Finally, Something Mysterious

January 15, 2020
Only children, rejoice! A cozy mystery just for you! (People with siblings will probably enjoy it too.) Debut novelist Cornett introduces the One and Onlys, a trio of mystery-solving only kids: Gloria Longshanks "Shanks" Hill, Alexander "Peephole" Calloway, and narrator Paul (alas, no nickname) Marconi. The trio has a knack for finding and solving low-level mysteries, but they come up against a true head-scratcher when the yard of a resident of their small town is covered in rubber ducks overnight. Working ahead of Officer Portnoy, who's a little on the slow side, can Paul, Shanks, and Peephole solve the mystery? Cornett has a lot of fun with this adventure, dropping additional side mysteries, a subplot about small businesses, big corporations, and economics, and a town's love of bratwurst into the mix. Most importantly, he plays fair with the clues throughout, allowing astute readers to potentially solve the case ahead of the trio. The tone and mystery are perfect for younger readers who want to test their detective skills but are put off by anything scary or gory. The pacing would serve well for chapter-by-chapter read-alouds. If there are any quibbles, it's the lack of diversity of the cast, as it defaults white. Diversity exists in small towns, and this one is crying out for more. Hopefully a sequel will introduce additional faces. Delightful fun for budding mystery fans. (Mystery. 8-12)

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March 9, 2020
Paul Marconi, 11, loves to solve mysteries with his best friends, Shanks and Peephole, aka the “One and Onlys.” All only children, they are the perfect team of sleuths: level-headed Paul “sniffed out the mysteries,” fearless Shanks takes risks, and anxious Peephole’s photographic memory documents crime scenes. Their sleepy community is preparing for its annual bratwurst cook-off, despite a wildfire burning beyond the town. When hundreds of rubber duckies mysteriously appear on the front lawn of Mr. Babbage, five-time bratwurst champion, the One and Onlys want to know who put them there. But Officer Portnoy won’t let them near the evidence, Peephole is worried about the imminent birth of a sibling, and the whole town is preoccupied with the competition. Cornett caters nicely to his audience with amusing scenes—one suspect serenades the duckies with a tuba—and caricature, as with Portnoy, a classically clueless cop. The mystery slowly unspools with well-placed clues and red herrings, while subplots, such as the arrival of an ominous new megastore, lend depth to the lighthearted mystery. With the hint of more to come, the One and Onlys seem primed to become a popular trio among readers who enjoy an old-fashioned whodunit. Ages 8–12. Agent: Penelope Burns, Gelfman Schneider/ICM Partners.

April 1, 2020

Gr 3-5-It's summer and Paul Marconi and his two best friends, making up the self-proclaimed, only-children detective club the One and Onlys, are thrilled to finally have a mystery to solve. Tons of rubber duckies have appeared in a neighbor's yard and no one knows where they came from. Lots of things are changing in the kids' lives-from impending big brotherhood (an end to the literal meaning of "One and Onlys") to a more adult understanding of a family business in trouble. These coming-of-age themes are woven through a zany plot set in a very whimsical small town, best known for the annual bratwurst cooking competition. The twists and turns may capture the attention of young readers, but the characters and setting are not illustrated in great depth. VERDICT Not a first purchase, but a good addition to collections where humorous middle grade mysteries are popular.-Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

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