Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum

Bonnie Montgomery is on a trip to the Hornville Museum of Natural History and Suchlike with Grampa Banks when suddenly all the lights go out and a terrible scream is heard from the floor above.

Suspecting something sinister is afoot, Bonnie finds a quiet corner, removes a raincoat and false moustache from her backpack, and is miraculously transformed into Montgomery Bonbon, the world’s greatest detective (at least as far as Grampa Banks is concerned).

When a dead body and an empty display case are discovered, in a room which is locked from the inside, Monsieur Bonbon springs into action: taking notes, collecting clues and investigating suspects.

While the plot is convincing enough to engage readers and keep them guessing, the underlying mood of Bonnie’s story is a gentle humour. And there is never any doubt that, without the false moustache and raincoat, Montgomery Bonbon looks remarkably like a ten-year-old girl.

Witty black and white illustrations complement a story that is simple enough for readers to collect clues alongside the famous detective, yet complex enough to present plenty of challenging questions. And it’s also a heart-warming example of a special relationship between a young girl and her Grampa.