Monday, February 12, 2024

The Case of the Smuggler's Curse

By Mark Dawson

Libby audiobook 4 hours

Read by Mark Peachey

Published: 2022

(After-school Detective Club, bk. 1)

Genre: children’s mystery


This was a lovely little story. Max, Lucy, Joe, and Charli (Charlotte) becoming friends is the real heart of this story. The mystery and ensuing heroics are in the vein of Scooby-Doo.  (There's even a dog named Sherlock!)


But the development of friendships really shines through.  Max is inventive but a bit lazy.  Lucy is athletic.  Joe is lonely; his dad is often away for work and his mom's a socialite.  Charli and Sherlock tend to be loners. (But together,  because her dog means the world to her. )


The bag guys are smuggling exotic animals.  They are truly awful and the kids are amazing. 


Though written for elementary to middle school aged kids,  I enjoyed listening to it.  I liked the dog best,  then the Captain. Mr. Creech was worse than Mr. De Havilland!

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