This first book in the series finds Abby Jones and her pal, Potsie, squeezing into windows, sneaking onto subways and slithering into empty apartments, as they try to solve the mystery of the missing Hyacinth Macaw.

Junior sleuth Abby Jones can't believe her good luck when she stumbles onto a hot clue that could lead to the perfect crime. Together with her pal Potsie, she begins a search for someone named Cindy, who's in danger of falling victim to the mysterious Loretta P. Sweeny on the Fourth of July. Though the tricky trail finds them under the boardwalk, tripping over a mummy, and hiding in a deserted theatre - there's still no trace of Cindy. Will Loretta P. Sweeny beat Abby to a bang-up ending?

Young detective Abby Jones catches several of her neighbors acting suspiciously as she pursues two interlocking cases of a runaway and a possibly dangerous spy.