Although the German

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 version of The Three Investigators starts with The Secret of Terror Castle

The Secret of Terror Castle

The Secret of Terror Castle is an American juvenile detective novel written by Robert Arthur, Jr. It is the first book in the "Three Investigators" series.- Plot :...

, it continues through The Mystery of the Cranky Collector

The American series of The Three Investigators

Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators in... # The Secret of Terror Castle # The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot...

, then picks up with the "Crimebusters" series and continues on with German-language

German language

German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....

 originals from there (starting at number '57'). The German-language originals started in 1993 with books by Brigitte Johanna Henkel-Waidhofer. She wrote 16 books for Kosmos. After her era ended, several other authors continued to write in the series at the rate of six books per year (in contrast to the U.S. series, which published one new story every year or so after Robert Arthur's death).

Die Drei ??? (The Three Investigators)

The bold numbers in square brackets are the chronological order these take place in the German continuity which includes the original series and Crimebusters.
Some German books were translated to English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

; these are made for children to learn English. These books' titles are bold in the following list.

1. [57] Tatort Zirkus (Crime Scene Circus) (1993, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
2. [58] Der verrückte Maler (The Insane Painter) (1993, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
3. [59] Giftiges Wasser (Toxic Water) (1993, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
4. [60] Dopingmixer (Doping Mixer) (1994, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
5. [61] Die Rache des Tigers (The Revenge of the Tiger) (1994, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
6. [62] Spuk im Hotel (Haunted Hotel) (1994, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
7. [63] Fußball-Gangster (Soccer Gangsters) (1995, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
8. [64] Geisterstadt (Ghost Town) (1995, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
9. [65] Diamantenschmuggel (Diamond Smuggling) (1995, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
10. [66] Die Schattenmänner (The Shadowmen) (1995, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
11. [67] Geheimnis der Särge (The Mystery of the Coffins) (1996, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
12. [68] Schatz im Bergsee (The Treasure of the Mountain Lake) (1996, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
13. [69] Späte Rache (Late Revenge) (1996, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
14. [70] Schüsse aus dem Dunkel (Shots from the Dark) (1996, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
15. [71] Die verschwundene Seglerin (The Missing Sailor) (1996, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
16. [72] Dreckiger Deal (Dirty Deal) (1996, by B. J. Henkel-Waidhofer)
17. [73] Poltergeist (Poltergeist) (1997, by André Marx)
18. [74] Das brennende Schwert (The Burning Sword) (1997, by André Marx)
19. [75] Die Spur des Raben (Trail of the Raven) (1997, by André Marx)
20. [76] Stimmen aus dem Nichts (Voices from the Void) (1997, by André Minninger)
21. [77] Pistenteufel (Slope Devil) (1997, by Ben Nevis)
22. [78] Das leere Grab (Empty Grave) (1997, by André Marx)
23. [79] Im Bann des Voodoo (Voodoo Spell) (1998, by André Minninger)
24. [80] Geheimsache UFO (Secret Matter: UFO) (1998, by André Marx)
25. [81] Verdeckte Fouls (Hidden Fouls) (1998, by Ben Nevis)
26. [82] Die Karten des Bösen (The Hand of Evil) (1998, by André Minninger)
27. [83] Meuterei auf hoher See (Mutiny at Sea) (1998, by André Marx)
28. [84] Musik des Teufels (The Devils Music) (1998, by André Marx)
29. [85] Feuerturm (Tower of Fire) (1999, by Ben Nevis)
30. [86] Nacht in Angst (Night of Fear) (1999, by André Marx)
31. [87] Wolfsgesicht (Wolf Face) (1999, by Katharina Fischer)
32. [88] Vampir im Internet (Vampire on the Internet) (1999, by André Minninger)
33. [89] Tödliche Spur (Deadly Trail) (1999, by André Marx)
34. [90] Der Feuerteufel (Firebug) (1999, by André Marx)
35. [91] Labyrinth der Götter (Labyrinth of the Gods) (2000, by André Marx)
36. [92] Todesflug (Flight of Death) (2000, by Ben Nevis)
37. [93] Das Geisterschiff (The Haunted Ship) (2000, by André Marx)
38. [94] Das schwarze Monster (Black Monster) (2000, by André Marx)
39. [95] Botschaft von Geisterhand (Message from a Ghost) (2000, by André Marx)
40. [96] Der rote Rächer (The Red Avenger) (2000, by Katharina Fischer)
41. [97] Insektenstachel (Stinger) (2001, by André Minninger)
42. [98] Tal des Schreckens (Valley of Horror) (2001, by Ben Nevis)
43. [99] Rufmord (Slander) (2001, by André Minninger)
44. [100] Toteninsel (Island of Death) (2001, by André Marx)
45. [101] Hexenhandy (The Curse of the Cell Phone) (2001, by André Minninger)
46. [102] Doppelte Täuschung (Double Deception) (2001, by André Marx)
47. [103] Erbe des Meisterdiebs (Legacy of the Master Thief) (2002, by André Marx)
48. [104] Gift per E-Mail (Poisoned E-Mail) (2002, by Ben Nevis)
49. [105] Der Nebelberg (The Mountain of Mist) (2002, by André Marx)
50. [106] Der Mann ohne Kopf (The Headless DJ) (2002, by André Minninger)
51. [107] Der Schatz der Mönche (The Treasure of the Monks) (2002, by Ben Nevis)
52. [108] Die sieben Tore (The Seven Gates) (2002, by André Marx)
53. [109] Gefährliches Quiz (Dangerous Quiz Show) (2003, by Marco Sonnleitner)
54. [110] Panik im Park (Panic in the Park) (2003, by Marco Sonnleitner)
55. [111] Die Höhle des Grauens (Cave of Horror) (2003, by Ben Nevis)
56. [112] Schlucht der Dämonen (The Canyon of Demons) (2003, by Marco Sonnleitner)
57. [113] Das Auge des Drachen (Eye of the Dragon) (2003, by André Marx)
58. [114] Die Villa der Toten (Mansion of the Dead) (2003, by André Marx)
59. [115] Auf tödlichem Kurs (Deadly Course) (2004, by Ben Nevis)
60. [116] Codename: Cobra (Codename: Cobra) (2004, by Marco Sonnleitner)
61. [117] Der finstere Rivale (Sinister Rival) (2004, by André Marx)
62. [118] Das düstere Vermächtnis (Mysterious Testament) (2004, by Ben Nevis)
63. [119] Der geheime Schlüssel (Secret Key) (2004, by André Marx)
64. [120] Der schwarze Skorpion (Black Scorpion) (2004, by Marco Sonnleitner)
65. [121] Spur ins Nichts (Evil Games) (2005, by André Marx)
66. [122] Fussballfieber (Soccer Mania) (2005, by Marco Sonnleitner)
67. [123] Der Geisterzug (The Mystery of the Ghost Train) (2005, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
68. [124] Geister-Canyon (Ghost Canyon) (2005, by Ben Nevis)
69. [125] Feuermond (Moon of Fire) (2005, by André Marx)
70. [126] Schrecken aus dem Moor (Terror from the Swamp) (2005, by Marco Sonnleitner)
71. [127] Schwarze Madonna (Black Madonna) (2006, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
72. [128] Schatten über Hollywood (Shadows over Hollywood / Hollywood Horrors) (2006, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
73. [129] SMS aus dem Grab (The Pharaoh's Message) (2006, by Ben Nevis)
74. [130] Der Fluch des Drachen (The Curse of the Dragon) (2006, by André Marx)
75. [131] Haus des Schreckens (House of Terror) (2006, by Marco Sonnleitner)
76. [132] Spuk im Netz (Web Phantom) (2006, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
77. [133] Fels der Dämonen (Rock of the Demons) (2007, by Marco Sonnleitner)
78. [134] Der tote Mönch (The Dead Monk) (2007, by Marco Sonnleitner)
79. [135] Fluch des Piraten (The Pirate's Curse) (2007, by Ben Nevis)
80. [136] Das versunkene Dorf (Ghost Village) (2007, by André Marx)
81. [137] Pfad der Angst (Path of Fear) (2007, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
82. [138] Die geheime Treppe (The Hidden Stair) (2007, by Marco Sonnleitner)
83. [139] Das Geheimnis der Diva (The Secret of the Diva) (2008, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
84. [140] Stadt der Vampire (Vampire City) (2008, by Marco Sonnleitner)
85. [141] Fußball-Falle (Soccer Trap) (2008, by Marco Sonnleitner)
86. [142] Tödliches Eis (Arctic Adventure) (2008, by Kari Erlhoff)
87. [143] Die Poker-Hölle (The Gambling Joint) (2008, by Marco Sonnleitner)
88. [144] Zwillinge der Finsternis (Twins of Doom) (2008, by Marco Sonnleitner)
89. [145] Die Rache der Samurai (The Revenge of the Samurai) (2009, by Ben Nevis)
90. [146] Der Biss der Bestie (The Bite of the Beast) (2009, by Kari Erlhoff)
91. [147] Grusel auf Campbell Castle (Horror at Castle Campbell) (2009, by Marco Sonnleitner)
92. [148] Die feurige Flut (The Fiery Flood) (2009, by Kari Erlhoff)
93. [149] Der namenlose Gegner (The Nameless Foe) (2009, by Kari Erlhoff)
94. [151] Schwarze Sonne (Black Sun) (2009, by Marco Sonnleitner)
95. [150] Geisterbucht (Ghost Bay) (2010, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
96. [152] Skateboardfieber (Skateboard Fever) (2010, by Ben Nevis)
97. [153] Das Fussballphantom (The Blackmailer's Match) (2010, by Marco Sonnleitner)
98. [154] Botschaft aus der Unterwelt (Message from Underworld) (2010, by Kari Erlhoff)
99. [155] Der Meister des Todes (The Master of Death) (2010, by Kari Erlhoff)
100. [156] Im Netz des Drachen (On the Net of the Dragon) (2010, by Marco Sonnleitner)
101. [157] Im Zeichen der Schlangen (In the Sign of the Snakes) (2011, by Hendrik Buchna)
102. [158] Der Feuergeist (The Fire Ghost) (2011, Marco Sonnleitner)
103. [159] Nacht der Tiger (Night of the Tigers) (2011, Marco Sonnleitner)
104. [160] Geheimnisvolle Botschaften (Mysterious Messages) (2011, Christoph Dittert)
105. [161] Die blutenden Bilder (The Bleeding Pictures) (2011, Kari Erlhoff)
106. [162] Der schreiende Nebel (The Loud Fog) (2011, Hendrik Buchna)
107. [163] Der verschollene Pilot (The Missing Pilot) (2012, Ben Nevis)
108. [164] Fußball-Teufel (Soccer Devil) (2012, Marco Sonnleitner)
109. [165] Im Schatten der Giganten (In the Shadow of the Giants) (2012, Kari Erlhoff)

German American-English Series (since 2005)

In 2005, the German publisher Kosmos started a new series of stories in English, translated from the original German titles. The Three Investigators have their German names in these books, and they are not referred to as "The Three Investigators," but as "Die Drei ???" (literally, "The Three Question Marks").
(Original German titles in italics)

1. The Curse of the Cell Phone (Hexenhandy) (2001 / 2005, by André Minninger)
2. Poisoned E-mail (Gift per E-Mail) (2002 / 2005, by Ben Nevis)
3. Soccer Mania (Fussballfieber) (2005 / 2006, by Marco Sonnleitner)
4. The Haunted Ship (Das Geisterschiff) (2000 / 2006, by André Marx)
5. Valley of Horror (Tal des Schreckens) (2001 / 2007, by Ben Nevis)
6. The Mystery of the Ghost Train (Der Geisterzug) (2005 / 2007, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
7. Hidden Fouls (Verdeckte Fouls) (1998 / 2008, by Ben Nevis)
8. The Pirate's Curse (Fluch des Piraten) (2007 / 2008, by Ben Nevis)
9. Web Phantom (Spuk im Netz) (2006 / 2009, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
10. The Pharaoh's Message (SMS aus dem Grab) (2006 / 2009, by Ben Nevis)
11. Soccer Trap (Fußball-Falle) (2008 / 2010, by Marco Sonnleitner)
12. Ghost Village (Das versunkene Dorf) (2007 / 2010, by André Marx)
13. Hollywood Horrors (Schatten über Hollywood) (2006 / 2011, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
14. Evil Games (Spur ins Nichts) (2005 / 2011, by André Marx)

German American-English Pons Die Drei ??? Series (from July 2009)

These American-English translations include an abridged version of the original story both in German and English, plus a vocabulary part and grammar exercises. Accompanying the books are CDs containing narrated audio versions of the English texts. These books refer to the protagonists as "The Three Investigators," not "Die Drei ???" as in the American-English editions.

1. Arctic Adventure (Tödliches Eis) (2008, by Kari Erlhoff)
2. Mysterious Testament (Das Erbe des Meisterdiebs) (2002, by André Marx)
3. Vampire City (Stadt der Vampire) (2008, by Marco Sonnleitner)
4. Dangerous Quiz Show (Gefährliches Quiz) (2003, by Marco Sonnleitner)
5. Black Madonna (Schwarze Madonna) (2006, by Astrid Vollenbruch)
6. Soccer Gangsters (Fußball-Gangster) (1995, by Brigitte-Johanna Henkel-Waidhofer)
7. The Canyon of Demons (Schlucht der Dämonen) (2003, by Marco Sonnleitner)
8. The Bite of the Beast (Der Biss der Bestie) (2009, by Kari Erlhoff)
9. The Master of Death (Der Meister des Todes) (2010, by Kari Erlhoff)

German The Three Investigators Kids Series (since 1999)

In this series, the Three Investigators are 10 years old, thus making it a kind of prequel to the original series. Their headquarters is a water tank close to Rocky Beach nicknamed "Coffee Pot", which was once used to fill up locomotive

Locomotive

A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...

s. Joining the recurring cast are Mr. Porter, Rocky Beach's general dealer, Harbor Master Ernesto Porto, and Giovanni, who runs an ice cream parlor

Ice cream parlor

Ice cream parlors are places that sell ice cream and frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is normally sold in two varieties in these stores: soft-serve ice cream , and hard-packed, which has an assortment of flavors, as well as frozen yogurt, which is a low-fat alternative and tastes slightly...

. Another difference to the original series is that Bud Norris, Skinner's father, operates a shady bar in the city center.

1. Panik im Paradies (Panic in Paradise) (1999, by Ulf Blanck)
2. Radio Rocky Beach (Radio Rocky Beach) (1999, by Ulf Blanck)
3. Invasion der Fliegen (Invasion of the Flies) (1999, by Ulf Blanck)
4. Chaos vor der Kamera (Chaos on the Camera) (2000, by Ulf Blanck)
5. Flucht in die Zukunft (Escape to the Future) (2000, by Ulf Blanck)
6. Gefahr im Gruselgarten (Danger in the Spooky Garden) (2000, by Ulf Blanck)
7. Gruft der Piraten (Crypt of the Pirates) (2000, by Ulf Blanck)
8. Nacht unter Wölfen (Night between Wolves) (2001, by Ulf Blanck)
9. S.O.S. über den Wolken (S.O.S. above the Clouds) (2001, by Ulf Blanck)
10. Spuk in Rocky Beach (Spook in Rocky Beach) (2001, by Ulf Blanck)
11. Fluch des Goldes (Curse of the Gold) (2001, by Ulf Blanck)
12. Internetpiraten (Pirates of the Internet) (2002, by Ulf Blanck)
13. Im Reich der Rätsel (In the Empire of Riddles) (2002, by Ulf Blanck)
14. Gefahr aus dem All (Danger from Outer Space) (2002, by Ulf Blanck)
15. In der Geisterstadt (In the Ghost Town) (2003, by Ulf Blanck)
16. Der magische Brunnen (The Magic Well) (2003, by Ulf Blanck)
17. Rettet Atlantis! (Save Atlantis!) (2003, by Ulf Blanck)
18. Mission Maulwurf (Mission Mole) (2004, by Ulf Blanck)
19. Spur in die Wildnis (Trail in the Wilderness) (2004, by Ulf Blanck)
20. Die Schmugglerinsel (The Island of the Smugglers) (2004, by Ulf Blanck)
21. Die Geisterjäger (The Ghost Hunters) (2004, by Ulf Blanck)
22. Einarmige Banditen (One-armed Bandits) (2005, by Ulf Blanck)
23. Feuer in Rocky Beach (Fire in Rocky Beach) (2005, by Ulf Blanck)
24. Im Banne des Zauberers (In the Ban of the Magician) (2005, by Ulf Blanck)
25. In letzter Sekunde (In the Last Second) (2005, by Boris Pfeiffer)
26. Fußball-Alarm (Football-Alert) (2006, by Ulf Blanck)
27. Die Schokofalle (The Chocolate Trap) (2006, by Boris Pfeiffer)
28. Diamantenjagd (Diamond Hunt) (2006, by Boris Pfeiffer)
29. Monsterpilze (Monster Mushrooms) (2006, by Ulf Blanck)
30. Im Geisterschiff (In the Ghost Ship) (2007, by Ulf Blanck)
31. Rückkehr der Saurier (Return of the Dinosaurs) (2007, by Boris Pfeiffer)
32. Die Gruselfalle (The Spooky Trap) (2007, by Boris Pfeiffer)
33. Nacht im Kerker (Night in the Dungeon) (2007, by Ulf Blanck)
34. Falsches Gold (False Gold) (2008, by Boris Pfeiffer)
35. Im Wilden Westen (In the Wild West) (2008, by Ulf Blanck)
36. Mission Mars (Mission Mars) (2008, by Boris Pfeiffer)
37. Der Fluch der Indianer (The Curse of the Indians) (2008, by Ben Nevis)
38. Stunde der Wahrheit (Hour of Truth) (2009, by Boris Pfeiffer)
39. Der verrückte Professor (The Nutty Professor) (2009, by Ulf Blanck)
40. Brennendes Eis (Burning Ice) (published August 2009, by Boris Pfeiffer)
41. Insel der Haie (Island of the Sharks) (published August 2009, by Boris Pfeiffer)
42. Fußballgötter (Gods of Football) (February 2010, by Boris Pfeiffer)
43. Duell der Ritter (Duel of the Knights) (February 2010, by Ulf Blanck)
44. Monster in Rocky Beach (Monster in Rocky Beach) (August 2010, by Ben Nevis)
45. Ein Fall für Superhelden (A Case for Superheros) (August 2010, by Ulf Blanck)