A festive mystery. A race against time. Can two young detectives save Christmas for their Texas town? Ten-year-old Hardy Holmes and his best friend Wendy Watson love solving mysteries in their small Texas town. But when toys start vanishing from the annual Christmas charity drive, they face their biggest case yet, and Christmas for dozens of families hangs in the balance. Someone is leaving cryptic clues based on "The Twelve Days of Christmas." A mysterious envelope here. A riddle there. Each clue leads Hardy and Wendy deeper into a holiday treasure hunt through Larkrest's festive celebrations: the ice skating rink, the gingerbread competition, the Christmas pageant, and the courthouse tree lighting. But this isn't just a game. With each clue they find, more donation boxes disappear. Racing against the clock, Hardy (with his trademark too-big fedora) and Wendy (always armed with snacks for "brain power") must: * Decode twelve elaborate riddles * Track a red-scarfed figure through town * Uncover who's really stealing from families in need * Catch the thief before Christmas Eve Perfect for young readers who love: * Mystery and detective stories * Christmas and holiday books * Stories about friendship and teamwork * Chapter books with heart and humor * Clean, wholesome middle grade fiction Can Hardy and Wendy solve the case in time to save Christmas? Or will the biggest Christmas disaster in Larkrest history come to pass? Ideal for readers ages 8-13 who enjoyed Encyclopedia Brown, Cam Jansen, Nate the Great, and Calendar Mysteries. A perfect holiday read-aloud for families or independent reading for mystery lovers! Praise for the Larkrest Detective Agency series: "Hardy and Wendy are detectives young readers will want to follow on every adventure!" "A heartwarming Christmas mystery that celebrates community, kindness, and never giving up." "Perfect for kids who love solving puzzles and mysteries, with the right amount of holiday spirit!"