The Dead Man in Indian Creek [Hardcover]

Mary Downing Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

At the same time that Matt and Parker find the body of the dead man in the creek, they recognize George Evans, the owner of the antique shop where Parker's mother works.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Matt would like nothing more than to forget the corpse that he and his best friend Parker found in Indian Creek. But Parker is convinced that his mother's new boyfriend, Mr. Evans, has something to do with the dead man's death. Against his better judgment, Matt accompanies Parker on an investigation of Evans's antique store, where the boys unearth evidence that Evans is involved in a cocaine ring. But before the pair can report their findings to the police, gang members are hot on their trail. Thus begins a hair-raising chase that winds through the town's Halloween parade and finishes in the boys' secret hideout. Thanks to the help of a classmate and the dubious efforts of two bratty kid sisters, Parker and Matt outwit the villains and bring them to justice. A combination of crackling language and plenty of suspense, this fast-paced yarn is likely to appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Ages 9-13.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7 --Parker and Matt decide to camp out one last time before the weather turns too cold--and stumble upon a dead man. Parker swears he saw George Evans (his widowed mother's boyfriend and his least favorite person) at the scene of the crime. So begins a bumpy, peril-laden adventure. The boys spy out a cocaine ring in which Parker's mother and George are involved; a thug kidnaps everyone. Rescue comes when Parker's dog corners the thug and Matt's little sister pushes a doll carriage with a cocaine-packed doll through a Halloween parade into the police station. There's more than enough action, and Hahn's effortless mastery of kids' dialogue makes this an easy read. But there are illogical gaps: Why is Parker's mother, previously loving, so remote? How likely is it that 12-year-olds go camping alone? Why is it that Matt's flagging self-image shows little repair after such heroics? At the conclusion, when all of the drug traffickers are apprehended and Parker's mother is hospitalized and awaiting charges, Matt assures Parker: "Whatever happens, my mom says you're staying with us." Readers will find this less than reassuring. With the abundance of good juvenile who-done-its available, this one is dead in the water. --Carolyn Noah, Worcester Public Library, MA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books; None edition (March 26, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395523974
• ISBN-13: 978-0395523971
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,173,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mary Downing Hahn, a former children's librarian, is the award-winning author of many popular ghost stories, including Deep and Dark and Dangerous and The Old Willis Place. An avid reader, traveler, and all-around arts lover, Ms. Hahn lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her two cats, Oscar and Rufus.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is definitly a five star book!!!, October 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dead Man in Indian Creek (Paperback)

The story Dead Man On Indian Creek was a great book for people ages 10-14. I thought this was both funny and scary. And it actually shows what a son would actually do for his single, hard-working mother. This story was about two boys who love to go hiking and are best ffriend's. But Peter's mom goes out with a guy who looks and acts very supicious and when they find a guy dead on indian creek they think they know who did it.And when they go and tell Peter's mother she thinks there crazy. The setting was beautiful and perfect. It's great for a children's book. When you are reading to the description of the place you can paint a picture in your head of what they are doing. It also makes the story seem mmore realistic. I thinkthis is one of the best settings in a book I have ever read.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Rape, Cocaine Sales, and Adult Themes in an Independent Reader?, June 12, 2010

By 

JEE - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dead Man in Indian Creek (Paperback)

My granddaughter picked out 5 independent reader books -- proud of her ability to now read chapter books. We started with "The Dead Man in Indian Creek". My 'spider-senses' went up when in an early chapter there was a reference to a man touching the protagonist's, Parker, mother's skin. We jointly read a few chapters and then found something else to do. I read on by myself -- and not to be an ending spoiler -- found that Parker's mom spends the night (with the lights out) with her male friend, that she puts little white packets of cocaine in dolls' heads as part of her lover's drug sales operation, and that the locals have beer and drug parties near the quarry. There is even a gratuitous sentence about a school book report where the child giving the oral report likes the pirate book in spite of the fact that the pirate 'had his way' with the woman in the story. My jaw is still hanging on the ground ... I can't believe that tales of adult relationships, rape, and drug trafficking belong in a book labeled as an independent reader and that it is sold in the juvenile section. Zounds Batman ... what next? A sequel featuring exotic dancers and S&M? (P.S. I returned my copy for a full refund ... wrote this review everywhere I could ... and complained to the publisher about the rating. I hope you do the same.)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The dead man in indian creek, July 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dead Man in Indian Creek (Hardcover)

Matt and Parker find a dead man in Indian Creek while they're out camping.On the road beside the creek with the dead man was Mr.Evans, Parker's mom's boyfriend.The boys suspect him of killing the man.They go to the police and tell them everything.The police ask Mr.Evans some questions but don't beleive he's guilty.Now the boys have to find out what's going on.With them seeing Mr.Evans at the scene of the crime, and Parker's mom being away alot.