The crime scene solving series for teens at the Pendleton Public Library continues Jan. 29 with “Crime Scene in the Land of Oz.”

PENDLETON — From Hogwarts to Halloweentown, nefarious happenings have plagued fictional realms, and it’s up to teens to investigate and solve the case.

The “Crime Scene in…” series at the Pendleton Public Library, pits teens against each other in a battle of crime solving, creativity and critical thinking. Next up: the Land of Oz.

On Wednesday, Jan. 29, youths 13-18 will be able to put their investigative skills to the test through “Crime Scene in the Land of Oz.” It begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Pendleton Public Library, 502 SW Dorion Ave.

Teens will work in pairs to decipher the clues and solve the crime. They’ll even get a look at the crime scene — for a limited time.

“They don’t get to see the crime scene until that segment of the program, then they get 60 seconds to look at it and wrap their heads around what happened there,” said James Simpson, organizer and assistant librarian.

After viewing the crime scene, the pairs will have a chance to talk about what they saw. Simpson will then begin providing additional information, such as witness testimony and a list of suspects.

“In each segment, I provide them with more information, and they try to identify the facts and make their inferences based on those facts,” Simpson said. “I let them use their critical thinking to connect the dots and to make their argument. The team whose story makes the most sense is the team that solves the crime.”

“Crime Scene in the Land of Oz” will be the fourth investigation for the program.

Inspired by the fictional worlds, Simpson builds each month’s program and leads teens through the event. He said he first learned of this type of program during a conference he attended over the summer.

“I thought it was awesome,” he said. “This is a little bit different, and I wanted to try. It’s a lot of fun.”

The specific crime varies: teens solved a murder in Halloweentown, a case of smuggled Turkish delight in Narnia and a theft at Hogwarts.

For teens who plan to tackle “Crime Scene in the Land of Oz,” Simpson has some advice:

“Think outside the box, community, and differentiate between facts and opinions,” he said.

Participation in the program is free, but registration is required. Teens can come with a friend, or be assigned a partner at the event.

For more information or to register, contact the Pendleton Public Library at 541-966-0380.