Do your children have their noses stuck in mystery books, wishing they could be detectives? How do you combine their love of reading and mysteries with digging deeper into their Bibles? If you believe that children learn best when facts are put in story format then you are going to love Concord Cunningham: Scripture Sleuth!

Let us introduce you to Mat Halverson, author of the Scripture Sleuth series. He, too, wants your children to use their Bibles to search out the answers to their everyday questions. Before you know it they will be writing their own Bible mysteries, waiting for you to uncover the final clue!

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TOS: Concord Cunningham the Scripture Sleuth is a marvelous series that combines mystery and the Bible! How did you come up with this concept? 

Mat: I was sitting in my backyard, trying to figure out how to write a book that would excite kids about the Bible. I was considering different approaches such as using archeology, historical figures, and so on. It seemed like it all had been done before. I wanted to write something that was not only different, but also fun. Then it hit me:  what if I wrote a short, entertaining mystery, and the most important clue to the case was hidden in a Bible verse? By giving readers the clue's location in the Bible (chapter and verse), I figured they wouldn't be able to resist grabbing their own Bibles and looking up the final clue to solve the mystery.

I loved the idea, and I credit God for granting it to me, but I wasn't sure I could make it work. I quickly realized that the key was to work backwards. So, first I found a Bible verse with a concept that could be used as a clue. Then I created a fun mystery around it. I still remember writing that first Scripture Sleuth case and thinking to myself, "This actually works!"  I really knew I was onto something when I started submitting samples to publishers. Instead of receiving rejection letters as I had with other projects, I heard back from interested editors.  

TOS: Children can really relate with characters that are real and share the same interests as themselves. Is Concord modeled after someone you know? 

Mat: He isn't modeled after a specific person, but I definitely want him to seem like a real kid. At the same time, I want him to be a good role model. So, I always make sure that Concord's words and actions are respectful. I want parents to feel comfortable with their kids getting to know him. In simplest terms, I think of Concord as an ordinary kid with an extraordinary ability. That ability, finding verses in his Bible to help solve problems, is something that I hope young readers will want to learn for themselves.

TOS: Concord Cunningham is a very clever detective, using his concordance to solve cases. How will the reader become a scripture sleuth as well?

Mat: This is the essence of what makes this mystery series unique-it's interactive. When readers use their own Bibles to solve the cases, they become real Scripture Sleuths, just like Concord. Here's a detailed description of how the books work:  each chapter in each book holds an exciting new mystery (12 per book). The mystery may be about a clever thief, a puzzling disappearance, a hilarious scam, or something entirely new or crazy. Whatever the case, readers follow Concord as he conducts his entertaining investigation.  Concord is an ace detective and always cracks the case. But he doesn't give away the solution at the end of a chapter's mystery. Instead, he gives readers a Bible verse to look up. That verse holds the final clue to the chapter's case. So, readers must open a Bible, read the clue, and use it to solve the mystery. When they think they've figured it out, the answers are at the back of the book.

TOS:  "The Greatest Case" in book 3 truly is the best mystery that each person must solve for themselves, and the most important case that Concord was ever involved in. Have you received any letters or e-mails from other scripture sleuths who have unraveled the clues about this case? 

Mat: I've heard from many people who appreciated this case. When book 3 was in development, I mentioned to my publisher the idea of including a case about Jesus and why He came. The publisher said something to the effect of, "Great idea. In fact, why didn't we think of that before?" I think the reason is that the books do not discuss doctrinal stuff. In fact, I make a specific effort to avoid being "preachy" in any sense. The books are just supposed to be fun and wholesome, and they're designed to excite kids about digging into their Bibles.  At the same time, with so much focus on Scripture, I decided to use one chapter to make sure we didn't miss the whole point of them. 

TOS: It's exciting when a resource helps children understand that the Bible is relevant and practical for today! Can parents use the Scripture Sleuth series as a Bible study or would you recommend that children just read and enjoy the books?

Mat: It's great for both. The structure of the books, with each chapter being a complete story, allows for that flexibility. The books are written at the 8 to 12 year-old reading level, so kids can sit down and read them on their own. But I've also heard from many families who use the books as a fun addition to devotion time. And I've heard from plenty of homeschoolers and teachers who use the books as a fun class activity.  I should mention again, though, that the mysteries are designed to be fun and not to teach specific moral lessons-except, of course, that you can go to the Bible for answers.

TOS: This series is so unique, readers will definitely want more.  Do you have plans for any more Scripture Sleuth books or another series?

Mat: I'm happy to report that the fifth book is in the works and is scheduled to be published later this year. I hope to continue writing the series, but I always pray for guidance. I have limited time to write, so I want to focus on doing whatever God wants me to do. It's been a blessing to write books that point kids toward God's Word, and I am grateful that He has given me the opportunity!

TOS: Thank you Mat for taking time to help tell our readers about how wonderful the Scripture Sleuth series really is!

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Helping your child to become a Scripture Sleuth is easy once they have met Concord Cunningham, and the Schoolhouse Store can help make ordering easy. Remember, shipping is always FREE!  

Sincerely,
Your Friends at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine