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Penny Warner Books in Order

Explore Penny Warner books in order, from cozy mysteries to kids' adventures, with quick summaries, series guides, and easy places to start.

Last updated: July 13, 2026

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Penny Warner books in publication order

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71 books

Healthy Snacks for Kids

by Penny Warner

1983

A practical cookbook filled with easy, kid-friendly snack ideas that lean healthier without giving up fun. It is built for parents who want quick recipes children will actually want to eat.

Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids

by Penny Warner

1985

This follow-up offers more better-for-you snack and treat ideas for families. Recipes stay approachable, making it easy to add fun food to lunches, after-school time, and parties.

Super Snacks for Kids

by Penny Warner

1985

Packed with simple recipes and snack ideas, this book helps parents put together food that is fun, easy, and appealing to kids. It is a practical kitchen helper for busy families.

Super Toys

by Penny Warner

1985

A hands-on guide to play, with toy ideas and activities that help children learn while having fun. It is geared toward parents who want simple ways to support development through everyday play.

A Deadly Game of Klew

by Penny Warner

1986

A murder-mystery party game built around suspects, secrets, and clue solving. It gives hosts the pieces they need to stage a playful night of crime, alibis, and competitive sleuthing.

Greetings from the Grave

by Penny Warner

1986

This party mystery kit sets up a spooky whodunit for a group gathering. Invitations, character roles, and clue-based twists turn an ordinary evening into a graveyard-flavored game of detection.

The Secret of the Bitter Sweets

by Penny Warner

1986

A themed murder-mystery party game with a sugary surface and a deadly puzzle underneath. It is designed for hosts who want an interactive evening of suspects, clues, and darkly playful fun.

Penny Warner's Party Book

by Penny Warner

1987

A broad party-planning guide with themes, activities, food ideas, and practical tips. It is aimed at making children's celebrations feel lively without becoming overwhelming for parents.

The Best Party Book

by Penny Warner

1992

A big collection of party ideas covering games, decorations, invitations, and menus. It is the kind of planning book parents can dip into whenever a birthday or special event comes up.

Kids Party Games & Activities

by Penny Warner

1993

A ready-to-use sourcebook of party games, crafts, and easy activities for children. It is especially handy for hosts who want plenty of options and not much fuss.

Kids' Holiday Fun

by Penny Warner

1994

Seasonal crafts, recipes, and activities fill this family guide to holiday fun. It offers ways to keep kids busy and involved throughout the year.

Birthday Parties for Kids!

by Penny Warner

1995

A straightforward birthday-planning guide full of theme ideas, games, food, and party tips. It is designed to help parents build celebrations kids will remember.

Kids' Party Cookbook

by Penny Warner

1996

This cookbook focuses on party food children can enjoy and often help make. Recipes are playful, approachable, and geared toward birthdays and group gatherings.

Splish Splash

by Penny Warner

1996

A playful activity book built around water-themed fun for kids. It offers ideas for games and hands-on activities that make a splash at home or outdoors.

Dead Body Language

by Penny Warner

1997

Connor Westphal leaves San Francisco for Flat Skunk, a Gold Country town where she runs a weekly paper. She expects local color, not murder, but a string of strange deaths quickly turns her into an amateur sleuth.

Sign of Foul Play

by Penny Warner

1997

Connor is back on the job in Flat Skunk, chasing a story that turns into something far more dangerous. As the deaths mount, her reporter's instincts and sharp eye for detail push her straight toward a killer.

Games People Play

by Penny Warner

1998

A collection of group games and icebreakers for parties, gatherings, and family time. It is made for readers who want easy entertainment that gets people involved quickly.

Great Games for Kids on the Go

by Penny Warner

1998

A useful collection of portable games for car rides, waiting rooms, travel days, and other on-the-go moments. It is built to keep kids busy with minimal supplies.

Just for Fun Party Game Book

by Penny Warner

1998

A quick-reference book of party games that are easy to set up and simple to run. It focuses on keeping children active, laughing, and included.

Right to Remain Silent

by Penny Warner

1998

When a deaf man is suspected of murdering his mother, Connor is drawn into the case. A missing will, small-town secrets, and a fast-moving investigation leave her scrambling to stay ahead of the truth.

The Kids' Pick-a-Party Book

by Penny Warner

1998

This planning guide helps families choose a party theme and build the celebration around it. Decorations, food, games, and activities are all part of the package.

Baby Birthday Parties

by Penny Warner

1999

A party guide aimed at babies and very young children, with gentle themes, food ideas, and age-appropriate activities. It helps parents plan a celebration that feels festive without overdoing it.

Baby Play and Learn

by Penny Warner

1999

A child-development guide centered on play, with simple activities to support babies as they grow. It gives parents easy ways to turn everyday moments into learning time.

Kids Outdoor Parties

by Penny Warner

1999

An idea book for outdoor celebrations, with games, themes, and activity plans that take advantage of backyards, parks, and open space. It is practical and easy to adapt.

A Quiet Undertaking

by Penny Warner

2000

Boxes of human ashes turn up in storage, then the man connected to them winds up dead. When suspicion falls on one of Connor's friends, she dives into a messy case involving funeral business politics and old secrets.

Preschool Play and Learn

by Penny Warner

2000

This activity guide offers development-focused games and projects for preschoolers. It is built around play that supports learning, movement, and everyday curiosity.

Slumber Parties

by Penny Warner

2000

A sleepover planning guide with themes, games, snacks, and activity ideas for a fun night in. It is meant to help parents keep the excitement organized.

Blind Side

by Penny Warner

2001

Flat Skunk's annual frog-jumping celebration goes badly wrong when a champion bullfrog is found dead, then its owner is murdered too. Connor follows the trail through local feuds, oddball suspects, and one very strange festival.

Learn to Sign the Fun Way!

by Penny Warner

2001

A lively introduction to American Sign Language for kids, families, and teachers. Games, illustrations, and themed vocabulary make the learning feel approachable from the start.

Smart Start for Your Baby / Smart Baby, Strong Baby

by Penny Warner

2001

A practical guide to helping babies build early physical, social, and thinking skills through everyday interaction. It focuses on simple ways to support development from the very beginning.

Storybook Parties

by Penny Warner

2001

This book turns favorite children's stories into party themes with matching food, decorations, and games. It is a cheerful mix of books, imagination, and celebration.

The Mystery of the Haunted Caves

by Penny Warner

2001

At a Gold Rush jamboree, Becca and her friends stumble onto clues about buried treasure hidden in haunted caves. Rival troops, real danger, and possible robbers make this far more than a simple camp mystery.

The Mystery of the Missing Mustangs

by Penny Warner

2001

Becca and the girls of Troop 13 head into another outdoor adventure when a mystery involving missing mustangs lands in their path. What starts as a scouting challenge turns into a fast-moving hunt for answers.

365 Baby Care Tips

by Penny Warner

2002

A year-round collection of baby-care advice, with quick tips for feeding, soothing, routines, and daily life. It is designed to be useful in small, easy-to-read pieces.

Parent's and Kid's Complete Guide to Summer Camp Fun

by Penny Warner

2002

A helpful guide to camp life, with tips for getting ready, settling in, and making the most of the experience. It speaks to both parents and kids facing summer camp together.

Quality Time Anytime

by Penny Warner

2002

A collection of quick parent-child activities meant to build connection while teaching useful skills. It is full of easy ideas that fit into ordinary days.

Summer Smarts for Cool Kids

by Penny Warner

2002

This book mixes summer fun with activities that keep kids learning and engaged. It is geared toward parents who want the break to feel playful without going completely idle.

The Big Book of Party and Holiday Fun

by Penny Warner

2002

A large-format collection of party plans, holiday activities, games, and crafts for families. It is a one-stop source for celebrations across the calendar.

365 Toddler Tips

by Penny Warner

2003

This daily guide offers bite-sized advice for life with toddlers, from routines to behavior to keeping them busy. It is practical, quick to scan, and built for tired parents.

Silence is Golden

by Penny Warner

2003

A prospector's apparent gold strike stirs up greed and trouble all over Flat Skunk. Arson, murder, and a wrongly suspected friend force Connor to dig into a case where nothing glittering is simple.

Toilet Training Without Tears or Trauma

by Penny Warner

2003

A calm, practical potty-training guide for parents who want less stress and more clarity. It mixes reassurance with straightforward advice and real-world problem solving.

Travel Games for Two

by Penny Warner

2003

A compact collection of two-player games meant for travel, waiting, and downtime. The activities are simple, portable, and easy to start anywhere.

Happy Birthday Parties!

by Penny Warner

2004

A cheerful planning guide for children's birthday celebrations, packed with themes, games, crafts, and food ideas. It aims to make party prep feel manageable and fun.

Signing Fun

by Penny Warner

2006

An approachable sign-language activity book with vocabulary, phrases, games, and practice ideas. It is designed to make learning signs feel lively rather than intimidating.

The Official Nancy Drew Handbook

by Penny Warner

2007

A playful guide that pulls skills, advice, and life lessons from the world of Nancy Drew. It is part tribute, part tongue-in-cheek sleuth manual for readers who love classic mystery spirit.

Ladies Night

by Penny Warner

2008

A grown-up party guide built around gatherings for women, with themes, food, games, and planning ideas. It leans into friendship, celebration, and a little creative mischief.

Rock-a-Bye Baby

by Penny Warner

2008

A baby-care guide focused on sleep, soothing, and helping exhausted families build better routines. It offers practical tips for getting both babies and parents more rest.

Baby's Favorite Rhymes to Sign

by Penny Warner

2010

Classic nursery rhymes meet simple signing in this baby-friendly board book. It gives caregivers an easy way to pair rhythm, language, and early signs together.

How to Crash a Killer Bash

by Penny Warner

2010

Presley is hired to run a murder mystery fundraiser at San Francisco's de Young Museum. When the host is killed for real, Presley has to solve the case before the party's staged thrills turn into lasting damage.

How to Host a Killer Party

by Penny Warner

2010

Event planner Presley Parker lands a dream job, a surprise wedding on Alcatraz. Then the bride is found dead, another planner is murdered, and Presley becomes the obvious suspect.

How to Party with a Killer Vampire

by Penny Warner

2011

Presley takes on a lavish vampire-themed event in a cemetery, hoping to pull off another memorable party. But when an entertainment reporter ends up dead, she has to save both the case and her own reputation.

How to Survive a Killer Séance

by Penny Warner

2011

A séance party at the Winchester Mystery House should be dramatic, but not deadly. When the night spins out of control and a murder follows, Presley finds herself trapped in a case full of tricks, fear, and very real danger.

The Secret of the Skeleton Key

by Penny Warner

2011

Cody, Quinn, Luke, and M.E. spot a coded message in their neighbor's window and realize it is a cry for help. When the old man disappears and his house burns, the Code Busters race to solve the mystery and uncover hidden treasure.

Dead Man's Hand

by Penny Warner

2012

A body hanging in wintertime Flat Skunk looks like a grim suicide, until the clues say otherwise. Connor chases a story involving a casino chip, criminal trouble, and a death that may have been staged.

How to Dine on Killer Wine

by Penny Warner

2012

A Napa Valley wine tasting looks like a smart career move for Presley Parker. Then an outspoken activist is found dead under a table, and the polished event uncorks a murder case full of politics and blame.

The Haunted Lighthouse

by Penny Warner

2012

A class trip to Alcatraz turns into a real treasure hunt when the Code Busters find a clue linked to a jewel thief's hidden stash. To crack the case, they will need to outsmart the island's secrets and solve a trail of codes.

The Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure / Secret Treasure of Pirate Cove

by Penny Warner

2013

On a class trip, the Code Busters uncover clues tied to the pirate Hippolyte Bouchard and a lost cache of treasure. A coded journal and map send them chasing history, danger, and a prize someone else wants first.

Death of a Crabby Cook

by Penny Warner

2014

After losing her restaurant-reviewing job, Darcy Burnett joins Aunt Abby's food truck at the San Francisco Seafood Festival. When a local chef winds up dead and Abby is framed, Darcy has to sort through rival vendors and sharp tempers to find the killer.

The Mummy's Curse

by Penny Warner

2014

A school visit to an Egyptian museum turns serious when a theft and a coded message point to something crooked. The Code Busters must use their puzzle skills, and what they learn about hieroglyphs, before the culprit turns the blame on them.

Death of a Chocolate Cheater

by Penny Warner

2015

Darcy and Aunt Abby head to the San Francisco Chocolate Festival, hoping to win big with Abby's dessert entry. But when a judge is murdered, Darcy has to dig through sticky secrets before the case turns even darker.

The Hunt for the Missing Spy

by Penny Warner

2015

A trip to Washington, D.C. and the International Spy Museum should be a dream for the Code Busters. Instead, strange messages, a shadowy follower, and a missing classmate drop them into a mystery worthy of a real spy novel.

Top Secret Code Busters Club Handbook

by Penny Warner

2015

This companion guide lets readers step into the Code Busters world with puzzles, ciphers, and club-style activities. It is part handbook, part challenge book, and a fun extension of the mystery series.

Death of A Bad Apple

by Penny Warner

2016

Darcy and Aunt Abby take their food truck to an apple festival for work, recipes, and a change of scenery. Instead, a murder at a nearby inn pulls Darcy into another tangled case full of small-town grudges and hidden motives.

The Secret of the Puzzle Box

by Penny Warner

2016

At Angel Island, Mika hopes to learn more about her family's past and a possible clue left by an ancestor. What starts with a puzzle box and hidden messages opens into a deeper mystery that links history to danger.

A Disappearance in Magicland

by Penny Warner

2024

A day at a Houdini-inspired theme park turns urgent when Cody's younger sister disappears and a masked stranger starts shadowing the Code Busters. The prize hunt suddenly becomes a race to find a missing child.

Clash of the Secret Code Clubs

by Penny Warner

2024

Matt the Brat forms a rival club, and a school scavenger hunt turns into a showdown over who is best at codes. Then the teachers begin disappearing, and the competition becomes a real mystery.

The Haunting of Mystery Mansion

by Penny Warner

2024

Luke's birthday trip to the Winchester Mystery House should be all twists and ghost stories. Instead, the Code Busters end up searching for a lost girl while dodging a suspicious security guard in a very confusing mansion.

The Science Fair Scheme

by Penny Warner

2024

The Code Busters expect fierce competition at the school science fair, especially from Matt the Brat. When their projects are sabotaged by a mysterious drone, they have a new puzzle to crack before the fair is ruined.

Escape from Bigfoot

by Penny Warner

2025

A trip to Gold Country brings the Code Busters face to face with rumors of hidden gold and Bigfoot. What sounds like campfire nonsense starts to look like a conspiracy they may have to outrun.

Murder at Blackwood Inn

by Penny Warner

2025

Ghostwriter Carissa Blackwood retreats to coastal Pelican Point to help her eccentric aunts run a haunted bed-and-breakfast. When a local dies from poison tied to the inn, Carissa has to clear her family before the next guest checks out for good.

The Search for the Missing Mascot

by Penny Warner

2025

When the school mascot and other items vanish, the Code Busters jump into the case. With blame landing in the wrong place, they have to work with unlikely allies to find the thief and the reason behind the damage.

Where to start with Penny Warner

If you want cozy adult mysteries: How to Host a Killer PartyHow to Crash a Killer BashHow to Survive a Killer Séance
If you want foodie cozies: Death of a Crabby CookDeath of a Chocolate CheaterDeath of A Bad Apple
If you want middle-grade puzzle adventures: The Secret of the Skeleton KeyThe Haunted LighthouseThe Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure
If you want an earlier mystery series with a sharper edge: Dead Body LanguageSign of Foul PlayRight to Remain Silent
If you want practical family books: Healthy Snacks for KidsKids Party Games & ActivitiesLearn to Sign the Fun Way!

Code Busters Club books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Secret of the Skeleton Key"

    The Secret of the Skeleton Key

    by Penny Warner

    2011Code Busters Club, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Haunted Lighthouse"

    The Haunted Lighthouse

    by Penny Warner

    2012Code Busters Club, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure / Secret Treasure of Pirate Cove"

    The Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure / Secret Treasure of Pirate Cove

    by Penny Warner

    2013Code Busters Club, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Mummy's Curse"

    The Mummy's Curse

    by Penny Warner

    2014Code Busters Club, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The Hunt for the Missing Spy"

    The Hunt for the Missing Spy

    by Penny Warner

    2015Code Busters Club, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "The Secret of the Puzzle Box"

    The Secret of the Puzzle Box

    by Penny Warner

    2016Code Busters Club, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "A Disappearance in Magicland"

    A Disappearance in Magicland

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "Clash of the Secret Code Clubs"

    Clash of the Secret Code Clubs

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 10
  9. Book cover for "The Haunting of Mystery Mansion"

    The Haunting of Mystery Mansion

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "The Science Fair Scheme"

    The Science Fair Scheme

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 8
  11. Book cover for "Escape from Bigfoot"

    Escape from Bigfoot

    by Penny Warner

    2025Code Busters Club, Book 11
  12. Book cover for "The Search for the Missing Mascot"

    The Search for the Missing Mascot

    by Penny Warner

    2025Code Busters Club, Book 12

Code Busters Club books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Secret of the Skeleton Key"

    The Secret of the Skeleton Key

    by Penny Warner

    2011Code Busters Club, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Haunted Lighthouse"

    The Haunted Lighthouse

    by Penny Warner

    2012Code Busters Club, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "The Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure / Secret Treasure of Pirate Cove"

    The Mystery of the Pirate's Treasure / Secret Treasure of Pirate Cove

    by Penny Warner

    2013Code Busters Club, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "The Mummy's Curse"

    The Mummy's Curse

    by Penny Warner

    2014Code Busters Club, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "The Hunt for the Missing Spy"

    The Hunt for the Missing Spy

    by Penny Warner

    2015Code Busters Club, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "The Secret of the Puzzle Box"

    The Secret of the Puzzle Box

    by Penny Warner

    2016Code Busters Club, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "A Disappearance in Magicland"

    A Disappearance in Magicland

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 7
  8. Book cover for "The Science Fair Scheme"

    The Science Fair Scheme

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 8
  9. Book cover for "The Haunting of Mystery Mansion"

    The Haunting of Mystery Mansion

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 9
  10. Book cover for "Clash of the Secret Code Clubs"

    Clash of the Secret Code Clubs

    by Penny Warner

    2024Code Busters Club, Book 10
  11. Book cover for "Escape from Bigfoot"

    Escape from Bigfoot

    by Penny Warner

    2025Code Busters Club, Book 11
  12. Book cover for "The Search for the Missing Mascot"

    The Search for the Missing Mascot

    by Penny Warner

    2025Code Busters Club, Book 12

Connor Westphal books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Dead Body Language"

    Dead Body Language

    by Penny Warner

    1997Connor Westphal, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Sign of Foul Play"

    Sign of Foul Play

    by Penny Warner

    1997Connor Westphal, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Right to Remain Silent"

    Right to Remain Silent

    by Penny Warner

    1998Connor Westphal, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "A Quiet Undertaking"

    A Quiet Undertaking

    by Penny Warner

    2000Connor Westphal, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Blind Side"

    Blind Side

    by Penny Warner

    2001Connor Westphal, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Silence is Golden"

    Silence is Golden

    by Penny Warner

    2003Connor Westphal, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Dead Man's Hand"

    Dead Man's Hand

    by Penny Warner

    2012Connor Westphal, Book 7

Connor Westphal books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Dead Body Language"

    Dead Body Language

    by Penny Warner

    1997Connor Westphal, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Sign of Foul Play"

    Sign of Foul Play

    by Penny Warner

    1997Connor Westphal, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Right to Remain Silent"

    Right to Remain Silent

    by Penny Warner

    1998Connor Westphal, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "A Quiet Undertaking"

    A Quiet Undertaking

    by Penny Warner

    2000Connor Westphal, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "Blind Side"

    Blind Side

    by Penny Warner

    2001Connor Westphal, Book 5
  6. Book cover for "Silence is Golden"

    Silence is Golden

    by Penny Warner

    2003Connor Westphal, Book 6
  7. Book cover for "Dead Man's Hand"

    Dead Man's Hand

    by Penny Warner

    2012Connor Westphal, Book 7

Food Festival Mystery books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Death of a Crabby Cook"

    Death of a Crabby Cook

    by Penny Warner

    2014Food Festival Mystery, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Death of a Chocolate Cheater"

    Death of a Chocolate Cheater

    by Penny Warner

    2015Food Festival Mystery, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Death of A Bad Apple"

    Death of A Bad Apple

    by Penny Warner

    2016Food Festival Mystery, Book 3

Food Festival Mystery books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Death of a Crabby Cook"

    Death of a Crabby Cook

    by Penny Warner

    2014Food Festival Mystery, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "Death of a Chocolate Cheater"

    Death of a Chocolate Cheater

    by Penny Warner

    2015Food Festival Mystery, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "Death of A Bad Apple"

    Death of A Bad Apple

    by Penny Warner

    2016Food Festival Mystery, Book 3

Haunted Dead and Breakfast books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "Murder at Blackwood Inn"

    Murder at Blackwood Inn

    by Penny Warner

    2025Haunted Dead and Breakfast, Book 1

Haunted Dead and Breakfast books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "Murder at Blackwood Inn"

    Murder at Blackwood Inn

    by Penny Warner

    2025Haunted Dead and Breakfast, Book 1

Party-Planning Mysteries books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "How to Crash a Killer Bash"

    How to Crash a Killer Bash

    by Penny Warner

    2010Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 2
  2. Book cover for "How to Host a Killer Party"

    How to Host a Killer Party

    by Penny Warner

    2010Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 1
  3. Book cover for "How to Party with a Killer Vampire"

    How to Party with a Killer Vampire

    by Penny Warner

    2011Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 4
  4. Book cover for "How to Survive a Killer Séance"

    How to Survive a Killer Séance

    by Penny Warner

    2011Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 3
  5. Book cover for "How to Dine on Killer Wine"

    How to Dine on Killer Wine

    by Penny Warner

    2012Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 5

Party-Planning Mysteries books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "How to Host a Killer Party"

    How to Host a Killer Party

    by Penny Warner

    2010Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "How to Crash a Killer Bash"

    How to Crash a Killer Bash

    by Penny Warner

    2010Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 2
  3. Book cover for "How to Survive a Killer Séance"

    How to Survive a Killer Séance

    by Penny Warner

    2011Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 3
  4. Book cover for "How to Party with a Killer Vampire"

    How to Party with a Killer Vampire

    by Penny Warner

    2011Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 4
  5. Book cover for "How to Dine on Killer Wine"

    How to Dine on Killer Wine

    by Penny Warner

    2012Party-Planning Mysteries, Book 5

Troop 13 Mysteries books in order

Explore this series
  1. Book cover for "The Mystery of the Haunted Caves"

    The Mystery of the Haunted Caves

    by Penny Warner

    2001Troop 13 Mysteries, Book 2
  2. Book cover for "The Mystery of the Missing Mustangs"

    The Mystery of the Missing Mustangs

    by Penny Warner

    2001Troop 13 Mysteries, Book 1

Troop 13 Mysteries books in chronological order

  1. Book cover for "The Mystery of the Missing Mustangs"

    The Mystery of the Missing Mustangs

    by Penny Warner

    2001Troop 13 Mysteries, Book 1
  2. Book cover for "The Mystery of the Haunted Caves"

    The Mystery of the Haunted Caves

    by Penny Warner

    2001Troop 13 Mysteries, Book 2

Penny Warner collections, short stories, and related book types

Non-Fiction

  1. Book cover for "Healthy Snacks for Kids"

    Healthy Snacks for Kids

    by Penny Warner

    1983
  2. Book cover for "Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids"

    Healthy Treats and Super Snacks for Kids

    by Penny Warner

    1985
  3. Book cover for "Super Toys"

    Super Toys

    by Penny Warner

    1985
  4. Book cover for "Super Snacks for Kids"

    Super Snacks for Kids

    by Penny Warner

    1985
  5. Book cover for "A Deadly Game of Klew"

    A Deadly Game of Klew

    by Penny Warner

    1986
  6. Book cover for "Greetings from the Grave"

    Greetings from the Grave

    by Penny Warner

    1986
  7. Book cover for "The Secret of the Bitter Sweets"

    The Secret of the Bitter Sweets

    by Penny Warner

    1986
  8. Book cover for "Penny Warner's Party Book"

    Penny Warner's Party Book

    by Penny Warner

    1987
  9. Book cover for "The Best Party Book"

    The Best Party Book

    by Penny Warner

    1992
  10. Book cover for "Kids Party Games & Activities"

    Kids Party Games & Activities

    by Penny Warner

    1993
  11. Book cover for "Kids' Holiday Fun"

    Kids' Holiday Fun

    by Penny Warner

    1994
  12. Book cover for "Birthday Parties for Kids!"

    Birthday Parties for Kids!

    by Penny Warner

    1995
  13. Book cover for "Kids' Party Cookbook"

    Kids' Party Cookbook

    by Penny Warner

    1996
  14. Book cover for "Splish Splash"

    Splish Splash

    by Penny Warner

    1996
  15. Book cover for "Games People Play"

    Games People Play

    by Penny Warner

    1998
  16. Book cover for "Just for Fun Party Game Book"

    Just for Fun Party Game Book

    by Penny Warner

    1998
  17. Book cover for "The Kids' Pick-a-Party Book"

    The Kids' Pick-a-Party Book

    by Penny Warner

    1998
  18. Book cover for "Great Games for Kids on the Go"

    Great Games for Kids on the Go

    by Penny Warner

    1998
  19. Book cover for "Baby Play and Learn"

    Baby Play and Learn

    by Penny Warner

    1999
  20. Book cover for "Kids Outdoor Parties"

    Kids Outdoor Parties

    by Penny Warner

    1999
  21. Book cover for "Baby Birthday Parties"

    Baby Birthday Parties

    by Penny Warner

    1999
  22. Book cover for "Preschool Play and Learn"

    Preschool Play and Learn

    by Penny Warner

    2000
  23. Book cover for "Slumber Parties"

    Slumber Parties

    by Penny Warner

    2000
  24. Book cover for "Storybook Parties"

    Storybook Parties

    by Penny Warner

    2001
  25. Book cover for "Learn to Sign the Fun Way!"

    Learn to Sign the Fun Way!

    by Penny Warner

    2001
  26. Book cover for "Smart Start for Your Baby / Smart Baby, Strong Baby"

    Smart Start for Your Baby / Smart Baby, Strong Baby

    by Penny Warner

    2001
  27. Book cover for "365 Baby Care Tips"

    365 Baby Care Tips

    by Penny Warner

    2002
  28. Book cover for "The Big Book of Party and Holiday Fun"

    The Big Book of Party and Holiday Fun

    by Penny Warner

    2002
  29. Book cover for "Summer Smarts for Cool Kids"

    Summer Smarts for Cool Kids

    by Penny Warner

    2002
  30. Book cover for "Parent's and Kid's Complete Guide to Summer Camp Fun"

    Parent's and Kid's Complete Guide to Summer Camp Fun

    by Penny Warner

    2002
  31. Book cover for "Quality Time Anytime"

    Quality Time Anytime

    by Penny Warner

    2002
  32. Book cover for "Toilet Training Without Tears or Trauma"

    Toilet Training Without Tears or Trauma

    by Penny Warner

    2003
  33. Book cover for "Travel Games for Two"

    Travel Games for Two

    by Penny Warner

    2003
  34. Book cover for "365 Toddler Tips"

    365 Toddler Tips

    by Penny Warner

    2003
  35. Book cover for "Happy Birthday Parties!"

    Happy Birthday Parties!

    by Penny Warner

    2004
  36. Book cover for "Signing Fun"

    Signing Fun

    by Penny Warner

    2006
  37. Book cover for "The Official Nancy Drew Handbook"

    The Official Nancy Drew Handbook

    by Penny Warner

    2007
  38. Book cover for "Ladies Night"

    Ladies Night

    by Penny Warner

    2008
  39. Book cover for "Rock-a-Bye Baby"

    Rock-a-Bye Baby

    by Penny Warner

    2008
  40. Book cover for "Baby's Favorite Rhymes to Sign"

    Baby's Favorite Rhymes to Sign

    by Penny Warner

    2010
  41. Book cover for "Top Secret Code Busters Club Handbook"

    Top Secret Code Busters Club Handbook

    by Penny Warner

    2015

Code Busters Club Non-Fiction

  1. Book cover for "Top Secret Code Busters Club Handbook"

    Top Secret Code Busters Club Handbook

    by Penny Warner

    2015

Author bio

Penny Warner grew up around the Bay Area, but her story starts a little farther away. She was born in Okinawa, lived in Palo Alto until third grade, then moved to Lafayette. Later she settled in Danville, California, where she has lived for years and built a life that mixed teaching, parenting, and writing.

She was a mystery reader early.

Warner has said that reading Nancy Drew in fourth grade lit the spark. Around that same age she wrote a short story about a witch and a haunted house, and seeing it appear in a local paper gave her the kind of nudge young writers remember for a long time. She kept that love of puzzles, spooky corners, and amateur sleuths, even while her day job headed somewhere more practical.

Before fiction took over, she studied child development and special education. She earned a bachelor's degree in child development and a master's degree in special education, then spent more than 30 years teaching child development at local California colleges. Along the way she also taught sign language, infant development, special education, and preschool for deaf children, experience that later shaped both her nonfiction and her mysteries.

Her first published book was Healthy Snacks for Kids, which she sold in 1987. It did well, and it opened the door to a long run of family and activity books, including Kids' Party Games & Activities, Learn to Sign the Fun Way!, Quality Time Anytime, and many more. Warner became the kind of writer who could explain something clearly, keep it lively, and make it useful for real families.

Then her kids became teenagers, and, as she has joked, she started thinking about murder.

That shift led to several mystery series for adults. The Connor Westphal books begin with Dead Body Language and follow a deaf reporter in California Gold Country. The Presley Parker novels, starting with How to Host a Killer Party, mix event planning with murder at Bay Area landmarks. Writing as Penny Pike, she launched the Food Festival mysteries with Death of a Crabby Cook, giving readers a former restaurant reviewer, a food truck, and plenty of culinary chaos.

She also found a big audience with younger readers. The Secret of the Skeleton Key started The Code Busters Club, a middle grade series in which kids solve mysteries by cracking codes right alongside the reader. That mix of puzzles, history, and adventure turned out to be a strong fit for her. The series earned multiple Agatha Awards, and it feels connected to the same childhood interests that first pulled her toward books.

Warner's range is unusually wide. She has written more than 80 books for children and adults, from baby care guides and party books to cozy mysteries and interactive adventures. She has also written a family-life newspaper column, appeared on television with tips for parents and kids, and created library fundraiser murder mysteries with her husband, Tom.

Today she still lives in Danville. She and Tom have two grown children, four grandchildren, and a rescue dog named Buster who sounds like a regular companion on their travels. It all fits. Penny Warner's career has a lot of variety, but the through line is easy to see, she likes solving problems, sharing what she knows, and making room for a little fun while she's at it.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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