Kizmet and the Case of the Tassie Tiger: Kizmet Book One (Frank Woodley, Puffin)

This is the first book in a new detective series for junior readers from comedian Frank Woodley. The story is narrated by an unusual sidekick, a currawong named Gretchen. The heroine is a feisty young investigator with the wits of Sherlock Holmes and the nose of a sniffer dog. Her father, Detective Spencer, ostensibly gets them each job but he’s more stupid than the average puppy, so Kizmet quickly takes over as the brains of the operation, solving the mystery every time. The scenarios are slightly farfetched, there is a bit of slang that perhaps works better orally than on the page, but the story is exciting and full of unexpected twists and turns. Woodley’s illustrations capture the character’s personalities well and are even quite scary at times. The ‘Kizmet’ series will appeal to children aged seven to nine, particularly lovers of physical humour and tricks, as well as those who like a good detective story.

Angela Crocombe is the children’s book buyer at Readings Carlton

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews