Jenny McLachlan (text) and Chloe Dominique (illustrator), Dead Good Detectives, HarperCollins Publishers, August 2022, 288 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781405298155
The graveyard is 12-year-old Sid’s playground. She loves playing all sorts of spooky games with her best friend Zen, but she never meant to ACTUALLY unleash 300-year-old ghost pirate Ezekiel ‘Bones’ Kittow into the town of Fathom.
Bones needs Sid’s help to find his lost treasure so he can finally be at peace. The only problem is – he can’t remember where, or what it is. This leads Sid to the Halfway House, a mysterious, cursed inn full of trapped lost souls. And they’re all convinced SHE is the only one who can set them free. But not everyone is happy about Sid’s meddling with the supernatural, and time is ticking.
Beneath the tale of ghosts, ghouls, and pirate treasure is an important story about developing self-confidence. Dealing with the newfound self-consciousness young adolescence often brings, Sid’s greatest fear is to stand out and be stared at. She tries to go about school like a ghost – making as little noise or impact as possible. But with the help of Zen and Bones, Sid gains the courage to stand up to her bullies and be seen, learning that different doesn’t equal bad, and weird can be wonderful.
In addition, I really enjoyed that Sid and Zen had their magical adventure all while still navigating their regular lives, and the way their parents were shown as a consistent source of subtle support.
The first in a new series, Dead Good Detectives is just the right mix of creepy, sincere, exciting, and suspenseful. Expressive illustration by Chloe Dominique scattered throughout really bring the story to life. With unique, loveable characters and an engaging plot, this is the perfect read for children over eight. After all, who can say no to ghost pirates??
Reviewed by Libby Boas