Review by Booklist Review
Detective Gordon has retired from the position of chief detective, but the elderly toad still lives at the police station, and he remains enthusiastic about learning new things, sharing his reflections with Buffy, his successor, and training youngsters to become police officers. When a squawking crow flies through the forest warning, "Beware the terrible monsters," the worried animals gather inside the police station for safety. Buffy, the plucky mouse who is now in charge of policing the forest, bravely goes forth to investigate. Armed with Detective Gordon's sage advice, she befriends the scary-looking new arrivals. From the first chapter (enticingly titled "Nothing terrible has happened. Yet.") to the last, in which the detectives review their case, eat little cakes, and fall asleep, this book is enjoyable for reading aloud to young children and accessible to transitional chapter-book readers. Nilsson excels at writing imaginative, gently amusing adventures, laced with unpretentious bits of wisdom. Spee's enchanting illustrations capture the tone of the text. First published in Sweden, this is the fifth and final volume in the Detective Gordon series.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--4--The conclusion of the beloved Swedish chapter book series is just as charming as previous entries. Some unknown creature is making scary sounds, disturbing the peace of a delightful forest's denizens. Buffy, the sweet mouse first discovered by Detective Gordon--the cake-loving, mystery-solving toad in the first installment--is now the Chief Detective. She's on the case and has tapped her mentor for help. What could be making the banging noises that are keeping everyone up? Soon, all of the forest creatures are hiding in the police station as the pair investigate, with the help of an inquisitive and enthusiastic young squirrel. The creators populate this world with characters like a crotchety badger who just wants to get some sleep, pleasant baking pigs, and excited rodent kindergartners. The combination of the quaint narrative and the lovely, painterly illustrations make this a warm-hearted tale that readers will want to immerse themselves in. After some initial misunderstandings, the mystery is solved, peace restored, yummy cakes eaten, and new friends made. The text is both humorous and poetic, and the full-color renderings give the book a timeless feel. Familiarity with the previous volumes is not necessary for enjoyment. VERDICT Instant classics, these stories would make for perfect classroom read-alouds and a just-right match for chapter book readers. --Shelley M. Diaz
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
There are scoundrels on the loose in Chief Detective Buffy's police district! Former Detective Gordon (a toad) has passed on his title to his former assistant Buffy (a mouse). When forest resident Badger hears "brumbling and scrorching" in the night and goes out to find his trash can destroyed, Detective Buffy is on the case. Meanwhile, Gordon, who still lives at the police headquarters with Buffy, is looking after a young squirrel named Helmer who wants to join the police when he grows up. While investigating, Buffy is injured. Gordon and the other forest animals rescue her, and everyone stays at police headquarters for the night…but little Helmer goes investigating on his own and makes a surprising friend. Beloved, award-winning Swedish author Nilsson passed away in 2021, making this (likely) the final adventure for Detective Buffy and former Detective Gordon. A little more fantastical than its four predecessors, this volume is just as charming, gentle, wry, and entertaining as the rest of the series and anything that was created by A.A. Milne or Kenneth Grahame. Spee's squiggly colored-pencil drawings again bring everything to life. Sadly the last but a fine addition to a fine series. (map of Buffy's police district) (Mystery. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
