GREENWOOD (Feb. 1)-- A children's "whodunit" series with a crime-solving Labrador retriever/Chow mix named Ivy is something writer Karen Petit of Columbia said she never envisioned creating, but, she said she "always knew" a story was inside her, waiting to be written.

And, the "Shandon's Ivy League" Mystery Series is the result, a group of chapter books for children in third through seventh grade and "animal lovers of all ages."

Petit, 50, who grew up in Greenwood, is returning to Merrywood Elementary School Friday, to celebrate the release of "The Mystery of the Screecher Creature," the first book to be published by Red Letter Press in the series of children's mysteries.

"The Mystery of the Screecher Creature" tells the story of Ivy and her animal friends who work to solve the mystery of a pink diamond stolen from the home of a neighbor, Miss Darla.

In addition to the pink diamond dubbed "Sugarplum," other valuables are also stolen from the neighborhood, including a pirate's dagger, a diamond and pearl tiara, candlesticks from a church and Ivy's own collar, bedecked with sparkling jewels.

Ivy's crime-solving cohorts include Ernest, the English pug; Spooky, a homeless black cat; Hoover, a high-energy Jack Russell terrier; Lovely, an aging Greyhound racing star; Marigold, an "observant" canary and Blitz, a police dog, who is also Ivy's love interest.

Petit said the story is told from the pets' perspective and the characters are all based on real-life animals.

Ivy, in fact, is based on Petit's own dog by the same name, who was "rescued from certain death by drowning."

Some of Petit's friends, Greg and Jane Evans, bought the dog at a flea market for $5 after the dog's seller said she would be "tossed into a nearby river" if no one bought her.

Petit acquired Ivy when Greg and Jane moved to Charleston and into a home that did not allow pets.

"As I drove home with Ivy that night, I thought, 'What have I done? She shed all over my house.'" Petit said.

But, Petit and Ivy quickly bonded and the two have been together for more than three years.

"She's a beautiful dog, with dark navy blue eyes," Petit said.

"The Mystery of the Screecher Creature" was released in November, and the second book, "The Mystery of Foggy Bottom Lake," is scheduled for release in April. Petit has written a third book and is in the process of writing a fourth.

Although the first book takes place in "Capital City" aka Columbia, Petit said the series takes the animal mystery-solving team to a number of locales and introduces them to a variety of animals, including a racehorse and a circus bear.

Petit, who works in media relations at the University of South Carolina, and is a former section editor of the Index-Journal, said when she began toying with the idea of writing books, she "never thought" she would write children's mysteries.

"But, I've had so much fun doing it," Petit said. "I love sharing the books with young people and I want to inspire them to read."

While writing her books, Petit has worked closely with 6th grade creative writing classes at Columbia's Hand Middle School.

"The students have given me their 'polishes and praises' during the writing process," Petit said. "They've shared when they thought I revealed key clues too soon, and when I got them 'hooked' with the stories."

With one book, Petit said the students even helped her decide how to end it.

"It's been great working with the students," Petit said. "Children give wonderful feedback."

Petit credits her first grade teacher at Merrywood, Myrna Dove Franklin, with inspiring her to read and make a career of writing.

"She was an inspiration," Petit said. "She encouraged students to read beyond what we read in class and I found that books were a way to travel to magical places and meet historical figures. Teachers shape how we learn and Friday is a chance for me to go back to my elementary school and say 'Thank-you'."

Petit is a daughter of retired dentist Dr. Edward L. Petit and the late Helen Leaman Petit. She is a 1974 graduate of Greenwood High School and a 1977 graduate of the University of South Carolina.