The Haunted Campout
(2026)(Book 12 in the Ava & Carol Detective Agency series)
A novel by Thomas Lockhaven
Some legends never die… they wait for you in the woods.
Ava and Carol are thrilled to spend the weekend at Pinecrest Camp, where they’ve been invited as special guests to teach a local Girl Scout troop the secrets of detective work and help them earn their Detective Badge.But when the campfire stories turn real—footprints by the tents, muddy handprints, and a lantern glowing deep in the trees—even fearless Ava can’t joke it away. The girls realize someone—or something—doesn’t want them at Pinecrest Camp.
Armed with flashlights, notebooks, and courage, Ava, Carol, and the scouts follow the trail of clues to uncover the truth behind the Lantern Man legend. What they find is darker than ghost stories… and much closer to home.
Can the team expose what’s really happening before the Lantern Man’s light stops in front of them?
Perfect for fans of Nancy Drew and Goosebumps, this middle-grade mystery blends laugh-out-loud fun with spine-tingling suspense.
Get ready for laughter, scares, and a mystery that will keep you turning pages long after the campfire’s out.
Genre: Children's Fiction