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Mystery fans will cheer for Chet Gecko Private Eye, a detective series starring, you guessed it, a lizard. Chet solves cases in the mean playground at Emerson Hickey Elementary School.
Written in the film noire style, Chet is a wisecracking detective who finds himself in hot water over and over again. The first in this series by author Bruce Hale (also author of the Underwhere Series), The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse, finds Chet looking for Shirley Chameleon’s little brother, who has disappeared without a trace. If Chet can’t find him Shirley will be the one in hot water. It becomes clear before too long that foul play is afoot and Chet thinks that Billy might have been the victim of Herman a slimy and scary Gila monster who is the bully of the playground. Will Chet find Billy or be Herman’s next victim.
There’s a definite pulp fiction feel to this book, but it’s handled in such a funny way that kids from grade 3 and up will enjoy the humor. Some of the jokes may skim over their heads but this makes it a bit more entertaining for the adult who might be reading this to a child. There’s enough fun and foul play to attract young readers to more of the books in Chet’s series.
Author Bruce Hale has written the Chet Gecko series as well as The Underwhere series. He is also author of the picture book, Snoring Beauty illustrated byHoward Fine. Look for Chet’s latest adventure Hiss me Deadly.
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