I'm disappointed I didn't like this one more, because I really like Cece Bell and Tom Angleberger as people. The characters are abrasive and rude, and the situations are frustrating. I'm sure kids will enjoy it, but there are other goofy kids' mysteries out there that I think are better.

Note: I received a digital review copy of this title through NetGalley. ( )

Weirdly appealing adventures of a flytrap plant detective and his goat assistant. Silly kid humor throughout, and some valuable lessons about observation and not eating everything. ( )

A Venus Flytrap and a goat--who could imagine them as a PI partnership but it works. Small vignettes of mysteries to be solved with the Venus Flytrap as the gumshoe and the goat as the sarcastic sidekick.

This is different and unique. The short vignettes will keep the attention of the early chapter book readers. It's fun and unexpected in the duo. I look forward to more. ( )

This is the first in a planned series of early chapter readers. A venus flytrap, Inspector Flytrap and his goat assistant, Nina, work together to solve mysterious happenings in their town, but he only solves big deal mysteries. Don't bother him with small deals like lost pickle paperweights, please (although he ends up solving it in the end). There are four stories in this book, with mysteries involving art, an awful smell, a missing shoe as well as a missing plant. The stories are filled crazy humour and illustrations that kids will love. Lots of silliness with a little rudeness that will tickle the funnybone of the young readers. A cute addition to class and school libraries for those early readers who want to read chapter books.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. ( )

This is one of the new series I added to our beginning chapter series this year. Angleberger teams up with Bell to present a ridiculous mystery series full of wacky problems and even sillier solutions.

Inspector Flytrap of the Flytrap Detective Agency only takes on really BIG problems. Fortunately, there's no shortage, from a mysterious art clue to a giant stinky shoe. Along the way Inspector Flytrap has to deal with his assistant, Nina, eating the clues (she's a goat), clients who don't appreciate his genius, and all manner of craziness.

The illustrations are in black, green, and gray with photographs in collage format. The text is a good match for intermediate chapter book readers, not quite as challenging as Magic Tree House, but harder than an easy reader or Branches title.

The mysteries are, at best, peripheral to the silly jokes and hijinks that fill the story. Nina eats evidence, Inspector Flytrap muses on his need for movement and excitement. A giant peg-legged pirate appears, Flytrap and Nina eat lunch from the garbage. The story ends with the last case, involving a missing rose, which turns out to be the perfect partner for Inspector Flytrap!

Verdict: I thought kids would enjoy the wacky humor of this series and it had ok circulation. When I used it in book club several kids were interested and liked the idea of the silly story. I don't think it will be a super popular title, but if you have a large beginning chapter collection it's a good addition.

ISBN: 9781419709654; Published 2016 by Abrams; Purchased for the library