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Children's Book of the Month

Death by Chocolate by Alan Nolan
Published by O'Brien Press, 2011

Alan Nolan has written a series of "WHODUNNITS" for 10-14 year olds entitled "MURDER CAN BE FATAL". The first book, Death by Chocolate introduces us to the famous Swiss Detective Marcel Petit-Pois and his chimp sidekick Tesla. A mysterious Chocolatier has committed a series of chocolate-related killings and Marcel and Tesla, his multi-tasking assistant and the brains of the detective agency can’t wait to solve the crimes.

Marcel tries hard, teaming up with old contacts, following clues and uncovering murders, all essential tasks in the everyday work of a good detective Tesla steals the show through his witty remarks and becomes the real hero of the book, getting the reader onside to have a giggle at his master.

Death by Chocolate takes the reader from places as diverse as from Dublin to Norway via Berlin and Morocco! in an effort to solve a murder that has not yet been committed.

Black and white pen and ink cartoon strips are interspersed with collage style images of all that you would expect to find on a private investigator’s desk; progress reports, clues gathered along the way, Tesla’s typed notes, shopping lists etc. etc.

All this adds to the attractiveness of this comic book that would make an ideal choice for a reluctant reader who’s looking for something different.

Death by Chocolate is followed by Six Million Ways to Die. Both titles are available in Clare library branches.