The Legendary Monsieur Mustard in . . . The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth
About Author
Meet Monsieur Mustard, detective extraordinaire, and also a very small mouse, as he recalls the puzzling case of The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth!
Monsieur Mustard's author and illustrator Charley Rabbit works from her desk in her attic studio. When away from her studio, she can be found playing Irish fiddle music, listening to true crime podcasts and dreaming of one day visiting Japan.
She lives near the river in the impossibly romantic, story-tale city of Bath with her own two personal cheerleaders: hairy dachshund Doris and husband Adam.
Interview
June 2026
Introducing the legendary Monsieur Mustard in The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth
This small mouse is HUGE in the world of detectives (think Monsieur Poirot) and so we were thrilled to welcome Monsieur Mustard to our pages, and to find out about one of his most claw-biting mysteries, the case of The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth!
Look out for clues, dastardly deeds, airborne detectives and the ever so fabulous Beantinley car in the highly illustrated pages of this mystery, which is aimed at readers aged 7+.
More about Monsieur Mustard: The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth Read an extract
Review: "Readers will enjoy the humour and be drawn to the pictures which wonderfully convey the craziness of Charley Rabbit's imagined world."
Q&A with Monsieur Mustard
"Some of the mysteries I've solved would make your whiskers curl, your fur stand on end and your teeth chat chat chatter together"
1. So Monsieur Mustard, can you tell us a little about yourself? Where are you from, and just how famous are you?
Yes, yes, it's me - the world's most famous detective. And before you ask, no, I'm not the smallest. Detective Hans Hamster is at least two peas and half a sausage roll shorter than I am. I'm a mouse detective from Paris, now living in Bath.
Why am I so famous? My whiskers tingle when trouble is near, I can sniff out a villain even with the distraction of a Victoria sponge cake in the same room, and I always solve the case . . . eventually.
2. Can you describe what you look like, so I readers can spot you if you make a surprise appearance?
Of course. I'm a very handsome and incredibly stylish mouse. I never leave home without my mustard-coloured tweed suit, my monocle, my bottomless detective bag, and my trusty umbrella - perfect for floating down from rooftops and surprising criminals who thought they'd got away.
3. We've been reading about your latest investigation, The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth. Was that a hard case to crack?
The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth was one of the greatest - and most baffling - cases of my career. It was packed with mystery, danger, and a twist so shocking that even I, the magnificent Monsieur Mustard, nearly dropped my monocle.
4. What are the top skills a great detective (like you!) should have?
You wish to know what makes a truly magnificent investigator. Is it my whiskers of suspicion, twitching whenever danger is near? Naturally. Is it my astonishing ability to sniff out a culprit from three rooms away, even through the smell of a broccoli pie? Mais oui. And when everything is going terribly wrong, do I sometimes require the help of a loyal friend? . . . Fine. Occasionally. Once or twice. But only when absolutely necessary and usually during emergencies involving baboons, car chases or runaway top hats.
5. What with flying on a pigeon, robots and an amazing car too, The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth is quite an adventure! What was the most exciting part for you?
Don't get me started on those pesky police pigeons. I am sorry to tell you that flying on the back of P. I. Podge was neither exciting nor an adventure. Do you know they don't wear pants? Mon dieu! The Beantinley car, though, with the 'car chase mode' button, now that was a hair-raising adventure. My most thrilling moment though, hmm, probably it was karate chopping the tiger magician's wand from her paw - although to be honest with you that didn't end all that well for me.
6. Detectives often have a special investigative assistant - do you? Are they up to the job?
You are correct, most detectives have assistants, but I always preferred working alone. Then Mobbsy Slewfoot suddenly appeared in my life. At first, I thought an assistant was a terrible idea. Now, I must admit, he can actually be quite useful. Between you and me, though, he does the most alarming nervous poot poots whenever things get exciting.
7. Does your work put you in great danger? What kinds of foes and villains do you face?
Does my work put me in great danger? But of course! Did I not just tell you about karate chopping a wand out of a tiger magician's paw? Some of the mysteries I've solved would make your whiskers curl, your fur stand on end and your teeth chat chat chatter together.
I am famous for catching criminals like cat burgler Felix Fitz, famed jewel thief Maggie Pie, and the horrific Gary the Guinea Pig Guzzler who . . . well, perhaps we'll leave that story for another day. But I have been told that just the mention of my name makes villains shiver with fear.
8. Charley Rabbit, who writes about your adventures, has also drawn lots of illustrations of your adventures. Has she caught your magnificent likeness in The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth?
Ah, yes, I must admit she has done an excellent job of capturing my bravery, my brilliance and my extremely impressive running pose. She also included a few embarrassing moments which I specifically told her to leave out, but apparently 'falling into a bowl of soup' is 'important to the plot'. The other characters do look quite good too I suppose.
9. Will you be sharing more of your adventures with our readers?
Now that's an excellent idea! I was just telling Charley Rabbit about my journey to Paris on the Golden Express. It's a very twisty mystery, and quite dark in places - I do wonder if readers are brave enough for it. Still, there is a royal snake who keeps farting at important moments, so it can't be too serious.
10. What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you're not on a case?
I have very little time for hobbies. But when I do find a spare moment, I enjoy curling my whiskers of suspicion, rearranging my days-of-the-week underpants into the correct order, polishing my monocle, and admiring my scrapbook of solved cases. It is important for a famous detective to stay humble.
Animal Detective Challenge: Create a Crime-Solving Critter! Imagine you're creating the world's next great animal detective. Your mission is to invent a detective so unusual, clever, or funny that even Monsieur Mustard would be impressed! Draw and describe your detective:
What animal are they?
What is their name?
What special detective skill do they have?
Do they have an assistant?
What strange item do they always carry?
What is their biggest weakness?
What is the most ridiculous crime they have ever solved?
Bonus Challenge: Write a short case title for their next adventure, such as: The Mystery of the Missing Marshmallows; The Case of the Runaway Crown; Who Stole the King's Trousers?
Monsieur Mustard: The Disappearance of Fabio Fangtooth
