Murder at the Museum (Montgomery Bonbon #1) by Alasdair Beckett-King, Claire Powell
Series: Montgomery Bonbon #1
Published by Candlewick Press ISBN: 1536241660
Genres: Humor, Mystery
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

Bonnie Montgomery is a perfectly ordinary 10-year-old girl.

Montgomery Bonbon is a world-famous French-accented detective notable for his surprisingly short stature, enormous moustache, and face-shading beret.

Keen readers will immediately deduce that they are never seen at the same place at the same time.

This debut middle grade mystery featuring the mysterious Montgomery Bonbon takes place in Bonnie’s hometown of Widdlington, England, where a locked-room murder and theft has just occurred at the Hornville Museum of Natural History and Suchlike. Alasdair Beckett-King uses his comedic background to create a mad caper of a mystery full of zany characters, outrageous plot twists, and silly side quests. Eventually Bonbon nabs the villain (moustaches still, if barely, remaining affixed).

A Nate-the-Great quirkiness for young readers meets Hercule Poirot’s dignified continental bearing for discerning mystery lovers mashup, this is a fun, fast paced mystery that young middle grade readers will surely enjoy. An easy addition to any library collection.

5 stars

Note: this book was first released in England in 2023, with the first US edition in 2025. Two sequels were released in the US nearly simultaneously, and are also available.

– Jenny Martinez Nocito, Maine State Library, Augusta ME