Matthew Zisi

If you’re looking for thrilling children’s mysteries, then Matthew Zisi is the author for you! Zisi’s mysteries, at a reading level comparable to the Hardy Boys series, are sure to keep readers interested, guessing, and on the edge of their seat! In writing, Zisi strives to avoid some of the flaws with other great children’s series of the past. His characters tend to be about twelve years old, more relatable to the reading audience than ones who are about eighteen (like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew). Unlike the Hardy Boys, his characters don’t get caught at the end of every adventure and have to wait around for their friends to come rescue them. Unlike the Boxcar Children or Bobbsey Twins, his characters actually face dangerous situations, and there is a very real fear that they might not come out alive at the end of it—allowing for a more exciting story! Villains don’t always escape at the end and pop up in the next story, the characters focus on the mystery and don’t waste half the book trying to get over a stupid argument with their friends, and there’s none of those stupid boyfriend-girlfriend plots that children could care less about! Just intriguing, exciting mysteries, solved by normal kids that have a strong sense of justice and a resolve never to give up!

Though most of his stories are targeted at children, Zisi strives to create stories that the whole family will enjoy. Unlike a lot of stories today, Zisi keeps his free of cussing, suggestive content, political indoctrination, and other sorts of vulgarity that tend to muck up an otherwise good story. Maintaining excitement through suspense, laughs through good clean humor, and intrigue through crazy plot twists (sometimes) that rival Agatha Christie for the “what just happened” effect, Zisi produces a family friendly product that’s not boring.

Most of Zisi’s stories are set right on location. The Anderson Family Mystery Series is based out of Norman, Oklahoma, and many of the Anderson’s adventures take place in that state—though they travel quite a bit. Visitors to the many cities and towns mentioned can see the actual locations in the books, from landmarks as iconic as the Oklahoma City Dodgers’ stadium to the little things like the Braum’s in Blackwell or the Clarion in Tulsa. The recognizable nature of the stories is sure to thrill readers in Oklahoma or wherever each book is set!

Zisi’s influences probably come from the many other fine stories he has enjoyed over the years. An avid movie watcher, he is particularly fond of 1940s and 1950s detective films, as well as Westerns. He is also a big fan of Old Time Radio and has heard many episodes of The Adventures of Sam Spade, The Adventures of Philip Marlowe, Boston Blackie, Philo Vance, Johnny Dollar, and a host of other fine radio detectives. He is also an avid reader—some of his favorite authors and series are these:

• The Hardy Boys Series, by Franklin W. Dixon

• The Nancy Drew Series, by Carolyn Keene

• The Sherlock Holmes Stories, by Arthur Conan Doyle

• The Daring Adventure Series, by Peter Reese Doyle

• The Sherlock Jones Series by Ed Dunlop, which Zisi regrets only totals 3 books.

• Agatha Christie

• The Hank the Cowdog Series, by John R. Erickson

• The Boxcar Children Series, by Gertrude Chandler Warner

• The Young Underground Series, by Robert Elmer

• The Bloodhounds Inc. Series by Bill Myers

• The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle Series by Bill Myers

• The Accidental Detectives Series by Sigmund Brouwer

• The Adventures of the Northwoods Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson

• The Rick Brant Adventure Series by John Blaine

• The Trixie Belden Series by Julie Campbell Tatham, and later Kathryn Kenny

• The Cascade Mountain Railroad Mysteries by Anne Capeci

• The Black Stallion Series by Walter Farley

• Louis L’amour

• Max Brand

• Peter Field

• Roald Dahl

• The Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum

• The Pals in Peril Tales by M.T. Anderson

• Enid Blyton, who Zisi regrets not having read more of.

A native of Maryland (the best state in the U.S.) Zisi is an avid fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Baltimore Ravens. He also enjoys hockey and NASCAR, as well as other forms of auto racing. Zisi collects sports cards and thoroughly enjoys going to baseball and hockey games. He is also an accomplished pianist, and he writes his own music. Zisi loves trains and enjoys watching them, riding them, and photographing them, as well as playing with his model railroad set.