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The Ghostwriter Secret (Brixton Brothers)

by Adam Rex
226p. 978-1-41697-817-6.
COPY ISBN
Gr 3—6—Middle schooler Steve Brixton has read all 58 of the "Bailey Brothers Mysteries," which were written decades earlier, plus The Bailey Brothers' Detective Handbook, which has become his guidebook for his own detective agency. He frequently refers back to these books, portions of which are reprinted (old typeface and all) in The Ghostwriter Secret. Steve's first case, a missing diamond, is solved easily and seamlessly. He then becomes involved with his hero, the author of the books, MacArthur Bart, who has been kidnapped. An investigation ensues and Steve brings his friend Dana in to help. Before they know what happened, the boys have been kidnapped, too. Barnett has written a fun, adventure-filled book. This is a great choice for slow or reluctant readers.—Patty Saidenberg, George Jackson Academy, New York City
This second Brixton Brothers installment is similar in comedic elements to The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity. This time Steve must rescue his favorite author, MacArthur Bart, as well as find a missing diamond. The story functions well as a Hardy Boys–type parody; how humorous middle-grade readers find it may depend on their familiarity with the genre.
A wonderful send-up of Hardy Boys-style detective stories. Steve’s antiquated slang and his heartfelt belief in such mottoes as “Ace sleuths must always keep their cool—even when the danger is red hot!” are endearing and funny. Though intentionally campy, the book also offers a genuinely compelling mystery, with ample surprises for Steve and readers alike. Steve’s best friend, Dana, is a comical foil, providing plenty of deadpan humor during his many attempts to talk sense into Steve. And Dana is easy to relate to, often acting as an audience stand-in by expressing doubt about Steve’s absurd crime-fighting methods.

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