【精采推理】＋【幽默對白】＋【中英雙語讀本】＋【英語有聲小說】
臺灣首部展現亞洲風土民情的雙語推理小說，
貼近生活，學習可在日常中使用的口語英文！
★新加坡國際學校圖書館紅點圖書大賞續作★
★全系列屢獲新加坡讀者票選好書獎★
★全球售出中、美、韓等八國版權★
詹姆斯．莫失蹤了！這位剛從英國搬來，便在考試中擊敗夏洛克的天才轉學生，竟然在麥里芝蓄水池遛狗時憑空消失。他究竟是走失？被綁架？被水怪吃掉？還是……另有隱情？各種謠言在學校傳得沸沸揚揚，夏洛克決心要找出真相，幫助下落不明的同學！
然而，向來鼓勵夏洛克辦案的爸爸、媽媽以及希瓦警官，這次卻不若往常積極。擔心宵夜幫和詹姆斯一樣陷入危機，大人們希望夏洛克與宵夜幫將失蹤案交給他們處理。然而，這個案子有某處令夏洛克掛心不已，於是他做出了魯莽的決定──瞞著爸爸、媽媽，在深夜偷溜出門，和宵夜幫一起回到麥里芝搜查！沒想到，這個決策卻讓宵夜幫陷入大危機……
儘管深夜的冒險讓夏洛克終於推理出真相，然而，他卻因此失去了大人的信賴。此時夏洛克才明白，解謎並非偵探最核心的價值，曾經習以為常的信用，才是偵探真正需要堅守的事物。直到失去了一切，夏洛克才發現，自己其實早已落入幕後黑手的圈套……他該怎麼辦？
「夏洛克與花生」系列──「邪惡主謀的挑戰書」篇，揭開序幕！
「夏洛克與花生」系列為臺灣第一部描繪亞洲風土民情的雙語偵探小說。故事背景新加坡的國民大多是華人，有著與臺灣相近的生活習慣、家庭關係與升學環境，卻說著一口流利的英語。閱讀本系列小說，即可學會在小吃店點餐、介紹特產與景點等可在生活中運用的口語英文。
本系列採「中英雙語」編輯，前半部為中文翻譯、後半部為英文原文。讀者讀完中文小說，了解劇情後再用英文讀一遍，更能掌握英文的用詞、表述方式。中文加注文化注釋，有助理解小說中描繪的東南亞文化；英文則加注單字、片語釋義，並延伸補充英文應用知識，無須經常查辭典，便可更專心享受閱讀的趣味。掃描書上的QR Code下載英語有聲書音檔，還可用耳朵「聽」小說，不僅打發通勤、運動等零碎時間，亦可同步增進英聽能力。
全書最末有三個補充專欄。「口說練習」從英文小說中挑選六句日常生活經常使用的實用句子，並提供專業錄製的口說練習音檔，多聽多說，練就可自然運用道地英語的表達能力；「單字測驗」提供六題英文克漏字測驗，讀完小說小試身手，測試自己學會多少單字，加深對生詞的印象。「人物描繪」提供八個用來形容人的單字，挑戰應用單字，找出適合夏洛克與邪惡主謀的描述！學英語就是要眼耳口手齊動員，別再只是死記硬背！
加入夏洛克、花生與「宵夜幫」的精采冒險，
聽．讀．說．寫學英文！
追蹤線索，拯救下落不明的天才少年！
★令人嘴角上揚的幽默推理故事，在歡笑中愛上英語聽．讀．說．寫！
聽：掃描QR Code，有聲書帶著走；隨時隨地輕鬆聽，鍛鍊聽力不費勁。
讀：加注單字、片語解釋，補充英文應用知識，減少查單字，專心讀故事！
說：聲調仔細聽，開口勤練習；實用短句音檔，帶你說出流利英語。
寫：讀完英文小說後，來場克漏字測試。檢視你習得多少單字！
★「夏洛克與花生」系列（第一季全八冊上市！）
‧《夏洛克與花生2：歷史公園的鬼吟聲之謎》
‧《夏洛克與花生3：國際學校的恐嚇信之謎》
‧《夏洛克與花生4：外星人入侵烏敏島之謎》
‧《夏洛克與花生5：博物館機器人盜竊之謎》
‧《夏洛克與花生6：天才少年憑空消失之謎》【邪惡主謀的挑戰書〈上〉】
‧《夏洛克與花生7：機密劇本不翼而飛之謎》【邪惡主謀的挑戰書〈中〉】
‧《夏洛克與花生8：最佳拍檔花生綁票之謎》【邪惡主謀的挑戰書〈下〉】
A.J. Low
A.J. Low 是由一對夫妻組成的寫作團隊。
丈夫阿丹．希門尼斯除了是名作家，也是翻譯與編輯。他出生於美國，是一對墨西哥移民夫妻引以為傲的兒子；從美國搬到新加坡後，他自己也成為移民。他喜歡漫畫、樂高、書（尤其是科幻小說）、遊戲和美食。
妻子費莉西雅．劉 - 希門尼斯在新加坡出生長大，曾是一位書商，目前從事漫畫出版工作。她有空時不是在閱讀、打盹，就是循環播放音樂。
黃筱茵
臺灣師範大學英語研究所博士班（文學組）學分修畢。曾任編輯，翻譯超過三百冊繪本與青少年小說。譯作有「亞瑟王」系列、《許願樹》、《彼得與他的寶貝》等。
編輯序
人物介紹
第一章：爸爸的演說
第二章：詹姆斯失蹤了
第三章：麥里芝蓄水池
第四章：地圖上的線索
第五章：遺落的運動鞋
第六章：有可能的任務
第七章：麥里芝的祕密
第八章：最糟的夜晚
第九章：一旦失去信賴
第十章：棋逢敵手
英文小說注釋符號說明
導讀
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
人物描繪Sherlock Sam vs James Mok
口說練習Speak English with Sherlock Sam
單字測驗Vocabulary Challenge
第三章
「你們把這個案件當成失蹤人口案還是綁架案處理？」我問：「還是有其他分類？」
「我們把它當成未成年人的失蹤案。」希瓦警官回答。
「所以你們還沒有收到任何贖金勒索信什麼的？」
希瓦警官朝我的方向擺手說：「夏洛克，我不能談論那個。我只能說我們正在協助公園護林員搜索詹姆斯．莫。」
「希瓦警官，我們又不是新聞媒體。」伊萊莎說：「我本來希望我們作為顧問，能贏得更多同行禮遇呢！」
我們全都盯著伊萊莎看。她說得當然沒錯，但我可能不會用這麼咄咄逼人的方式來表達。
「伊萊莎，就像我說的，儘管我認為你們這群孩子非常棒，在這件事上我仍受到限制。」希瓦警官說：「而且我無法想像，如果你們任何一個孩子也失蹤了會怎麼樣。」
一位公園護林員呼叫希瓦警官，他便迅速告退離開了。
「孩子們，我猜就是這樣了。」爸爸說：「我很抱歉，但我想你們這次只能坐冷板凳了。」
「爸，還沒那麼快。」我說。我注意到一位中年華人男士和一位金髮女士正對著另一位淺棕髮女士大吼。棕髮女士坐在公園長椅上哭泣，懷裡抱著一隻非常興奮的臘腸犬，牠一副竭盡全力要奔向自由的模樣。我推測，她就是詹姆斯的保母，而臘腸犬就是詹姆斯失蹤時跑掉的狗。華人男士和金髮女士則是詹姆斯的爸媽，詹姆斯的眼睛和他媽媽很像。
我走向他們時，能聽見詹姆斯的爸媽說著「你怎麼能把視線從他身上移開？」還有「你怎麼會以為狗比我們的兒子還重要？」之類的話。同時，那隻狗一直吠個不停。
我一走到他們旁邊，便說：「既然尚未釐清案件的全部事實，現在責怪任何人都是不明智的。」
花生的手突然摀住我的嘴巴。我轉過身去看，發現他邊朝我們走來邊伸長手臂。
「他的意思是，很遺憾你們的兒子失蹤了，他希望他很快就能平安無事的被找到。」花生說。
「這幾乎就像詹姆斯打造的那個東西……」詹姆斯的媽媽邊說邊盯著花生看。
我把花生的手從嘴巴上撥開，然後說：「你們家非常有錢，你們有收到任何的贖金勒索信，或要錢的電話嗎？」
「這個無禮的男孩是誰？」詹姆斯的爸爸說。他是個高大且器宇不凡的男人，儘管太陽穴邊的頭髮已經轉灰，但他看起來仍像能毫不費力的做一百個伏地挺身的樣子。
「我為我兒子致歉。」媽媽趕上我們說：「他並不總是知道什麼時候該停止當個偵探。」
「沒關係。」詹姆斯的媽媽說，以一隻纖細的手抹了抹自己的臉，她臉上的妝花得一塌糊塗，「而且他說得沒錯，我們不該對艾瑪大吼，這真的不是她的錯。從詹姆斯還是嬰兒開始，她就把他照顧得很好。」
詹姆斯的爸爸聽到這番話，好像洩了氣似的，突然坐了下來。
「我們從倫敦搬到新加坡以後，我們的兒子就一直很痛苦。」他說：「對了，我是亨利．莫，這是我太太珍。」珍阿姨對我們點點頭。
「確實如此。」艾瑪阿姨邊吸鼻子邊說，還一邊試圖讓狗待在她的腿上。她看起來比詹姆斯的媽媽稍微年輕一點。「他非常寶貝每件從倫敦帶來的東西，彷彿它們是他與之前的人生唯一的連結似的。他甚至不讓我丟掉他的舊雜誌。」
「我已經害怕他會離家出走好一陣子了。」珍阿姨說，迴避所有人的目光，「我之前就應該做些什麼了，但我們一直都很忙。」
「他有留下任何紙條嗎？」我問。
「沒有。」珍阿姨說：「如果是那種情況，我們會立刻告訴警方。」
「還有一個問題。」我說：「艾瑪阿姨，狗是怎麼從你身邊跑掉的呢？」
「牽繩不知為何突然斷掉，賽巴斯欽就追著一隻猴子跑走了。」她說：「我知道臘腸犬跑得不算快，但你看得出來牠很容易興奮，而且速度也快到當我終於追上牠時，詹姆斯人已經不見了。」
我向艾瑪阿姨、亨利叔叔還有珍阿姨致謝，也為我先前的行為道歉。爸爸媽媽留下來安慰他們，宵夜幫和我則往前走得更遠一些，遠離大人。
「我覺得叔叔阿姨好可憐，」納札爾說：「我希望我們能以某種方式來幫助他們。」
「我們當然會幫助他們啦！」我說。
「你這是什麼意思？」溫蒂問，「希瓦警官說我們不可以呀！」
「不，他是說我們不能妨礙他們。」我說。
「所以你打算怎麼做？」伊萊莎問。她瞇起雙眼、環抱起手臂。
我露出微笑，「我們要做夏洛克山姆和宵夜幫一直都在做的事——」
「逃離你放的屁？」
「不對，」我瞪著花生說：「是調查！」
Chapter Three
“Are you treating this as a missing person or a kidnapping?” I asked. “Or something else?”
“We’re treating it as a missing persons case involving a minor,” Officer Siva replied.
“So you haven’t received any ransom notes or anything?”
Officer Siva waved his hand in my direction. “I can’t talk about that, Sherlock. All I can say is that we’re assisting the park rangers in the search for James Mok.”
“We’re not the press, Officer Siva,” Eliza said. “I had hoped we had earned a bit more professional courtesy as consultants.”
We all stared at Eliza. She was right, of course, but I probably wouldn’t have phrased it as confrontationally.
“Like I said, Eliza, as great as I think you kids are, my hands are tied in this matter,” Officer Siva said. “And I can’t imagine what would happen if any of you kids went missing too.”
One of the park rangers called for Officer Siva, and he quickly excused himself and left.
“I guess that’s that kids,” Dad said. “I’m sorry, but I think you’re going to have to sit this one out.”
“Not so fast, Dad,” I said. I noticed a middle-aged Chinese man and a lady with blonde hair yelling at another lady who had light brown hair. The lady with brown hair was seated on a park bench, crying. She was holding a very excited dachshund in her arms that was straining to run free. I deduced she was James’ nanny and the dachshund was the dog that had gotten away when James went missing. The Chinese man and the lady with blonde hair were James’ parents. He had his mother’s eyes.
As I walked towards them, I could hear James’ parents saying things like, “How could you take your eyes off him?” and “Why would you think the dog was more important than our son?” while the dog barked incessantly.
Once I reached them, I said, “Since the full facts of the case are not yet known, it is illogical to place any blame on anybody as of yet.”
Watson’s hand suddenly covered my mouth. I turned to look and realised he had stretched out his arm as he walked towards us.
“What-he-meant-to-say-was-that-he-was-sorry-your-son-has-gone-missing-and-he-hopes-he-is-found-soon-safe-and-sound,” Watson said.
“It’s almost like that thing James has been building…” James’ mother said as she stared at Watson.
I removed Watson’s hand from my mouth and said, “Your family is very wealthy. Have you received any ransom notes or any calls asking for money?”
“Who is this impertinent boy?” James’ father said. He was a tall and imposing man. His hair was graying at the temples, but he still looked like he could do a hundred push-ups without breaking a sweat.
“I’m very sorry about my son,” Mom said, catching up to us. “He doesn’t always know when to stop being a detective.”
“It’s okay,” James’ mother said, as she rubbed a slender hand across her face. Her make-up was badly smudged. “And he’s right, we shouldn’t be yelling at Emma. It truly wasn’t her fault. She’s taken excellent care of James ever since he was a baby.”
James’ father seemed to deflate when he heard that and abruptly sat down.
“Our boy’s been miserable since we moved from London to Singapore,” he said. “By the way, my name is Henry Mok and this is my wife, Jane.” Auntie Jane nodded at us.
“It’s true,” Auntie Emma said in between sniff les and trying to keep the dog on her lap. She appeared to be slightly younger than James’ mom. “He prizes everything he brought with him from London, as if they’re the only connections he has to his previous life. He won’t even let me throw away his old magazines.”
“I’ve been afraid he would run away for some time now,” Auntie Jane said, avoiding everyone’s eyes. “I should have done something, but we’ve been so busy.”
“Did he leave a note of any kind?” I asked.
“No,” Auntie Jane said. “We would have told the police immediately if that were the case.”
“One more question,” I said. “How did the dog get away from you, Auntie Emma?”
“The leash somehow suddenly snapped and Sebastian ran off after a monkey,” she said. “Dachshunds aren’t very fast, I know, but as you can tell he’s very excitable and he was fast enough that when I finally caught up to him, James was gone.”
I thanked Auntie Emma, Uncle Henry and Auntie Jane, and I apologised for my earlier behaviour. Mom and Dad stayed behind to console them as the Supper Club and I moved a little further away from the grown-ups.
“I feel so sorry for Uncle and Auntie,” Nazhar said. “I wish we could help them somehow.”
“Of course we’ll help them,” I said.
“What do you mean?” Wendy asked. “Officer Siva said we can’t.”
“No, he said we can’t get in their way,” I said.
“So what are you going to do?” Eliza asked. Her eyes were narrowed and her arms were crossed.
I smiled. “We’re going to do what Sherlock Sam and the Supper Club always do— ”
“Run-away-from-your-flatulence?”
“No,” I said, glaring at Watson. “Investigate!”
