A Complicated Case

Starred review from January 15, 2016
Something's amiss in Detective Gordon's forested police district. Detective Gordon, a toad, wakes to find the morning cake tin, the afternoon cake tin, and the evening cake tin all missing. Oh no! Luckily Police Assistant Buffy, a mouse, saw Gordon walk in his sleep and take the tins outside. That case is solved easily enough, but another looms: everyone in the wood seems somehow sad. The police force investigates. No one will name the culprit, but it turns out there's some teasing going on. Careful detective work exposes the bully. However, the case is far from cut and dry. Good thing they have the Book of Law to remind them what's forbidden, though Buffy must first learn to read in order to consult it on her own. Swedish author Nilsson's second Detective Gordon woodland mystery has all the charm and whimsy of the first. A complicated case meets a complicated solution in this tale of intergenerational friendship that's deeply respectful of its audience of young independent readers. It's a sort of Frog and Toad meets Mayberry R.F.D. Spee's plentiful soft and slightly squiggly illustrations of clothed animals bring Nilsson's comfortable little world to life. Readers will be hoping this isn't Detective Gordon's A Complicated Case. Put Detective Gord on's stamp on it: KLA-DUNK! Another winner. (Mystery. 6-10)

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Starred review from March 1, 2016

Gr 1-4-Detective Gordon is a pudgy toad with a strong penchant for cakes and a predilection for naps. Luckily for all involved, his assistant Buffy, an energetic and kind-hearted mouse, is always by his side and ready to work. When Buffy discovers that not everyone in the forest is happy and, indeed, some have become "sad and serious," the two set off to investigate. As they interview various witnesses, such as a weepy crow and a depressed rabbit, the two realize that someone is being intentionally cruel, and this constitutes a major crime for these gentle creatures. In order to solve the case, Buffy and Gordon must brave some of their own fears to figure out who is spreading gloom throughout the land. Once again, Nilsson (Detective Gordon: The First Case, [Gecko, 2015]) delivers a rare gem of a book with age-appropriate content for precocious young readers. Full of droll asides and an emphasis on the importance of kindness, this is also an excellent read-aloud selection for classrooms or families. Spee's charming illustrations add just the right feel to the gentle tone of the text, which is translated from the original Swedish. While it is optimal if kids have read the first book, it certainly is not necessary. VERDICT A wonderful choice for independent readers who enjoy light mystery and adorable anthropomorphized animals, this is a must-have for chapter book collections.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 23, 2015
Written in the style of a classic noir, but with plenty of humor and silliness, Nilsson's novel opens with a squirrel running to the police station on a quiet snowy nightâone of his caches of nuts has been stolen. As Detective Gordon, a toad, investigates, he catches a hungry baby mouse stealing a single nut and takes her in, names her Buffy, and gives her a job as his assistant. Gordon and Buffy make a formidable odd couple: Gordon prefers to snack on cakes and drink warm milk in his office, while Buffy takes to police work eagerly and helps solve the crime rather ingeniously. Nilsson fills the story with friendly banter and dry wit that call to mind Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad books ("Police work goes on all hours of day and night, but according to the type of cake you know what time it is," Gordon tells Buffy, explaining the finer points of being a police officer), and Spee's softly colored illustrations illuminate the tiny, cozy details of the forest creatures' world. Ages 7âup.

March 1, 2016
In their second case (Detective Gordon: The First Case, rev. 5/15), Detective Gordon (an elderly toad feeling his age) and Police Assistant Buffy (a young mouse determined to prove herself) face the issue of bullying. Someone has been saying nasty things to fellow forest creatures. The victims are too afraid to identify the culprit, so Gordon and Buffy investigatenot only who is doing the bullying, but why. The truth of the situation is, indeed, more complicated than it first appears, and as before, Gordon and Buffy's application of the law is just and compassionate. During the investigation, Gordon contemplates the distinctions between intentional nastiness, accidental un-nice -ness, and thoughtlessness, and the partners 'fess up to occasional unkindness of their own. Police must always tell the truth, after all, and must always investigate themselves. Text and illustrations alike are full of humor and affection, making for a thoughtful but light-handed exploration of the topic. By case's end Buffy has earned a promotion (and learned to read) and Gordon has embarked on a much-needed vacation, leaving things in Buffy's capable paws. Loose black line drawings with washes of warm color portray the friends, their cozy home, and the forest community they serve and protect. katie bircher

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

December 1, 2016

Gr 1-4-Detective Gordon (a bumbling toad) and his protege, Buffy (a cheerful mouse), tackle cases involving missing cake tins and an unidentified neighborhood bully. As the diminutive creature is taught the rules of the trade-from "investigate everything" to "be prepared to be eaten up!"-readers will quickly discern who the ace gumshoe truly is. A genial introduction to chapter books and an affectionate duo, featuring colorful, lissome art.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.