Montgomery Bonbon: Sabotage at Sea

Mystery balances with humor and a pinch of tension to create a fun read.

Bonnie can't wait to be a VIP with her Grampa on the reconstruction of Dreadnowt, a once renowned pirate ship. Better yet, her mother is in charge of setting off the fireworks on the ship for the other festival members, who are still on land, to enjoy. But something goes terribly wrong. Not only is the captain killed in the mishap, but Bonnie's mother is arrested for his death. The entire thing stinks to the high-seas, and Bonnie is determined to get to the bottom of it.

This is my first look at this series, and I'm sorry I didn't discover it earlier, since it is a fun read with just enough bite to make it interesting. Bonnie is an energetic character, who acts her show more age but is very clever and observant. Her transformation into the detective, Montgomery Bonbon, with a simple moustache comes across with just enough silliness to create a smile but manages to skim past complete disbelief thanks to the cast of quirky characters. The entire tale rides on a constant wave of humor, which works as a counterbalance to the murder mystery. The author manages to weave the two in such a way, which makes it very appropriate for the intended audience. It's quick-paced, holds plenty of surprises, and carries heart as well.

The illustrations bring each scene to life, while the text keeps the pacing high. The mix of the two make it entertaining the entire way through. The tale fits especially well to the lower and mid-range of the middle grade audience, and even reluctant readers will enjoy the easy-to-read font and quick-paced mystery. Along the way, the author works in a few vocabulary-building moments to help improve reading skills. But this book is all about fun, and Bonnie is just the detective to pull that off. I'm looking forward to visiting the adventures I missed and see what she'll be up against in the future. show less