MY REVIEW
The Mystery of the Missing Falls follows fifth-grade cousins Luka and Ember, who have just launched their own detective agency from a garage in the small town of Kingswell Falls. When Luka discovers a Founder’s Day contest challenging people to solve the town’s biggest mystery, the young detectives take on their first major case: finding waterfalls that disappeared more than a hundred years ago and uncovering the truth behind a legendary hidden treasure.
Their investigation really gets going when two descendants of the town’s founding family hire them and reveal clues no one else has, including an old journal and a coded map. I loved following Luka and Ember as secret symbols, family history, caves, local landmarks, and unexpected discoveries gradually lead them closer to the truth.
There’s plenty of humor and adventure, but heart too. Faith and prayer are woven naturally into the mystery as the characters learn about trusting God, forgiveness, family, and teamwork. I thought this was a clever, wholesome mystery with a wonderfully satisfying payoff!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Mystery of the Missing Falls: The Kingswell Kid Detectives Book 1.
Written by: Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer
Ages: 8-12 | 192 Pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications (2026) | ISBN: 978-0825452864
Publisher’s Book Summary: A theologically solid, discipleship-focused middle grade debut from experienced Bible teachers.
Luka and Ember are ready to put their new detective agency on the map, and the town’s oldest unsolved mystery might be just the case to do it. When cousins Jake and Callie — who are at odds with each other — join the investigation, the young detectives set out to uncover the truth behind the missing falls, help mend an age-old family feud, and discover an unexpected tool along the way: prayer.
Blending high-stakes sleuthing and page-turning adventure with the questions kids really ask about God, The Mystery of the Missing Falls invites young readers to discover that prayer is more than talking to God — it’s part of an ongoing relationship with a God who speaks, listens, and meets them in everyday life.
PURCHASE LINKS
Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jen Weaver is a Bible teacher, podcast host of Good God Talks, and founder and executive director of Life with God Ministries. She’s also a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team speaker, trainer, and coach, and she writes for the YouVersion Bible app. She’s the author of A Wife’s Secret to Happiness and A Beckoning to Wonder.
Find her at thejenweaver.com.
Gayle Veitenheimer is a writer, Bible teacher, speaker, blogger, and host of The Christian Grandparenting Podcast. She earned her Master of Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Find her at gayleveitenheimer.com.
Learn more about the series at kingswellkids.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
GIVEAWAY
Join us on this virtual book tour for your chance to win one of five copies of The Mystery of the Missing Falls by Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer. Grab your magnifying glass and crack the case alongside the Kingswell Kid Detectives—enter below!
Giveaway open dates: Thursday, August 27 – Thursday, September 24, 2026 (tour run dates — confirm exact giveaway close date on the entry form before promoting)
*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
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