For Press, Schools, and Libraries
Everything teachers, libraries, and editors need at a glance: the idea behind the series, ordering details, downloadable resources, and press copy.
The Series at a Glance
- Series
- The Hamburg Superdetectives
- Author
- Lina Storm (the pen name of a family from Pinneberg, near Hamburg)
- Genre
- Children’s mystery for ages 6 to 10
- Reading Editions
- Reading Level 1 (grade 1, beginning readers, ages 6+), Reading Level 2 (grade 2, ages 7+), Reading Level 3 (grades 3 and 4, ages 8–10). The same mystery, with sentence structure, vocabulary, print size, and line spacing adapted to each level. Grade is a guide; reading ability matters most.
- Contents
- 8 illustrated chapters, 3 questions after each chapter, profiles of all eleven detectives, glossary, tips for reading partners, and a “Your Turn!” guide
- Formats
- Paperback (15.24 × 22.86 cm) and e-book; each reading level is a separate edition
- Publisher
- Self-published; printed and distributed through Amazon KDP
- Book 1
- “The Hamburg Superdetectives and the Shadow in the Speicherstadt” (Hamburg), coming soon in English
- Book 2
- “The Hamburg Superdetectives and the Shadow Show over Paris” (Paris), in progress
- Book 3
- “The Hamburg Superdetectives and the Mystery of the Canals” (Amsterdam), in progress
- Books 4 and 5
- Berlin and Venice, draft texts
- The Series
- 15 cities: 1 Hamburg, 2 Paris, 3 Amsterdam, 4 Berlin, 5 Venice, 6 London, 7 Prague, 8 Dubrovnik, 9 Budapest, 10 Vienna, 11 Barcelona, 12 Rome, 13 Istanbul, 14 Copenhagen, 15 Stockholm. This sequence does not set publication dates.
- Donation
- 25% of the profits from all books in the series, at least €0.25 per copy sold, split equally between Sternenbrücke and the Barakiel-Stiftung; calculation and report: Legal Notice, Donation Promise section
- Creation
- Text and illustrations created with the support of AI tools, then selected and edited by us
Who Is Behind Lina Storm?
Lina Storm is a pen name shared by a family from Pinneberg, near Hamburg. Their two children dreamed up the world of the Hamburg Superdetectives: the five detectives and their animals, their special abilities, the secret rules, and the houseboat on the Alster. The parents write the cases down. The illustrated Lina on our website is a fictional storyteller, not a real person.
Book 1: The Hamburg Superdetectives and the Shadow in the Speicherstadt
Coming soon in English. In the middle of the night, a gold-plated ship no bigger than a thumb vanishes from Miniatur Wunderland. The alarm? Didn’t notice a thing.
A red thread and a riddle on a tiny scrap of paper lead the Hamburg Superdetectives up the Michel’s 452 steps. Three black feathers and an old map await them at the top. The trail continues through the golden glow of the Speicherstadt to a door with a warm light behind it. Who is collecting Hamburg’s smallest treasures—and why? A children’s mystery about courage, friendship, and whether a thief can have a good reason.
| Reading Edition | Paperback ISBN | Pages | Availability | Free Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Level 1 (grade 1 · beginning readers · ages 6+) | 978-3-96556-048-2 | – | Coming soon | |
| Reading Level 2 (grade 2 · ages 7+) | 978-3-96556-050-5 | – | Coming soon | |
| Reading Level 3 (grades 3 and 4 · ages 8–10) | 978-3-96556-052-9 | – | Coming soon |
Book 1 will be available soon in English as a paperback and e-book.
The Series’ 15 Cities
Each book takes place in a real city and tells a separate, complete mystery. The order of the books is set; publication dates are not.
- Hamburg—coming soon in English
- Paris—in progress
- Amsterdam—in progress
- Berlin—draft text
- Venice—draft text
- London—planned
- Prague—planned
- Dubrovnik—planned
- Budapest—planned
- Vienna—planned
- Barcelona—planned
- Rome—planned
- Istanbul—planned
- Copenhagen—planned
- Stockholm—planned
For Schools and Libraries
- One Story for the Whole Class: All three reading editions tell the same mystery. Children with different reading abilities read the same story and can discuss it together. Grade levels are a guide; actual reading ability matters most.
- Conversation Starters in the Book: Each chapter ends with three questions: Do You Remember?, Think It Through, Imagine More.
- Chapter 1 sample PDFs: Reading Level 1 · Reading Level 2 · Reading Level 3
- Printable Detective Case File (PDF): children invent their own mystery and learn to tell guesses from proof.
- Color Detective (PDF, 14 pages): eleven detective coloring pages with witness statements for careful reading, detective questions, and answers.
- Chapter 1 Classroom Resources (PDF, 5 pages): for grades 1 to 4, with a suggested lesson plan, three worksheets (Reading and Understanding, Detective Code, Detective Backpack) at three difficulty levels, and answers. Matches the samples above. Resources for further chapters will follow.
- Class Sets and Library Copies: Please contact us.
For the Press
Press Copy for Use
The Hamburg Superdetectives: Children’s Mysteries in Three Reading Editions
Pinneberg/Hamburg. Five children, six animals with special abilities, and a houseboat on Hamburg’s Alster: this is the headquarters of the Hamburg Superdetectives. Two children from Pinneberg dreamed up this world. Their parents write the cases down under the shared pen name Lina Storm.
What makes the series different: each book comes in three reading editions, for grade 1 (ages 6+), grade 2 (ages 7+), and grades 3 and 4 (ages 8–10). All three tell the same mystery. Sentence structure, vocabulary, print size, and line spacing match each reading level. Siblings and whole classes can read the same story and discuss it together.
Book 1, “The Hamburg Superdetectives and the Shadow in the Speicherstadt,” is coming soon in English. A gold-plated ship no bigger than a thumb vanishes from Miniatur Wunderland. The trail leads up the Michel and through the Speicherstadt. The series is planned around 15 real cities, from Hamburg to Stockholm; Book 2 takes the team to Paris.
25 percent of the profits from all books in the series, at least 25 euro cents per copy sold, are split equally between Sternenbrücke, a hospice for children and young people in Hamburg, and the Barakiel-Stiftung. The calculation and annual report are published on the website; figures for 2026 will be published by June 30, 2027.
Images
These images may be used free of charge in reporting about the series, with the credit “Illustration: The Hamburg Superdetectives.” We will gladly provide print-ready files.
Download Press Kit (ZIP)
Press copy, a fact sheet with ISBNs and purchase links, and the three images
Contact
Christin and Florian Friebus
Email: contact@thehamburgsuperdetectives.com
Phone: +49 172 583 6776
Last updated: October 17, 2026