The Mystery of Hidden Valley: The Mystery Series, #3

By Paul Moxham

Are you up for a thrilling adventure?

While camping in Wales, it doesn't take long for the Mystery Kids to stumble across a long-lost tunnel that leads to a valley full of secrets.

Follow the children as they are imprisoned in an old farmhouse, discover a hidden cave, sabotage a plane, rescue a missing man, undertake a perilous climb, and more!

Book 3 in the Mystery Series, this adventure novel is set in 1950's Britain and will suit anyone who enjoys Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys or the Famous Five.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Moxham
• Release date: Jul 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781498976190

Paul Moxham

Paul Moxham hails from Australia. He has written four novels, two novellas, and two short stories. Sign up for when he releases a new book - http://eepurl.com/tC4_v Check out his official website for more info - www.paulmoxham.com

Book preview

The Mystery of Hidden Valley

The Mystery Series – Book No. 3

By Paul Moxham

Copyright 2012 Paul Moxham

Version Updated: 1st March 2023

Are you an avid reader of Paul’s books?

Do you like giveaways? Crossword Puzzles?

Word Searches? Jigsaw Puzzles?

Go to www.paulmoxham.com for these

things and much more

If you want to be notified whenever

Paul releases a new book, click here

If you want to ask Paul a question, email him

at [e-mail]

If you’re on Goodreads, check out Paul M Fan Group

If you’re on Facebook, follow Paul here

All rights reserved, without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means  without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

THE MYSTERY SERIES

This mystery adventure series set in 1950’s UK will delight children of all ages.

Summer Holidays:

The Mystery of Smugglers Cove

The Mystery of the Missing Money

The Mystery of the Missing Gnomes

The Mystery of Adventure Island

The Mystery of the Mysterious Man

The Mystery of the Strange Notebook

The Mystery of Hidden Valley

Winter Holidays:

The Mystery of Claw Mountain

The Mystery of the Golden Elephant

The Mystery of the Red Balloon

The Mystery of the Golden Dragons

The Mystery of the Howling Dog

The Mystery of the Hidden Suitcase

The Mystery of Treasure Island

Easter Holidays:

The Mystery of Four Towers

The Mystery of the Burning Plane

The Mystery of the Russian Spy

The Mystery of Ghost Island

The Mystery of the Perfect Thief

The Mystery of the Underwater Car

The Mystery of the Crown Jewels

Summer Holidays:

The Mystery of the Amphibious Jeep

The Mystery of the Escaped Prisoner

The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle

The Mystery of the Runaway King

The Mystery of the Secret Lake

The Mystery of Crocodile Island

The Mystery of the Invisible Woman

Winter Holidays:

The Mystery of the Secret Hideout

The Mystery of the Fake President

The Mystery of the Double Agent

The Mystery of the Perfect Impostor

The Mystery of the Christmas Spy

Mystery Series (Worldwide Adventures):

International Spy and Midnight Intruder

Haunted Lighthouse and Blizzard Peak

Mystery Series (Solve It Yourself Mysteries):

Five Minute Mysteries Volume 1

Five Minute Mysteries Volume 2

Mystery Series (Choose Your Own Way):

Danger in Monrovia

Lost in the Bermuda Triangle

Escape from Sylvania

Mystery Series (Free Short Story):

The Mystery of Santa Claus

Interactive Fiction:

Earthquake

Outer Space

PRAISE FOR THE MYSTERY SERIES

I was drawn in by the fast-paced plot. I enjoyed reading the book and couldn't wait to see how things turned out. -—Smashwords Reviewer 

Paul Moxham takes the reader on a whirlwind of chase scenarios that up the ante with each narrow escape. -—Amazon USA Reviewer  

I love this book, could not put it down and I felt as if I was standing beside the characters. -—Shelfari Reviewer 

This is an entertaining adventure story that would make pleasurable holiday reading for 7 to 10 year olds. -—Amazon UK Reviewer 

NOTE:

This can be read as a stand alone story, but if you want to have full knowledge of the characters, I suggest that you read The Mystery of Smugglers Cove, the first book in The Mystery Series.

This story is set in 1950’s Britain and is written in British English - not American English - so bear this in mind regarding the spelling of some words.

This story is set after the events in The Mystery of the Strange Notebook.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Guess What?

Chapter 2: Ponty

Chapter 3: A Strange Story

Chapter 4: Finnie Valley

Chapter 5: A Secret Cave

Chapter 6: Exploring Hidden Valley

Chapter 7: Trapped!

Chapter 8: The Stone Hut

Chapter 9: Run!

Chapter 10: In Hiding

Chapter 11: Caught!

Chapter 12: The Old Man

Chapter 13: What Shall We Do?

Chapter 14: Fire

Chapter 15: Surrounded

Chapter 16: Homeward Bound

Chapter 17: Decision Time

Chapter 18: The Rescue Attempt

Chapter 19: The Midnight Trek

Chapter 20: No Way Through

Chapter 21: A Perilous Climb

Chapter 22: A Tricky Situation

Chapter 23: Help Arrives

Chapter 24: A Shocking Revelation

Chapter 25: Captured

Chapter 1: Guess What?

IT WAS A HOT SUMMER’S day in the coastal village of Smugglers Cove and the three siblings had decided it was too warm to ride down to the beach. So, instead, they lay sprawled out under an old apple tree that grew in the front garden of Rose Cottage, the pretty whitewashed house where the three were staying for the summer holidays.

Joe, the eldest, sat up as he heard the sound of a bicycle tearing along the gravel road. He grinned as he spotted a flash of red hair. It was Will, their best friend.

Will brought his bicycle to a screeching stop and climbed off. He walked over and sat down beside his friends. Guess what?

Sarah, who was eight years old, looked eagerly at the boy with her green eyes. What?

Have you come across a new mystery? Joe asked.

Will shook his head. I think we’ve had our fair share of mysteries for these holidays.

Joe looked disappointed. What a pity. It would have been good to have one final mystery to solve before going back to school.

Well, I have something I think you lot will like just as much, Will replied. You know how I told you my father recently finished his first novel?

Amy, who was two years older than Sarah, sat up. Yes, what about it?

Well, this morning he told me that his publisher had just telephoned him and asked him to start work on the sequel, Will replied. He thinks it’s going to be a big success and wants the second novel written as soon as possible.

Your father must be very happy, Joe said.

Will nodded. Yes, he is. He’s been spending such a lot of time writing. In fact, just lately, I’ve hardly seen him at all, which is why it will be good to go away together.

Go away where? Amy asked.

To Wales. Will grinned. Isn’t that great?

The three siblings were silent for a moment, and then Joe gave a forced smile. I hope you have fun.

No. I hope we’ll have fun, Will replied, grinning.

Amy’s eyes lit up. You don’t mean—

You don’t think I would go if you couldn’t come along too, did you? Will interrupted.

But is your dad okay with that? Joe asked.

He’s the one who suggested it, Will replied. Since his novel is set in the Welsh mountains, he wanted to go there so he can get a feel for the place. He thought if you came, it would make the holiday more fun for me.

I wonder if we’ll see any eagles, Joe said.

Haven’t you seen enough birds this summer? Amy teased.

Of course not. Joe laughed. I’m always too busy solving mysteries.

Eager to see what Mrs Mitchell thought of the idea, the children raced into the house. She wasn’t very keen at first, but as Will explained that his father would be keeping an eye on them, she said she would leave the decision to her husband.

As Mr Mitchell wasn’t due home for a while, the children returned to the shade of the apple tree and lay down.

Whereabouts in Wales is it? Joe asked.

I’m not exactly sure. As soon as my dad said that you lot could come, I was so excited that I raced over here, Will said.

Would we be staying in a village? Amy questioned.

Not exactly, Will replied. There’s a small cottage a little way up the mountain. An old couple rent it out from time to time, mostly during the summer.

So what would we do there? Joe asked.

Dad said something about a castle, Will said. He also mentioned how we could hire some ponies from the local stables and go riding in a nearby valley.

A valley. That sounds like a good place for a mystery, Joe murmured with a twinkle in his eye.

Will laughed. You and your mysteries.

You like mysteries just as much as I do! Joe exclaimed.

Well, yes, but I don’t talk about them all the time like you do, Will said. I suppose we’re just lucky. Some people live their entire lives without running into a single mystery, and we seem to bump into them all the time.

Funny, isn’t it? Amy said. Because it isn’t as though you can make a mystery happen. It either happens or it doesn’t.

The talking ceased as everyone lay down in the shade of the apple tree. Gradually, they drifted off to sleep.

Sarah was the first to open her eyes, and when she did, she got a shock. Gazing down at her was her father. She leapt to her feet and hugged him as the others awoke.

Hello, Will said.

Mr Mitchell laughed. Sleeping away the last days of the summer holidays, are we?

We were waiting for you, Joe said.

Me? Mr Mitchell replied, a look of surprise on his face.

As he placed his briefcase on the ground, Mrs Mitchell opened the front door and walked over. The children have something to ask you.

Mr Mitchell kissed his wife on the cheek. And what might that be?

Can we please go to Wales? Sarah asked.

Will’s father is going to the mountains in Wales and asked us if we wanted to go along, Joe explained.

Mr Mitchell looked at his wife. What do you think?

I told them it was up to you whether or not they went, Mrs Mitchell replied.

Mr Mitchell smiled. Well, I suppose I had better talk to Mr Spencer—

He’s home now, Will interrupted.

I’ll go and telephone him right away then, Mr Mitchell replied. That is, if you all want to go.

Yes, please! shouted the three siblings all at once.

I see, Mr Mitchell said. Give me ten minutes.

While the children waited for his answer, they played a game of snap in Joe’s bedroom. Ten minutes later, Mr Mitchell came into the room. The man smiled at the happy children. You may go.

Joe and the girls flung themselves on their father, happy beyond belief.

Mr Mitchell was in the middle of untangling himself when his wife entered the room. She wrapped an arm around her husband. Just make sure you behave yourself and keep away from any mysteries.

We’ll try to, Joe promised with a twinkle in his eye.

AS THE CAR CROSSED the border into Wales the following day, Amy gazed out of the window. She thought the scenery looked quite different from the scenery around Smugglers Cove. As she twirled a strand of brown hair around her finger, she kept her eyes glued to the landscape. As time went on, hills started to turn into mountains, and soon it really did look as though they were in another country.

Throughout the day, Mr Spencer stopped the car at several small villages so they could stretch their legs and grab a bite to eat.

The villages became smaller and smaller until they were even smaller than Smugglers Cove. As for the mountains, they became bigger and bigger. 

As the day wore on, Mr Spencer smiled. We’re almost at the village.

What’s it called? Joe asked, peering forward, eager to be the first to see where they were going to be staying for the next few days.

Ponty, Mr Spencer replied. It’s fairly small, but that will be okay. We’ve brought plenty of food, so we’ll only need to buy bread and milk.

Will, who was sitting in the front seat, was the first to spot the village as the car wound its way around the mountainside. He yelled out. I see it!

As Mr Spencer drove down the main street, the children spotted a church, a cafe, a bakery, and an inn.

Where’s the house we’re staying in? Amy asked.

On the hillside, Mr Spencer replied as he approached a turnoff and headed left.

The road was steep and got steeper as it went along. After travelling around quite a number of bends, he pulled up beside a small cottage that overlooked Ponty.

Made of stone and with a brick chimney, wooden shutters on the windows, and a white picket fence, the children thought it looked extremely old. But they didn’t mind. It wasn’t as though they would be spending a lot of time inside.

Everyone helped unload the sleeping bags, tents, boxes of food, and other bits