Any aspiring sleuth or fan of the Chet Gecko mystery series (starring the “finest lizard detective at Emerson Hicky Elementary”) will appreciate the tips, activities and recipes outlined in this irreverent, illustrated handbook to detective work. A mix of amusing misinformation, such as, “Surveillance comes from the French word surveiller (meaning ‘hiding behind a fake schnozzola’)”; questionable advice such as, “Use a bribe that motivates your suspect. Strangely enough, not everyone goes for chocolate”; and sound suggestions like “Never take on a wacko for a client,” this goofy, oft-frivolous guide is also valuable for a child genuinely interested in espionage. Easy-to-learn tricks of the trade, such as the intriguing “shopping list” code and old stand-bys like the spy-hole newspaper, pepper the handbook that covers everything from obtaining clients to evidence gathering. A boilerplate detective license, search warrant and office sign (“Private Eye: No case too small, no snack too big”) are included in the back. Bonus: Practicing private investigators can flip the top-bound handbook over and write notes on the conveniently lined sheets—tricky for libraries, but the entertainment of the rest far outweighs this issue. (Nonfiction. 8-12)
