Murder My Tweet, still a hit 21 years later

Author: Bruce Hale

Synopsis: In these wickedly funny, criminally punny mysteries from Chet Gecko's tattered casebook, the detective and his trusty mockingbird associate, Natalie Attired, keep law and order in the halls of Emerson Elementary.

Right in the middle of a run-of-the-mill case, the powers that be finger Chet's fine-feathered partner, Natalie Attired, as a no-goodnik blackmailer and boot her out of Emerson Hicky quicker than you can say, "Boot her out of Emerson Hicky."

Chet, of course, tackles the case for free. Mess with his partner, mess with--well, somebody. (Natalie's the brains of the outfit.) But just when Chet thinks he might clear her name, Natalie disappears, leaving behind a reddish smear that looks kind of like cherry ladybug jam . . . Is it murder, or something serious?

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Subgenre: Contemporary Fiction

Microgenre: Amateur Sleuth

Audience: Middle Grade

Pages: 177

Progress: 2/30

Rating: 86% ★★★★★

Part of our winter reading club had the challenge to re-read a childhood favorite. I was nervous to pick this one back up even though it was my 7th? time rereading it since I got it for Christmas in 2005. Would it still hold up? Would I find it as enjoyable as I did when I was younger?

Well, to whoever may be reading this, I did once again enjoy this book so freaking much.

Now, I've read all 15 mysteries as a child but Murder, My Tweet by Bruce Hale is the one I always come back to in the end. It's a great low stakes mystery that shows how the bonds of friendship are powerful.

Chet reminds of Jack DeForest, a one off character in The Simpsons when the school does Casablanca as a play and the main lead opposite Lisa, who speaks like Humphrey Bogart.

Natalie is such a wonderful character as well. She complements Chet really well with the partnership they have while solving crimes and doesn't take attitude from Chet and for 2004 there were not a lot of female characters doing that.

Okay are the crimes a little goofy? Maybe, but what else do you expect from a gecko who solves crimes and multitasking to explain detective lingo to the reader? Enjoy some whimsy for like a half hour (or however long it takes you to read it, no judgement here) gosh darn it.

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