Padam The Mystery of the Missing Jewels - Phia Damsma

The Padam detective stories invite young readers to travel with Monsieur Padam, Thomas, Australian Elisa, and clever dog Petit as friendship, music, curiosity, and adventure lead them into mysteries waiting to be solved.

‘Padam’ book series

The children’s detective stories in the ‘Padam’ series blend mystery, adventure, gentle humour, and discovery. Monsieur Padam is a guitar-playing street artist who picks up intriguing clues from conversations he overhears while singing French songs. Joining him are Elisa, a clever Australian girl who shares her knowledge of home, and Thomas, a resourceful French boy who captains his own boat and is accompanied by his little dog, Petit. Together, the friends are drawn into puzzling mysteries and thrilling adventures. Book 1 unfolds in the South of France, while Book 2 takes readers to Scotland; each story gently introduces young readers to the culture and language of its setting. The two books are companions but can be enjoyed independently.

Bio Phia Damsma

Originally from the Netherlands, Phia emigrated with her family to Queensland, Australia, in 2005. In early 2026, she traded the Gold Coast for the beautiful Whitsundays, where she now writes from a studio overlooking the Coral Sea and lives with her husband and their Australian kelpie.

Phia writes for young and early readers who are curious about travel, animals, history, and clever problem-solving.

Overseas Phia previously published a series of family travel guides (Kosmos Z&K). She has (co) authored academic research publications, was a part-time newspaper columnist, and content creator for the Netherlands’ Department of Education’s online kids web portal. She currently is Creative Director of Sonokids Australia, developer of award-winning inclusive educational game apps and software that are successfully used by young learners around the world.

Phia hopes readers will enjoy travelling to France and Scotland with Monsieur Padam, Elisa, Thomas, and Petit the dog!

• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 5 August 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 136 pages
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 259 g
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9 years
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 0.86 x 22.86 cm
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 6