From a rising stand-up comedian and exciting new talent in children’s fiction comes a brilliantly funny murder mystery series that BBC Radio called “Knives Out meets Poirot—but for children!” Bonnie Montgomery is the world’s greatest detective. Not that anyone—other than Grampa Banks—has heard of her. But they will have heard of Montgomery Bonbon, the gentleman detective with the bristly mustache, fashionable beret, and accent that’s hard to place. Montgomery Bonbon is responsible for solving many high-stakes crimes, including unmasking the Emmental Bandit, restoring the Rusakova diamonds to their rightful owner, and busting an international owl-smuggling ring, resulting in the arrest of over twelve owls.
But now Montgomery Bonbon is needed on a case much closer to home, at the Hornville Museum in Bonnie’s hometown of Widdlington, where a mysterious death has occurred. Don’t look too carefully, however—from certain angles, Montgomery Bonbon looks suspiciously like a ten-year-old girl . . . Brimming with charm and wit, this debut offering from comedian and writer Alasdair Beckett-King and best-selling illustrator Claire Powell is a delightful modern take on the classic whodunit.
On sale: February 11, 2025
Age: 9-12 years
Grade: Grades 4-7
Page count: 288 Pages
ISBN: 9781536241662
Alasdair Beckett-King is an award-winning comedian and writer. Since studying at the London Film School, he has performed critically lauded solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, written for BBC radio, appeared on comedy panel shows such as
Mock the Week, cowritten an award-winning video game, and created numerous viral sketches for social media, including an interactive whodunit. Alasdair Beckett-King lives in southeast London.
Claire Powell is a best-selling children’s book maker, character designer, and illustrator who started out designing for television brands. She is the illustrator of
The Night Before the Night Before Christmas and
The Night After Christmas by Kes Gray,
The Wizard and Me by Simon Farnaby, and
The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln. She has also illustrated books for Jeanne Willis, Peter Bently, and Michelle Robinson. Claire Powell lives in England.
When dastardly crime goes down, a girl named Bonnie Montgomery slides from view to be replaced by Monsieur Montgomery Bonbon, sleuth extraordinaire! In stories packed with all the smart jokes and groaningly good puns that you’d expect from an award-winning comedian, the great Montgomery Bonbon is soon up to her—I mean
his trench-coat collar with clever clues, unreliable witnesses, and suspicious goings-on in this madcap and brilliantly funny debut by Alasdair Beckett-King.
—Thomas Taylor, author of the acclaimed Eerie-on-Sea series
This classic cozy mystery series opener, complete with a satisfying reveal, will leave children cheering for its young sleuth. . . Quirky and clever: Readers will clamor for more!
—Kirkus Reviews
