Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2022 Gr 5–8—Eleven-year-old orphaned John Boarhog, secretly living in the New York Museum of Natural History, is accused of stealing a valuable ruby from an Egyptian exhibit in this fun and often absurd middle grade mystery debut. John is discovered when he's found unconscious next to the Egyptian display case with the ruby in his pocket. An anonymous narrator recounts John's desperate efforts to prove his innocence. He's aided in his quest for justice by the incomparable Inspector Toadius McGee; actress Polly "Pickles'' Cronopolis, McGee's unrequited love; and the Great Goatinee, a cat burglar and bad magician. The real thief is the Mauve Moth, a criminal mastermind who, to John's disbelief, might be his mother who is thought to have died two years before. The plot is fun in a chaotic way, with double-crossings, plot twists, and outrageous characters and situations. John and company get mixed up in a Broadway show, a speakeasy brawl, and are kidnapped by the nasty head of the Jersey Home for Boys and its bullying orphans. It ends with a fantastical chase scene involving bananas, horses, hansom carriages, rickshaws, dogs, smooching teenagers, a fire truck, and dumpsters. It's not all nonstop comedy though. More sober moments reveal John's struggle to cope with the loneliness of losing his mother. John and Inspector McGee are brown-skinned, most other characters are white. VERDICT Readers who don't take the plot too seriously will enjoy this fast-moving cinematic madcap detective mystery, the first in a series.—Sharon Rawlins - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2022 After losing his mother, John takes refuge in New York's Museum of Natural History, where he hides in a crawl space and befriends the kind staff. As a new Egyptian exhibit is being readied, John finds himself only feet away from the priceless ruby known as Egypt's Fire—but he's not alone. Everything goes dark, and the next moment, John is being accused of stealing the ruby. Only the charismatic Inspector Toadius McGee seems to believe John's innocence, and together they work to find the ruby. As Toadius and John get closer to the real culprit, they grow closer to each other as well, with John learning about being a detective, and Toadius sharing his views on life. They visit Broadway, eat blueberry pancakes, meet with a guild of thieves, and more, all while chasing one of the world's most elusive criminals. This fast-paced mystery, sprinkled with humor and life lessons, has enough twists, turns, red herrings, and secrets to keep readers guessing. A strong series starter for fans of clever mysteries. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.