in common. Billy lives with his father on a farm outside their town. His father has a drinking problem at the beginning of the series, although he improves later, after he reconciles with his wife, who left him and their son years before. 

The boys live in Kansas with their parents and sister, Lucy, who is eight years old. Their father is the city editor for the local newspaper. The boys turn fourteen years old before the end of the series.

The boys are at the age where they’re starting to get interested in girls, but they still have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, they have crushes on a couple of girls at their school, Dede Davis and Wendy Fleming, but on the other hand, they also still think that having girls around can spoil their fun.

The author of the series is Adam Mills.

Books in the Series:

Mystery at Maguire’s Farm (1988)

The twins find a frightening mystery while camping overnight at a friend’s farm.

Horror Movie (1988)

The twins film their own horror video at an old house that is rumored to be haunted, and when they review the tape, they see strange things.

Hot Pursuit (1989)

Someone tries to set their family’s house on fire, and the twins realize that it has something to do with the mystery novel their father is writing.

On the Run (1989)

Right on Target (1989)

Secret Ballot (1989)

The twins compete against each other in the race to be class president, but strange things are happening that influence the entire election.

Dangerous Play (1989)

The twins search for a missing university football player and discover that he’s in a world of trouble.

Skyjacked! (1989)

While the twins are on their way to visit their grandmother, their airplane is hijacked.

High-Tech Heist (1989)

Ryan is considering attending a private high school. When he and Chris go there to see what the school is like, they discover a secret student society that has started stealing computer equipment.

Cold Chills (1989)

Chris and Ryan are visiting a ski resort in Colorado when someone steals jewelry belonging to their fellow guests.