Case File:

The Absent Author

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HEYDAYS ENGLISH
What is Mystery?
Mystery is a genre of __________ that has a ____________.
The problem is solved at the end.

How do mystery book go?

- They all have _____________________.

- They all have _____________________.

- Detectives look for _____________.

- They have a __________________.

- They have __________________.

- There is a witness.

- There is a _________________ by the end.

What makes a good detective?

- The ability to talk to people.

- Observation, report writing skills.

- Attention to detail.

- Positive attitude and tenacity.

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 My Detective Note
Follow Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose’s trail throughout the story.

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 Detectives
A detective is a person who solves
crimes, helps find people that break
the law, or finds information that is
not easy to get.

The detectives in this story are:

Dink
Josh
Ruth Rose
Mavis
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 Detective: Dink

Eye Color: ________________ Hair Color: ________________

Pets: ___________________________________________________

Other Facts:

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 Detective: Josh

Eye Color: ________________ Hair Color: ________________

Pets: ___________________________________________________

Other Facts:

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 Detective: Ruth Rose

Eye Color: ________________ Hair Color: ________________

Pets: ___________________________________________________

Other Facts:

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 Detective: Mavis

Eye Color: ________________ Hair Color: ________________

Pets: ___________________________________________________

Other Facts:

_______________________________________________________

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 Victim
A victim is a person who has been
cheated, tricked, or hurt by someone
else.

The victim in this story is:

Wallis Wallace

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 Victim: Wallis Wallace

Job: ___________________________________________________

Last Seen: ______________________________________________

Other Facts:

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 Suspects
A suspect is a person who might by
guilty of a crime.

The suspects in this story are:

Mr. Paskey
Maureen Green
Mr. Linkletter
Olivia ‘Livvy’ Nugent
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 Suspect: Mr. Paskey
Description:

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Why is this person suspicious?

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Are they guil ty?  yes  no

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 Suspect: Maureen
Description:

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Why is this person suspicious?

_______________________________________________________

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Are they guil ty?  yes  no

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Suspect: Mr. Linkletter
Description:

__________________________

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Why is this person suspicious?

_______________________________________________________

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Are they guil ty?  yes  no

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 Suspect: Livvy
Description:

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

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Why is this person suspicious?

_______________________________________________________

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Are they guil ty?  yes  no

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 Evidence
Evidence is important information or
items that help find the truth.

The evidence in this story is:

Letter to Dink
Letter to Mavis
Itinerary
Information from Books
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Evidence Item #1
Dear Mr. Duncan,
Thank you for your kind letter. I’m so
impressed that you’ve read all my books. I
have good news. I’ve made arrangements
to come to The Book Nook to sign books. I
can use part of my time for research.
Thanks for your picture. I’m so happy to
finally meet on of my most loyal fans.
Short of being kidnapped, nothing will stop
me from coming!

See you soon,

Wallis Wallace

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Evidence Item #2
Dear Mavis,
Thank you for your note. I’m well,
and thank you for asking. But lately my
imagination is playing tricks on me. I keep
thinking that I’m being followed! Maybe
that’s what happens to mystery writers –
we start setting bad guys in the shadows!
At any rate, I’m eager to meet you in
Green Lawn, and I look forward to our
lunch after the signing.

Wallis Wallace

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Evidence Item #3
Itinerary for Wallis Wallace

1. Arrive at Bradley Airport at 7:00 p.m., Friday, July

15, New England Airlines, Flight 3132

2. Meet Driver from Lawrence Taxi Service

3. Drive to Shangri-La Hotel

4. Sign books at Book Nook at 11:00 a.m., Saturday,

July 16

5. Lunch, then back to airport for 4:30 p.m. flight

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 Evidence Item #4

When not writing, the author likes to work in the

garden. Naturally, Wallis Wallace’s favorite color is green.

Wallis Wallace lives in a castle called Moose Manor.

Wallis Wallace gives money from writing books to help

preserve the animals in Maine.

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Questions
Comprehension
 Chapter 1
1. Where does Dink want Josh to go?

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2. Why is Wallis Wallace coming to Green Lawn?

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3. What does Dink mean when he says he is “scared to death to meet

someone famous”?

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4. How did Dink get Ruth Rose to come with them?

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5. Who is the owner of The Book Nook?

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 Chapter 2
1. Why do you think Wallis Wallace is late?

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2. Why would Mr. Paskey be nervous?

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3. Is the sentence “Famous people are always late.” a fact or an

opinion?

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4. How could Mr. Paskey’s tie get a workout?

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5. What do you predict will happen next?

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 Chapter 3
1. What is the name of the woman watching the kids?

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2. What is Mavis Green’s job?

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3. What was peculiar in Mavis Green’s letter from Wallis Wallace?

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4. Was it smart for the kids to talk to Officer Fallon? Why or why not?

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5. How will they use the itinerary to find Wallis Wallace?

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 Chapter 4
1. Why did Dink call the airport?

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2. Who liked green ice cream?

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3. After Dink found out Wallis Wallace was on the plane, where did

they decide to go next?

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4. Who is Maureen Higgins?

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5. What do you think Wallis Wallace’s secret was?

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 Chapter 5
1. Why did they go to the Shangri-La Hotel next?

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2. Who did they talk to at the hotel?

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3. Did Mr. Linkletter give Wallis Wallace’s room number to Josh?

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4. True or False? Wallis Wallace didn’t answer the phone.

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5. Where do you think Wallis Wallace is?

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 Chapter 6
1. What does “something smells fishy” mean?

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2. Who is Olivia Nugent?

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3. How did Ruth Rose know Livvy?

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4. What did Livvy say about room 303?

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5. Do you think Maureen and Mr. Linkletter are lying? Why?

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 Chapter 7
1. What were Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose doing while they were

eating lunch?

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2. What were the facts they learned about Wallis Wallace from the

books?

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3. Why did Josh spill his lemonade in Dink’s lap?

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 Chapter 8
1. What letters were on Mavis’s scarf?

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2. Why did Mr. Linkletter agree to help them?

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3. What did everyone see when they opened the door to room 303?

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4. Who do you think is yelling for help?

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5. What do you predict will happen next?

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 Chapter 9
1. What did they find in room 302?

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2. Who took Wallis Wallace from his room?

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3. How did Wallis Wallace recognize Dink?

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4. Why did Wallis Wallace smile after he said he was “a bit tied up”?

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5. Do you think Ruth Rose is right? Why or why not?

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 Chapter 10
1. What four clues does Ruth Rose use to find the real Wallis Wallace?

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2. Did the story end the way you thought it would? What was

different from your prediction?

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