The Tom and Liz Austen Encyclopedia

The Books

Escape From Big Muddy

Former Death Machine biker Billy Bones grabs Liz Austen's arm and whispers: "The password . . . is . . . NOEL. Remember it!"
Remember it? How could she forget?? That one word launches an unforgettable road trip across Saskatchewan aboard the Manana Banana and plunges Liz and her Metis friend, Marie, into a deadly world of kidnapping, international smuggling, and biker gangs with murder on their minds. The question is: will the girls elude the bikers' clutches and escape the dangers of Big Muddy?

The Prairie Dog Conspiracy

During a long, cold winter in his home town, young Tom Austen stumbles across some strange activity in an abandoned house. Through the snowy streets of Winnipeg, aboard the historic "Prairie Dog Central" and during a Ski-Doo chase beneath the Northern Lights, Tom unravels the secret of "The Golden Child" and in the process realizes that the safety of one of his friends depends on him.

The Case of the Golden Boy

An investigation into the kidnapping of his schoolmate leads young Tom Austen to the seedy Golden Boy Cafe and an unexpected encounter with a desperate criminal. After getting one step too close to the kidnappers, Tom is taken prisoner and needs all his wits to survive.

Terror in Winnipeg

There was a stunning blast of sound as a bomb tore apart the gate at the entrance to the home of James Dorchester, one of Winnipeg's wealthiest industrialists. Tom Austen stared unbelievingly as masked men with guns ran silently through the opening where the gate had once stood. Before he could recover his wits, Tom found himself and Dianne Dorchester being dragged toward a waiting van.
Dianne has been kidnapped by a group of terrorists called DEMON. They demand a ransom for her that James Dorchester should close down his new heavy-water plant at Monarch, which they claim is in danger of polluting the countryside and threatening the local population with a leak of deadly gas. Behind their bogus concern for the environment, DEMON's real aims are much sinister. Tom is horrified when he discovers them, but how can he make the authorities believe his story?

The Lost Treasure of Casa Loma

Tom Austen and his sister Liz shiver with excitement when they arrive at Casa Loma, a castle right in the heart of downtown Toronto - one with a mystery to solve and a lost treasure to find. Sir Nigel Brampton, the millionaire owner of Casa Loma, has disappeared, and the police believe he has been kidnapped by thieves who are after the priceless diamonds that lie hidden somewhere in the castle.
Who is behind Sir Nigel's strange disappearance? Is it Smythe, the butler? Or Irene, the pretty maid Tom catches snooping in Sir Nigel's room? And what about the sinister blacksmith in the stables?

Murder on the Canadian

The agonizing sound of a woman's scream hurls Tom Austen into the middle of a murder plot on board the sleek passenger train The Canadian. Who is responsible for the death of lovely Catherine Saks? As Tom investigates the strange collection of travellers who share Car 165, he gets closer and closer to the truth . . . and then without warning, he is suddenly face to face with the killer, and his own life is threatened in the most alarming possible way.

Vancouver Nightmare

A chance meeting with a drug dealer named Spider takes Tom Austen into the grim streets of Vancouver's Skid Road, where he poses as a runaway while searching for information to help the police smash a gang that is hooking young kids on drugs.
Suddenly unmasked as a police agent, Tom is trapped in the nightmarish underworld of Vancouver as the gang closes in, determined to get rid of the young meddler at any cost.

The Ghost of Lunenburg Manor

A fire burning on the sea . . . icy fingers in the night . . . a dog that suddenly won't go near its master's bedroom . . . a host of strange characters with names like Black Dog, Henneyberry, and Roger Eliot-Stanton . . . These are the baffling ingredients of the spine-chilling mystery that begins when Professor Zinck invites Tom and his sister Liz to visit a haunted house.

Disneyland Hostage

On her own during a California holiday, Liz Austen is plunged into the middle of an international plot when a boy named Ramon disappears from his room at the Disneyland Hotel. Has Ramon been taken hostage? Before Liz can answer that question, her own safety is threatened when terrorists strike at the most unlikely possible target: Disneyland itself.

The Kootenay Kidnapper

What is the secret lurking in the ruins of a lonely ghost town in the mountains of British Columbia? Solving this mystery is only one of the challenges facing Tom Austen after he arrives in B.C. with this sidekick, Dietmar Oban, and learns that a young girl has disappeared without a trace. Then a boy is kidnapped, and electrifying events quickly carry Tom to a breathtaking climax deep underground in Cody Caves, where it is forever night . . .

Vampires of Ottawa

Within the walls of a gloomy estate known as Blackwater, Liz Austen discovers the strange world of Baron Nicolai Zaba, a man who lives in constant fear. What is the secret of the ancient chapel's underground vault? Why are the words In Evil Memory scrawled on a wall? Who secretly threatens the Baron?

Spirit in the Rainforest

The rainforest of British Columbia holds many secrets, but none stranger than those of Nearby Island. After hair-raising events during a Pacific storm, Tom and Liz Austen seek answers among the island's looming trees. Alarmed by the ghostly shape of the hermit Mosquito Joe, they look for shelter in a deserted school in the rainforest. Then, in the night, Tom and Liz hear a girl's voice crying, "Beware! Beware!"

The Green Gables Detectives

While visiting the famous farmhouse known as Green Gables, Liz Austen and her friends are swept up in baffling events that lead them from an ancient cemetery to a haunted church, and then to a heart-stopping showdown in a deserted lighthouse as fog swirls across Prince Edward Island.

Code Red at the Supermall

Have you ever visited a shopping mall that has sharks and piranhas, a triple-loop rollercoaster, 22 waterslides, an Ice Palace, submarines, 828 stores and a major mystery to solve? Soon after Tom and Liz Austen arrive at the West Edmonton Mall, a bomber strikes and they must follow a trail that leads through the fabled splendors of the supermall . . . to hidden danger.

The Ice Diamond Quest

Why is a mysterious yacht flashing a signal off the coast of Newfoundland on a cold November evening? Tom and Liz Austen, with their cousins Sarah and Duncan Joy, follow a difficult trail toward the truth. As they search, someone called Hawk and people known as the Renegades cause major problems, but the cousins press on. Then, in the darkness of an abandoned mine and later on stormy seas, they face great danger together.

Cold Midnight in Vieux Quebec

The leaders of the world's superpowers have agreed to meet in Quebec City to put an end to chemical weapons - but powerful forces will stop at nothing to prevent the agreement from being signed. From the first chilling page, Cold Midnight in Vieux Quebec is filled with gripping suspense as Tom Austen and Dietmar Oban explore the ancient, mysterious streets of Vieux Quebec in quest of world peace.

The St. Andrews Werewolf

When Liz Austen lands a role in a summer production of "Annie" in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, she learns that an upcoming vote on the town's future may ruin its charm and tradition. She also meets Emily, who desperately needs a good friend to help her discover her own strength and courage. Liz and her friend Makiko find themselves investigating the legend of the St. Andrews Werewolf, a series of arsons and a mysterious mansion on an island where time has stood still. Most importantly, they learn to search for the truth hidden beneath the surface.

The Inuk Mountie Adventure

What is the sinister conspiracy code-named CanSell, and how does it threaten Canada? Is the nation's handsome Prime Minister really what he seems? The truth is on a micro-cassette that Tom Austen must somehow find before a crucial vote by Canadians on the future of the country. While on a school trip to Gjoa Haven in the high Arctic, Tom unexpectedly learns the cassette might be closer than he thought. Between drum dances and snowmobile chases across the tundra, Tom searches for the cassette and learns a valuable lesson from the Inuit about the futility of violence.

The Emily Carr Mystery

While in Victoria to attend a friend's wedding, Liz meets many mysterious characters. Among the more mysterious are Cambridge, the crying butler; Jean, the quiet maid; the cocky Hart deMornay; and the egotistic Paris deMornay.

The Austen Family

Austen, Bob

Tom and Liz's grandfather on their dad's side. Bob lives in Vancouver B.C. with his wife Eve The summer Tom was 12 they invited him to come for a visit. (Vancouver Nightmare)

Austen, Eve

Tom and Liz's grandmother. Bob's wife. (Vancouver Nightmare)

Austen, Henry

Tom and Liz's uncle. He cme to stay with Tom and Liz while Ted and Judith were in Mexico (The Prairie Dog Conspiracy), then later invited Tom and Liz to come to Casa Loma with him. (The Lost Treasure of Casa Loma)

Austen, Judith McCracken

Tom and Liz's mother. Wife to Ted. Judith's occupation is lawyer.
Her maiden name was never mentioned in the stories. I got the name directly from Eric.

Austen, Elizabeth (Liz) Kean

A fiesty young detective with dark hair and dark eyes. Highly superstitious.
The "co-star" as far as I am concerned. Tom has had more cases.

Austen, Ted

Tom and Liz's father. An officer on the Winnipeg City Police.
A picture in The Case of the Golden Boy implies that Mr. Austen wears glasses, but personally I don't think he does.

Austen, Tom

A young red haired detective who has solved 13 cases. Tom had his first case when he was 11 years old. Tom also enjoys reading Hardy Boys' books and playing hockey.
The star of the series.
Something tells me that when Liz has 13 cases, she'll be in a real hurry to get another one.

Other People

Bennett, Tom

A student in Mr. Stones' class.
Also, in real life, a former member of the Eric Wilson Mystery Club.

Bones, Billy

Computer genius and former member of the Death Machine biker gang. Billy was the rebel son of movie star Winter Leigh. Billy was refered to as being enigmatic by Aunt Melody.

Chong, Stephen

A student in Mr. Stones' class.

Dhaliwal, Amardeep

A student in Mr. Stones' class.

Dorchester, Dianne

A friend of Tom Austen. Dianne has been kidnaped 3 times.

Dorchester, James

Dianne's dad.

Hayes, Brittney

A student in Mr. Stones' class.

Husband, Doris

George's wife

Husband, George

The owner of Benbow Farm.

Kennedy, Charity

A friend of Tom Austen.

Kennedy, Donald

Charity's 4-year old brother.

Kennedy, Walt

Charity and Donald's Dad. Walt was falsely accused of kidnapping during Tom's first case. (The Prairie Dog Conspiracy)

Larson, Officer Oliver

A grumpy police officer.
His first named was never mentioned in the stories. I got the name directly from Eric.

Leigh, Winter

A famous American movie star. She was the owner of the Sacred Egyitian Cat when it was stolen
In real life Winter Leigh is a freind of Eric's

Leung, Alice

In a possible future, Liz Austen's number one fan.
In an early draft of Escape From Big Muddy, Alice's last name was Chan.
Her comment about a project for the Austen channel seems to imply that she is at least actively involved if not in charge of the Austen channel.

Lewis, Byron Xavier

A kidnapper who pretended to be a reporter so he could get information from Tom.

Nicholson, William

The principal of Queenston School.

Symons, Melody

Sister to Judith and aunt to Tom, Liz, Duncan, Sarah and Samantha. She and Liz traveled together to Saskatchewan and to California.

Places

Benbow Farm

A vacation ranch near Wawota, Saskatchewan. Liz and her Aunt Melody were on their way to Benbow Farm when they met Billy Bones. The ranch was twelve hundred acres and featured horseback riding among it's many activities. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Elkhorn

A small town in Saskatchewan. Billy Bones got off the Greyhound bus in Elkhorn even though he had a ticket to Regina. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Moosomin

A small town in Saskatchewan. Liz and her Aunt Melody got off the Greyhound bus in Moosomin on their way to Benbow Farm. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Ottawa

Canada's national capital. Liz once visited Ottawa when she represented Manitoba in the National Public Speaking Contest for schools. (Vampires Of Ottawa)
Ottawa is also Eric Wilson's birthplace.

Regina

The provincial capital of Saskatchewan.
Billy Bones bought a Greyhound ticket to Regina, but got off the bus at Elkhorn. Aunt Melody's cousin Squire lived in Regina. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Saskatchewan

A province of Canada known for the production of wheat and grain. Saskatchewan joined Confederation along with Alberta in 1905.

Wawota

A small town in Saskatchewan. Wawota means "deep snow".

Misc.

Austen Associates

In a possible future, a Winnipeg based detective agency run by Tom and Liz Austen. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Big Muddy Express

A powerful tornado that appears frequently in the badlands of southern Saskatchewan

Channels

This is a list of futuristic channels sen in the possible future as outlined in Escape From Big Muddy.

Austen Channel

A channel featuring information about Tom and Liz Austen's career.

News channel

A network that concentrates specifically on news.

Death Machine

An American biker gang. For a while, Billy Bones was a member of the gang until he ran away to Canada. The gang was led by a man named Blind Pew until he was killed by a blonde woman. The blonde woman then took over the gang. Another man known as Tarantula was also a member of the gang. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Enigmatic

A word meaning perplexing or mysterious. Aunt Melody used this word in refference to Billy Bones.(Escape From Big Muddy)

Greyhound

The name of a North American bus line. The term can also refer to the bus itself. At the start of her first case, Liz was travelling by Greyhound from Manitoba to Saskatchewan with her aunt. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Nancy Drew mysteries

Mystery stories for girls. Aunt Melody read Nancy Drew mysteries when she was younger. (Escape From Big Muddy)

Sacred Egyptian Cat, The

A valuable statue owned by the famous movie star Winter Leigh. The statue was solid gold and had jewels around the collar. The jewels alone were worth a fortune.

Secret Of Happiness, The

A book owned by Billy Bones. Billy later gave the book, his only posession, to Liz just before he died. Liz later discovered that the book was hollow and contained a computer disk. (Escape From Big Muddy)

SuperBrain-987

In a possible future, a powerful computer used by the Canadian government. This computer would recieve votes on various issues, tally the votes, and send the results to the News Channel.(Escape From Big Muddy)