A gripping mystery for middle school readers by international bestselling author Astrid Lindgren. For most, summer vacation in a small Swedish town would be spent swimming, fishing, or sailing. But a super detective like Kalle Blomkvist is always on the lookout for the next case to solve. When a mysterious stranger arrives in town, he finds the perfect excuse to start an investigation that will embroil him and his friends in an exciting case of theft and deception. The first of three thrilling detective stories for readers aged 9 and up, perfect for fans of character-driven crime novels like "Murder Most Unladylike" and "Ruby Redfort.".