1. The Case of the Missing Message − Classical Junior Novel (188 pages)

Year: 1959 / Author: Charles Spain Verral / Internal Artist: Hamilton Greene /
Cover Artist: Paul Nonnast

The Kangeroos have escaped! This secret code message spells trouble for Brains Benton and Jimmy Carson and leads them down a trail that involves a circus clown, a real live performing elephant, a fortune-teller, a tight-rope walker, and a very pesky parrot. All clues seem to point toward a secret message which could bring the boys' new friend Skeets Fenton into his proper inheritance, and unmask the villains as well!

Editions: Golden Press (w/DJ) / Golden Press (Picture cover) / Whitman (Wide) / Whitman (Narrow) / Goldencraft Library Binding * / Golden Griffon Paperback / British / French / German / German (Frank Milford) / Italian / Swedish / Finnish / Norwegian & Danish

* − Cover scan appears by courtesy of Seth T. Smolinske.

Internal Artwork Galleries: Hamilton Greene / Jacques Pecnard

Note: This story originally had a working title of The Case of the Twisted Ear.

2. The Case of the Counterfeit Coin − Classical Junior Novel (188 pages)

Year: 1960 / Author: George Wyatt / Internal Artist: Hamilton Greene

The ingenious teenage sleuths, Barclay "Brains" Benton and Jimmy "Operative Three" Carson match wits with a ring of rare-coin counterfeiters and track them to their secret hideout in the woods. The result: a swiftly-paced tale, packed with chills, chuckles, and suspense.

Internal Artwork Galleries: Hamilton Greene / Jacques Pecnard

Editions: Golden Press (Picture cover) / Whitman (Wide) / Whitman (Narrow) / Golden Griffon Paperback / French / German / German (Frank Milford) / Italian / Swedish / Finnish / Norwegian / Danish

3. The Case of the Stolen Dummy − Classical Junior Novel (186 pages)

Year: 1961 / Author: George Wyatt / Internal Artist: Walter Dey

Young Brains Benton and his pal Jimmy Carson take on a case that has baffled the police. Five thousand dollars, collected in the community to build a summer camp for youngsters, have disappeared without a trace. Before Brains and Jimmy solve the crime, they are plunged into a whirlwind of excitement and suspense, climaxed by a wild chase in a racing car.

Internal Artwork Galleries: Walter Dey / Jacques Pecnard

Editions: Golden Press (Picture cover) / Whitman (Wide) / Whitman (Narrow) / French / Italian / Swedish / Norwegian & Danish

4. The Case of the Roving Rolls − Classical Junior Novel (186 pages)

Year: 1961 / Author: George Wyatt / Internal Artist: Al Schmidt

When a snow-white vintage Rolls-Royce chases Jimmy Carson down the driveway of the Willoughby estate all by itself - well, as Jimmy would say, "Creeps!" But that's only the beginning: a strange hit-and-run accident, two quarts of sour cream and a missing moustache start the incomparable Brains and his partner Jimmy off on a truly international mystery as a kingdom hangs in the balance.

Internal Artwork Galleries: Al Schmidt / Jacques Pecnard

Editions: Golden Press (Picture cover) / Whitman (Narrow) / French / German / Italian / Swedish / Finnish / Norwegian & Danish

5. The Case of the Waltzing Mouse − Classical Junior Novel (187 pages)

Year: 1961 / Author: George Wyatt / Internal Artist: Al Schmidt

Gustave von Maltzbenden's pet mouse Xenophon can waltz. This is not strange because Gustave is an animal trainer. What does seem strange to Brains Benton and Jimmy Carson is that Gustave and Xenophon have disappeared, leaving behind a trailerful of hungry animals, a fortune in bills where only a skindiver could find it, and enough clues to send the members of Benton and Carson International Detective Agency on the wildest boat ride of their young lives.

Internal Artwork Galleries: Al Schmidt / Beniamino Bodini

Editions: Golden Press (Picture cover) / Whitman (Narrow) / French / German / Italian / Swedish / Finnish / Norwegian & Danish

6. The Case of the Painted Dragon − Classical Junior Novel (185 pages)

Year: 1961 / Author: George Wyatt / Internal Artist: Hamilton Greene

A moving statue, a suddenly empty swimming pool, a terrifying painted dragon - all clues proclaim this the most difficult and dangerous case Barclay ("Brains") Benton and Jimmy ("Operative Three") Carson have ever handled. The young detectives and their friend Mikko soon discover that the villains are the deadly variety, who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Internal Artwork Galleries: Hamilton Greene / Beniamino Bodini

Editions: Golden Press (Picture cover) / Whitman (Narrow) / French / German / Italian / Swedish / Norwegian & Danish

1. The Case of the Carrier Pigeon − Junior Novel (207 pages)

Year: 2008 / Author: Charles E. Morgan, III / Artist: Shannon Stirnweis

While on a bicycle ride, Brains Benton (X), and his partner Jimmy Carson (Operative Three), find a wounded homing pigeon. The message that the bird was carrying is missing! The Benton and Carson International Detective Agency fly into action, and find themselves up to their eyeballs in trouble!

Internal Artwork Gallery: Shannon Stirnweis

Buy! Hardbound Edition with dust-jacket / Paperback Edition.

Note: This story is a sequel to Painted Dragon, and is based upon the discovery of a wounded pigeon by Brains and Jimmy at the very end of that novel.

2. The Case of the Lost Loot − Junior Novel (213 pages)

Year: 2008 / Author: Charles E. Morgan, III / Artist: Shannon Stirnweis

A millionaire's mansion was burglarized decades ago and the loot never recovered. An old deed may hold the clue to where the over quarter of a million dollars is hidden. Brains Benton (X), and his partner Jimmy Carson (Operative Three), get involved in the case, and they soon find themselves up to their necks in danger and intrigue.

Internal Artwork Gallery: Shannon Stirnweis

Buy! Hardbound Edition with dust-jacket / Paperback Edition.

3. Christmas Eve in Crestwood − Junior Short Story (24 pages)

Year: 2008 / Author: Charles E. Morgan, III / Internal Artist: Shannon Stirnweis
(Cover of unknown origin)

It's a snowy Christmas Eve in Crestwood. But Brains Benton (X), and his partner Jimmy Carson (Operative Three), think that there is something amiss at the church. It is a Brains Benton adventure that captures the spirit of Christmas.

Internal Artwork Gallery: Shannon Stirnweis

Buy! Hardbound Edition with dust-jacket / Golden Rods at Twilight.

Note: This story was also briefly available in a limited and numbered Softcover Edition, produced by printer and typographer Tim Trower in 2007.

4. The Case of the Stolen Jewelry − Junior Novel (189 pages)

Year: 2009 / Author: Charles E. Morgan, III / Artist: Shannon Stirnweis

While collecting soda pop bottles, Jimmy Carson (Operative Three) makes a startling discovery. There are stolen diamonds hidden inside a bottle! When he reports his find to Brains (X), the Benton and Carson International Detective Agency swings into high gear. Trying to find the jewel thieves leads them on a journey fraught with mystery and danger. Run-ins with a gang of juvenile delinquents lead to some hair-raising trouble!

Internal Artwork Gallery: Shannon Stirnweis

Buy! Hardbound Edition with dust-jacket / Paperback Edition.

5. The Case of the Missing Friend − Adult Novella (104 pages)

Year: 2009 / Author: Charles E. Morgan, III / Artist: None

Two friends have been separated by the years. When Jimmy Carson returns to Crestwood for a visit, he wonders what has happened to his best friend in the world, Barclay "Brains" Benton. Ultimately, this novella tells the story of the two former childhood detectives who unite to solve a mystery that has its roots in a case that transpired over twenty years earlier.

Buy! Paperback Edition.

6. Autumn Fires − Junior Short Story (20 pages)

Year: 2010 / Author: Charles E. Morgan, III / Artist: Shannon Stirnweis

This new short story by Charles Morgan is written in the classic Brains Benton tradition! Currently only available as part of the short story collection, Golden Rods at Twilight, Autumn Fires will be released in a standalone hardback edition in 2010.

Buy! Golden Rods at Twilight.

Note: Next year, this story will be briefly available in a limited and numbered softcover edition, produced by printer and typographer Tim Trower.

1. The Case of the Wounded Pigeon − Junior Novel (194 pages)

Year: 2008 / Author: Fred Rexroad / Internal Artist: Susan Rexroad

It's Spring. It's Saturday. School is out in two weeks. Life is good. Jimmy Carson and his best friend Brains Benton are on a leisurely bike ride when they find an injured bird under a tree. The bird happens to be a carrier pigeon wounded by a shotgun. The pigeon is also carrying a mysterious coded message! The Benton and Carson International Detective Agency is back with a new case to solve.

Buy! Paperback Edition.

Note: This story builds a mystery around the events in the closing chapter of Painted Dragon.

2. The Case of the Devious Mastermind − Junior College-Based Novel

Year: TO BE ANNOUNCED / Author: Mark Coomer / Artist: Unknown

Formerly known as The Case of the Escaping Kangaroos, this adventure follows the exploits of Brains and Jimmy in College, where they meet the Three Investigators − Jupe, Pete and Bob − who are still juniors in high school.

Tentatively planned to have a proper release, this story is currently freely available to read in the Brains Benton Yahoo Group.

3. The Case of the Sultan's Skull − Adult Novel

Year: TO BE ANNOUNCED / Author: Mark Coomer / Artist: Unknown

This feature-length story takes place in 2003, when Brains and Jimmy are in their mid-50s.

Also tentatively planned to have a proper release, this story is currently freely available to read in the Brains Benton Yahoo Group.