The Case of the Missing Tarts (Pigeon Private Detectives #1)

An enjoyable homage to the dramatic mystery.

In this humorous illustrated solo debut, Curran-Bauer introduces three birds of a feather who detect together: Martin P. Sweets, Felix Danish, and Ralph Custard, the Pigeon Private Detectives. When someone steals Mama Pigeon's famous jam tarts--made with love and one supersecret ingredient--the detectives resolve to find the pastries before they are eaten, or worse, become stale. But the detectives are stumped when following a trail of crumbs leads to a dead end, and attempts to lure suspects into confessing using Mama Pigeon's cookies fail. It's only after Detective Sweets divulges the jam tarts' secret ingredient that the dessert-napper reveals himself (by getting noisily sick into a bucket). Desperate to become a baker and star in a cooking show, the perpetrator had the half-baked idea to steal the tarts for research purposes but is soon forced to confront the consequences of his actions--and is offered a second chance. Vibrant colored pencil and rounded shapes render playful images of mouthwatering treats and avian protagonists sporting deerstalker caps. Readers will flock to Curran-Bauer's lighthearted mystery. A glossary defining detective terms and a fact sheet conclude. Ages 6-9. (Aug.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

"[W]ith a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor and plenty of puns. The narrative, told through a mix of comic book-style panels and prose, is brought to life with crisp-lined cartoons with mostly pastel tones and a bit of film noir thrown in when the mood is right. An enjoyable homage to the dramatic mystery." —Kirkus Reviews

"[D]elightful comic-book-style drawings and kid-friendly humor." —Daily Mom