The Purple Bird Mystery — Ellery Queen Jr.

At the local golf course, Djuna discovers a century-old mystery

It's the first day of summer, and the brilliant teenage sleuth Djuna is looking for a job when he meets a young boy named Jimmy, whose father is the new golf pro at the country club. While Jimmy and his dad are moving into the clubhouse, the movers drop an antique chest. When Djuna's dog, Champ, picks up a piece of the shattered wood in his mouth, they see that it has writing on it. The letters spell purp, and they are the first clue in the most dangerous mystery of Djuna's career.
 
The chest is a century old, and the mystery stretches back to the life of Jimmy's great-great-grandfather. The dangers of the purple bird are not to be underestimated. Getting through this adventure alive will prove just as tricky as a hole in one.
 
Ellery Queen is one of the world's finest detectives, but his adventures are nothing compared to the Ellery Queen Jr. Mystery Stories. Join Queen's apprentice, Djuna, and his trusty Scottie, Champ, on adventures filled with danger, suspense, and thrills.
 
The Purple Bird Mystery is the ninth book in the Ellery Queen Jr. Mystery Stories, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.