Nilsson, Ulf. Case with a Bang, A. Gitte Spee, Illus.
Translated from the Swedish by Julia Marshall. Detective Gordon Series. Gecko, 03/2023. 113pp. Fiction. Trade $18.99. 978-1-7765-7487-2. GRADES 2 – 4. ADDITIONAL.
The entire woodland police force (retired Detective Gordon (a toad), an eager young squirrel (Helmer), and Chief Detective Buffy (a mouse) work to protect the local animal citizens. They work to determine what caused a loud crash during the night and who did what. The mystery turns into not just a whodunit, but a how to help everyone get along, including scary-looking strangers. Spee’s sporadic colored˗pencil˗and˗ink illustrations assist the reader with glimpses into the setting and animal actions at key parts of the story. A light mystery with a few tense scenes that mix with humor to produce a simple early chapter book.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library