Arnold Van Der Vegt

ONE OUT AND WON BACK

A MYSTERY AT PLYBORN FARM

Book 1 of A Jeremy and Melissa Mystery Adventure

It’s December of ’93, and Jeremy and Melissa are excited to spend their holidays at their elusive Uncle Jack’s farm for the very first time. However, on arrival, they soon suspect he does not want them there; he is rude, dismissive, and secretive. Not to mention scruffy and disreputable. They uncover their uncle’s guilt for drugging a harness horse. The town folk treat him with disdain, and trouble ensues.

Isolated, the children attempt to put the pieces together to clear their uncle’s name and solve this puzzle. Instead, they find themselves trapped in a tangled web of unsavoury characters, threats, and risks that endanger their existence.
This fast-paced adventure weaves mystery, excitement, and fear in the remote Australian bush against a background of harness racing, shady dealings, and ultimate revenge.

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MOY CONSPIRACY

Beresford Hadley wants to be left alone but allegedly protects a suspected drug grower. With the motive unknown, the recluse becomes a person of interest in aiding and abetting a serious crime.

Hadley’s nemesis, Detective Inspector Curt Vorster, desperately wants his quarry behind bars. In his zeal, he oversteps his bounds, even using a bushfire at Hadley’s remote retreat to his advantage. Yet the man continues to defy the police and their investigations.

Admonished by his superiors, the Inspector plays his ace by assigning Detective Sergeant Kath Stenfell as an undercover agent to unravel the truth. Stenfell is not only unprepared for the corruption, violence and bloodshed but also becomes the target of a hired sadomasochist.

The murder of an officer on surveillance duty exposes further links to Hadley. The only viable solution is to remove the man’s threat swiftly and permanently. But Hadley is an ex-SAS operative…

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HOOKED ON TROUBLE

AN EXCITING SEQUEL TO ONE OUT AND WON BACK

Book 2 of A Jeremy and Melissa Mystery Adventure

It’s January 1994, near the end of the annual school holidays. Jeremy and his mate Brett incur the anger of a thug, who forcefully removes them from a pier where they have fished for the last two years. They lose their fishing gear. In an attempt to retrieve the gear, Jeremy and his sister melissa become embroiled in a whisky heist. Their snooping brings retribution from the thug’s gang, who implicate the children’s dad in the crime. Forced to clear their father’s name while he languishes in the police lockup, the siblings battle impossible odds, including hostilities from their neighbours, a disgruntled sergeant detective, bushfires, unwarranted interest from the child protection unit and a ruthless gang. Resolution eludes the siblings. Perseverance and numbers are their only weapons. Have they come up against an unsolvable case? All the favorite characters from ‘One Out and Won Back’ feature in this exciting sequel.

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Meet

ARNOLD VAN DER VEGT

Arnold van der Vegt is a passionate author with a lifelong love for literature, particularly mystery and adventure novels. His literary journey began in his early years when he was captivated by the thrill of mysterious landscapes, heroic characters, and cunning villains, all woven together in exciting adventures. This early passion for storytelling became integral to his youth and education, shaping his future as an author.

Born in Holland, Arnold immigrated to Australia in 1952, accompanied by his parents. His early years in Australia were marked by exploration and travel up the Eastern seaboard, laying the foundation for his adventurous spirit. Throughout his life, Arnold’s career took him across the globe, both as a member of the armed services and in civilian life. He often found himself in remote, uncharted territories, far from the typical tourist destinations.

Notably, Arnold left Benghazi just three weeks before the infamous attack on the American Embassy, an experience that further broadened his horizons and deepened his passion for adventure. He explored diverse regions of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia, amassing a treasure trove of experiences and stories waiting to be shared.