L J Dunbar

The Case of the Stolen Bikes L J Dunbar

When 7th grader Elias Alexander Finch discovers a dusty, old box in the basement that holds his grandfather's little book of candy potions, his life changes forever. He mixes up and drinks one of the potions and shrinks to two inches tall. He sneaks into candy shops, hiding and tasting jelly beans and ice cream, eavesdropping on conversations. No one seems to notice him. Soon, he discovers he can help the police chief solve crimes in this small, Iowa town by gathering clues while hiding in foods like spaghetti and tuna casserole and listening to suspected criminals. When 10 bicycles go missing, Two-Inch Detective Finch is on the case. One little problem causes big trouble: Finch can't control his appetite when he shrinks. This lands him in some sticky and dangerous situations. Ultimately, Finch and the bike-stealing culprits discover that even petty crime has a far-reaching impact.