‘Mary Louise in the Country’ is the second book in the popular ‘Mary Louise’ series of children’s books by ‘Oz’ author L. Frank Baum. Mary Louise and her grandpa Jim have relocated to the sleepy little town of Craggs Crossing for the summer. Here Mary encounters young Ingua Scammel, who seems to be hiding something. Mary Louise suspects something isn’t right, and calls upon her friend and detective in training Josie O’Gorman to help get to the bottom of the mystery.

Lyman Frank Baum (1856 – 1919) was a prolific and well-known American writer. He is best known for his famous series of modern fairy tales set in the imaginary land of Oz. The first of the books, ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ is widely considered to be the first true American fairy tale and was the basis for the hugely popular 1939 classic musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ starring Judy Garland. Born and raised in New York, Baum held a range of jobs including as a poultry farmer, clerk, and storekeeper before pursuing his talent for writing at the age of 41. He wrote 14 novels in the Oz series, as well as over 40 other novels and over 80 short stories. He died in California in 1919.