The Case of the Etruscan Treasure

Andrew and Sara can never escape a mystery—not even in New York City

Verna Tillet’s new play is taking the American stage by storm, and that means young investigators Andrew Tillet and Sara Wiggins have traded London carriage rides for the rattling excitement of New York City’s elevated railway. Affectionately known as the El, it stretches from the Bronx to the tip of the Battery and shows them a whole slice of vibrant city life.
 
All that’s missing is their friend Inspector Peter Wyatt, who’s about to arrive for what he says is a simple holiday. But when a crane load of cargo nearly flattens Andrew and Sara at the docks, it looks like someone in New York has other plans for them.  

Born in New York City, Robert Newman (1909–1988) was among the pioneers of early radio and was chief writer for the Inner Sanctum Mysteries and Murder at Midnight—forerunners of The Twilight Zone that remain cult favorites to this day. In 1944 Newman was put in charge of the radio campaign to reelect Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was also one of the founding members of the Radio Writers Guild, which became the Writers Guild of America.

In 1973 Newman began writing books for children, most notably the Andrew Tillet, Sara Wiggins & Inspector Wyatt mysteries. The series takes place in Victorian London and follows the adventures of two teenage amateur detectives who begin as Baker Street Irregulars. Newman has also written books of fantasy, among them Merlin’s Mistake and The Testing of Tertius. His books based on myths and folklore include Grettirthe Strong, and he has published two adult novels.

Newman was married to the writer Dorothy Crayder. Their daughter, Hila Feil, has also published novels for children and young adults. Newman lived his last days in Stonington, Connecticut.