Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer - Review

[Steve]

What is a good test of whether a book is good or not?

Well, "can't put it down" is a pretty good test. A few 
days ago I finally found 'Half Moon Investigations' in
paperback. I've been wanting to read it for a long time,
but have been unwilling to risk the substantial (on my
income) investment in the hard cover version, so I
waited for the paperback.

I rushed through the end of OotP, which I had been 
reading at the time, eager to see what happened to
12 year old 'Fletcher Moon' in Colfer's new book. Every
night I read a bit before going to bed, and a couple of
nights ago I was about half way through, and I simply 
could not put it down. I read all through the night 
until past dawn. I just had to know what happened; I 
just had to know the solution to the mystery. IT WAS 
THAT GOOD.

Here is a blurb from the book cover -

"Combine Sam Spade's manner, Encyclopedia Brown's
curiosity, and Columbo's tenacity -- that's Fletcher
Moon, kid crime-solver" - Kirkus Reviews

This book read like a gritty detective novel, but it
takes place on the grade school playground complete
with all the playground stereotypes; the big bully
girl, the bad family, the 'Barbie-doll' gang of girls,
etc..., and of course, 'Half Moon'. Fletcher Moon was
named Half Moon by the oldest of the 'bad family'
because Fletcher was pretty short. 

Much like the Artemis Fowl, the overall premise of the
story is somewhat ridiculous; I mean, a gritty crime
story taking place on the school play ground...really?
But, again like the Artemis Fowl books, there is a real
gripping mystery underlying the somewhat light overall
premise. That is part of the magic of Eoin Colfer's 
writing; he can take any unlikely premise and weave it
into a suspenseful mystery.

Fletcher Moon, really is a certified Private Detective.
He used his father's birth certificate (they share the
same name) to enroll in an Private Detective's 
correspondence course. He came out at the top of his
class, and has the certificate and detective's badge to
prove it.  

Since then he has been solving minor mysteries for his
classmates, but now Fletcher (Half Moon) has a real
mystery to solve. With the help of Red, the oldest of
the 'bad family' still in grade school, Fletcher finds
himself on the run from the law, and can only reveal
himself when he has solved the mystery and cleared his
name.

That sounds like a pretty straight forward 'genre' theme,
but Eoin Colfer manages to add a few twists that you are
very unlikely to see coming. 

This is a light easy-to-read 290 page book that is a
enchanting look into the mind and quirky life of Fletcher
'Half Moon' Moon. It is aimed at a younger audience, but
can still be thoroughly enjoyed by an older reader. I
suggest you buy it for your kids, but read it first 
under the pretense that you must investigate it to make 
sure it doesn't contain any inappropriate material, which
I assure you it does not, but it's a great excuse to read
a delightful kids book. When you're done, then you kids 
can enjoy the great adventures and mysteries of 'Half Moon
Investigations'.

Just passing it along. 

Steve/bboyminn