The Three Investigators

'The Three Investigators' - sounds like a dull-and-boring little kids story with an unimaginative title, doesn't it? Well it isn't. It  is one of the best series ever written. It was originally conceived as competition to the ever-popular Hardy Boys series, and boy did it outshine that! Now let me tell you about it, then you can download the free ebooks.

This series follows the adventures of Jupiter Jones ("Jupe"), Peter Crenshaw ("Pete") and Robert Andrews ("Bob"). They are a team of juvenile detectives in the fictional town of Rocky Beach in California, set to prove to the world that children can be as smart as adults, if not smarter, in solving the toughest of criminal cases. Jupe is the brains of the trio, and having once been a child actor, he still possesses a acting talent, and can talk his way out of any situation. Some people call him fat, though he prefers to be referred to as 'stocky'. Pete is the athlete, and is aptly suited to any fieldwork that their cases may call for. Though he has an understandable aversion to Jupe's usually daring plans, he is ready to support the Three Investigators in every way he can. Bob is more of a studious character. Having broken his leg when he was younger, he is not much of an athlete. He is the Records and Research man of the team; he performs research in the Town Library, where he has a part-time job. He also maintains records of the Investigators' cases for future reference.

The Pendragon Adventure

14 year-old Bobby Pendragon is just an ordinary high school student who enjoys athletics. But suddenly, his life takes a strange turn that changes his life forever, and the world. His mysterious Uncle Press pays him a visit and tells him that the both of them are actually Travelers, an elite group of people who travel through space-time visiting distant and disconnected realms called "Territories". The series revolves around the amazing adventures of Bobby and his uncle, and their valiant efforts to save the world from an evil demon called Saint Dane.

DJ MacHale, the author

 This is a series of 10 books by the author, DJ MacHale, and each book is better than the last. The language is quite simple to understand, and narrated in the first person by Bobby through a series of journals. The very funny way in which Bobby perceives the strange things happening around him and his witty one-liners are not to be missed. I enjoyed the last book the most, as it answers all the questions and suspense built up in the preceding nine books.

Out of 10, I would give this series and 8.5, because the plot does tend to get long and 'dragging-on' sometimes. But overall, an excellent read. Definitely recommended for those who have finished Harry Potter and are wondering what to read next.