Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Whodunnit Detective Agency: The Diamond Mystery
Illustrator: Helena Willis
Fiction Series
For ages 7 to 9
Penguin, 2014 ISBN: 978-0448480664
Jerry and Maya live in a town called Pleasantville and it is a cold, icy February afternoon. It is winter break and the rest of the children in the town are flying down the sledding hill on their sleds, but Jerry and Maya are hanging out in their “office” in the basement of Maya’s house. Not long ago the friends set up the Whodunnit Detective Agency and they are spending the winter break learning everything they can about detecting and catching criminals.
Then someone knocks on the door and when Jerry opens it he sees Mohammed Carat, the jewelry store owner, standing there. Mr. Carat explains that he needs their help. Somebody has stolen five diamonds from his store and the police have had no luck finding out who the thief is.
It is arranged that Kate and Jerry will work in the store to see if they can find out what is going on. When they arrive at the shop the children are introduced to the three employees and then they get to work.
Kate cleans the offices and the windows and she soon realizes that all three of the employees are behaving oddly. The friends knew that all three have motives, and they watch each person carefully. They don’t have much time to catch the thief because if he or she is not caught soon Mr. Carat is going to lose his business.
This is the first title in a new series, and in it readers will enjoy seeing how pair of young detectives tackles a puzzling mystery. There don’t seem to be any clues and the suspects all have motives. Young readers will be delighted when all is revealed at the end of the tale.
