I have read the first two of The Barney Mysteries books to my son. I loved them as a child and hope he loves them too, but I have noticed the writing isn't great even though the overall plot is good. It got me thinking, are there any modern writers that have written about children going on adventures down old tunnels, or in abandoned stately homes etc but with perhaps better characterisation etc? Sort of an Enid Blyton plot, but written by J K Rowling kind of thing.