Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum

By Author / Illustrator

Alasdair Beckett-King, illus Claire Powell

Genre

Mystery & Detective

Age range(s)

Publisher

Walker Books Ltd

ISBN

9781529501049

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

02-02-2023

Synopsis

A brilliantly funny young murder mystery from a rising stand-up comedian, podcaster and filmmaker - and exciting new talent in children's fiction.

Many people go their whole lives without noticing anything that is afoot, amiss, or even untoward; without ever experiencing that toe-tingling, stomach-twisting sensation that a mystery is about to unfold. Not Bonnie Montgomery - the world's best detective. Not that anyone (other than Grampa Banks) has heard of her... But they might have heard of the great Montgomery Bonbon, the well-dressed gentleman detective who (apart from the hat and moustache) looks suspiciously like a 10-year-old girl. Their newest case: solving the mystery surrounding a highly suspicious death at the Hornville Museum. Together they'll interview some dodgy witnesses, scour the scene for clues and - above all - hope no one notices that Bonnie and Montgomery are never in the same room at the same time...

Enjoy a reading from author and comedian Alasdair Beckett-King

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Reviews

Bonnie Montgomery lives with her mum and Grampa Banks, however, unbeknownst to everyone except Grampa, Bonnie's alter ego is the marvellous detective - Montgomery Bonbon! Bonbon's character is mysterious, he has an unidentifiable accent and a fake moustache but he is fabulous at solving a mystery! Upon visiting the Hornville Museum with its eclectic displays, Bonnie and Grampa end up discovering a murder! but whodunnit......will Bonbon discover who killed Oliver Munday?

Montgomery Bonbon - Murder at the Museum is witty, fast-paced, and humorous. Children will love the accompanying black-and-white illustrations by Claire Powell and they fit perfectly with the short chapters, each one leaving you wanting more. Perfect for confident Year 3 readers+ I'm looking forward to the next installment of Bonbon!

288 pages / Reviewed by Emma Nelson, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum is a brilliantly funny murder mystery story by Alasdair Beckett-King. The new sleuth is humorous and witty and will inspire budding detectives everywhere, as all that is clearly needed is a clever disguise, a fake moustache, a notebook and lemon bonbons!

We are first introduced to Bonnie Montgomery when she visits the local museum with her Grampa Banks. Hornville's Museum of Natural History is no ordinary museum and Bonnie is super excited to visit the museum because of its bizarre collection. She loves outings with her Grampa during the summer holidays and this one is no exception. Whilst she is there, the lights go out and a loud scream can be heard. A murder has been committed. Bonnie then changes into her alter ego - Montgomery Bonbon, the famous detective.

Montgomery Bonbon has helped to solve several big cases but has not really received the recognition for them as Inspector Sands from the local authority does not really approve of 'his' interference. Detective Bonbon's investigation soon uncovers more than just a murder; something has been stolen. Bonnie and Grampa Banks are faced with new challenges of how this murder could have happened because the door had been locked from the inside. Nothing is quite what it seems. Montgomery Bonbon begins to take statements from the suspects and gather evidence before following a few clues that have been left behind to try and solve the mystery.

This book is immensely funny, with stake outs in ice-cream vans and clever parrots that help to intensify the humour and the mystery for the reader. The illustrations by Claire Powell make the book feel more like case notes and they also support the reader by providing maps, suspect snapshots and clues. Children will enjoy this book because the main characters in the story make such a good team. This would make an excellent addition to school libraries and be a fun class read.

285 pages / Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher