Detective Nosegoode and the Kidnappers

An Amusing Crime Procedural for Kid Readers

Marian Orton's Detective Nosegoode books were wildly successful when first published in their original Polish editions in the 1970's, and it's a treat to now have them available for young English readers. They all feature retired detective Nosegoode, who exhibits a wry and just slightly prickly personality whenever he is called out of retirement to solve a crime in his quiet little town. All detectives need a sidekick and Nosegoode's is a loyal, and slightly more excitable, talking dog named Cody. And you know what, the whole talking dog thing works very well and adds just an extra bit of offbeat charm to the enterprise.

This is the second book in the Nosegoode series and displays everything that makes the books so appealing. It's not much of a PREMISE SPOILER to disclose that Cody is kidnapped in the first few pages. Why he was kidnapped is a bit of a mystery, and that why, as well as by whom and how, is the heart of Nosegoode's investigation. An additional running joke, that younger readers should get right away, is that Cody is smart enough to know what's going on and would be perfectly able to escape at any time. He "plays along" with being kidnapped so that he can solve the mystery from the inside while Nosegoode works from the outside. That's a pretty neat twist for a kid's book.

But beyond all of that, it seems to me that there is special appeal in the fact that Orton follows all of the crime procedural rules. Nosegoode winnows down the suspects, looks for clues, notices and connects everything, asks very crafty questions, makes logical deductions, and pulls some clever tricks. He struck me as a much better and more realistic detective than some you'll find in commercial adult fiction. And yet, all of this is kid friendly and spelled out clearly and engagingly. The original Polish, in translation, has a slightly formal feel with just enough difference in the character's conversations and speaking styles to give the book a distinct voice and pacing.

So, an excellent mystery and detection story with appealing characters and an engaging style. This struck me as a wonderful find for an ambitious young mystery reader.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I have read another in this series and have enjoyed them both. They're great for kids who are starting chapter books and would be a good lead in to mystery series like the Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew. They have the same "feel good" vibe to them and are clean reading without being boring, which is difficult to achieve with that age group. I love them and highly recommend them, especially for kids who like mysteries or dogs. What could appeal more to kids than a talking dog?

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This mystery for kids had a very classic feel, in the way Roald Dahl books do. The book is funny, fast-paced, and the mystery is solid and not too easy to solve. The pacing is just right, and the dog brings fun to the story.

Recommended for kids who want a mystery, but are intimidated by a longer book. A great bridge between chapter books and longer novels for the middle-grade category.

A fabulous first mystery! This book has everything young readers will love about a good detective story. Highly recommend to teachers looking for high interest books for their young readers!