Eleven-year-old Nora Bell always carries her green notebook, because you never know when a mystery is going to show up — and in Maple Hollow, one always does.

She's already solved the Case of the Backwards Clock, the Mystery of the Lunchroom Thief, and the Puzzle of the Missing Library Cat. But nothing has prepared her for this: the town's twenty-year-old time capsule — buried under the old oak tree and due to be opened at Saturday's big Founder's Day ceremony — has vanished into thin air.

The hole is empty. The whole town is watching. And somebody has to figure out what happened before the mayor finishes his speech about how "unacceptable" this is.

With her best friend Theo at her side, Nora follows the clues: a scrap of torn tarp, a suspiciously nervous classmate hiding a mysterious box, and a brand-new school custodian who was seen wheeling something heavy across the lawn early that morning. Everyone looks guilty. Not everyone is.

As Nora digs deeper, she learns that the best detectives don't just collect evidence — they ask better questions, listen carefully, and never assume the worst about someone before hearing their side of the story.

Funny, warm, and full of clever clues kids can follow along with, The Case of the Missing Time Capsule is a gentle mystery adventure for readers who love a good puzzle, a loyal friendship, and a story where nobody has to be the villain for something to go wonderfully wrong.

Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, and other classic kid-detective series — with none of the scary stuff.

Grab your notebook. The case is waiting.

Book 1 of the Nora Bell Mysteries.