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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ONE OUT AND WON BACK

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Testimonials

Hear what the readers say.

This fast-paced adventure pulls you straight into the tension of the Australian bush, blending mystery, danger, and emotional depth with ease. Jeremy and Melissa’s uneasy holiday quickly turns into a fight for survival as they uncover dark secrets surrounding their uncle and the unforgiving world of harness racing. The atmosphere is sharp and immersive, the suspense builds steadily, and the sense of isolation keeps you turning pages. Written with grit and compassion, Arnold van der Vegt delivers a compelling story of courage, truth, and resilience that lingers long after the final chapter.

One Out – Won Back is a fast-paced, suspenseful ride packed with mystery, danger, and heart. Set against the gritty world of harness racing in the Australian bush, the story pulls you in with sharp characters, dark secrets, and nonstop tension. Arnold van der Vegt delivers an exciting, emotionally charged adventure that keeps you hooked right to the final page well deserving of its bestseller status.

Great book. The story is very interesting and I will recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story that anyone can relate to and that enjoys a little mystery as well.

Jeremy and Melissa are spending time with their uncle at his farm. They walk into a town that is full of whispers about their uncle. They are now determined to share the truth and end the rumors. This has great adventure and a lot of depth for a young adult novel. The illustrations are excellent and complement the story beautifully.

Ed lost his wife and job and his life has been a mess ever since. He tried to get a job and kept getting a rejection. He finally decides to send his children Jeremy and Melissa to his brother, Jack’s place. This is where this interesting book kicks off. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a very enjoyable book and very hard to put down. It is written for younger readers, but as an older person, I still loved reading it.

Family, friendships, and fierce competition; enter the world of Jack as he navigates the life of a horse racer while also navigating family responsibilities and his minimal friendships.

There was something unique about this book, starting with the title, One Out and Won Back. At first, I thought it was strange, but once I began reading, the plot twists quickly drew me in. Jeremy and Melissa, siblings dealing with an alcoholic father and the loss of their mother, are sent to their Uncle Jack’s place. Rumors paint Jack as a bad man, especially when Ella said her dad said Jack is a cheat, and Melissa’s injury during a horse incident adds to the book's enjoyment and tension.

I initially assumed the story would be about an abusive uncle, but it turned in unexpected ways that kept me hooked until the last page. I love how the story portrayed the importance of family bonds.

What I loved most was the bravery of the siblings especially when they outsmarted characters I didn't expect they would and the reminder of how important family truly is. The characters fit their roles beautifully, from Melissa’s humorous bond with Ella to Jack’s touching relationship with Sally.

Though I noticed some minor editing issues which were issues with the incorrect use of hyphenation, they didn’t affect my enjoyment in any way. This book was entertaining, heartwarming, and meaningful, an epic read for me, which I think it'll be epic for both young adults and older readers. I highly recommend it.

If I were to give the author some tips to improve the story, I would have said to relay to the children who they are and why so many people want to snag him. Another way to deepen the story is to give more background or flashbacks between the grown brothers. This character line was one area that I felt was present but not as strong as it could have been. I did enjoy several of the other character arcs in the story, and I appreciated the way that even if there was a "love interest," the author kept things PG. Often, I have to read books before my eleven-year-old in order to make sure she won't read something that is against our family values.

The author helps their readers visualize everything that is taking place in the story by the way that they utilize adjectives and descriptive phrasing. A poignant example of this states, "despite being filled with fright, he wore a mask of calmness". Who was frightened? Who was pretending to be calm? Why were they pretending to be calm? Answer these questions and more by reading this story!

Such a wholesome story filled with friendships and intrigue. Grab a copy for yourself or a young person that you know. They are sure to enjoy this fun read by Arnold van der Vegt.

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