Stairway to Doom: A QUIX Book

By Robert Quackenbush

World-famous duck-tective Miss Mallard must track down her disappearing family memebers in this engaging Aladdin QUIX mystery.

Miss Mallard is travelling to Scotland’s Duckinbill Castle for a family reunion. During the reading of a will, family members vanish one by one. Is the ghost of Count Kisscula behind the disappearances?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aladdin
• Release date: Sep 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781534413177

Robert Quackenbush

Robert Quackenbush (1929–2021), the author and illustrator of more than two hundred books for young readers, was a graduate of the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles and also had a master’s degree in social studies and a PhD in childhood education. Quackenbush’s many books include the Henry the Duck series, Detective Mole, the Miss Mallard Mystery series, Pete Pack Rat, and the Sheriff Sally Gopher series. He was the three-time winner of the American Flag Institute Award for outstanding contributions to children’s literature and winner of an Edgar Allan Poe Special Award for best juvenile mystery. He lived in New York City with his wife, Margery, director of NAAP. Their now adult son, Piet, was the inspiration for many of the author’s books when he was growing up.

Book preview

Contents

Cast of Characters

What’s in Miss Mallard’s Bag?

Chapter 1: A Stormy Night

Chapter 2: Haunted Castle

Chapter 3: Midnight Quacks

Chapter 4: A Basket of Garlic

Chapter 5: Secret Staircases

Chapter 6: Kisscula Caught

Word List

Questions

Acknowledgments

About the Author

First for Piet, who told me about Kisscula,

and now for Emma and Aidan

Cast of Characters

Miss Mallard: World-famous ducktective

Inspector Willard Widgeon: Miss Mallard’s nephew and inspector with the Swiss police

Effie: Relative of Abigail Spoonbill

Mario Sprig: Lawyer in charge of reading the will of Abigail Spoonbill

Abigail Spoonbill: Also known as Great Aunt Abby, recently deceased owner of Duckinbill Castle, whose will is being read

Jillie, Millie, and Tillie Butterball: Sisters, and relatives of Abigail Spoonbill

Count Kisscula: A kisspire who is said to haunt Duckinbill Castle

Josie and Amy Eider: Sisters, and relatives