Mystery at the Club Sandwich

Very Good, But Not Consistent Enough Boasting a title more clever than its story, "Mystery at the Club Sandwich" pays homage to the mysteries of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. The black and white illustrations (against an appealing silvery-white background) the clipped language, and the tough-guy stance all parody the "noir" films and books of the 1940's, and much of it is funny and clever. Unfortunately, Doug Cushman doesn't quite sustain the noir sensibility throughout the book, and the parody flattens somewhat after a promising beginning. The opening scene is taken from the Bogart version of "The Maltese Falcon." Detective Nick Trunk, an elephant with a slight resemblance to Lee J. Cobb, encounters a pretty, fur-laden kitten in his office. While the private eye's digs aren't shabby enough, there's some angled reflection on the wall, and his client has some `lip' on her: "One morning, the door to my office opened. In walked a beautiful lady. She looked like trouble. `My name is Trouble,' she said. `Maggie Trouble. Are you Nick Trunk?" `That's my name,' I said." Lola explains --in direct, short sentences-- a nicely convoluted story about how her employer, singer Lola Gale, lost her marbles. Real marbles (for good luck). Trunk replies "I will take your case," but like any two-bit detective he wants his payment up front. The elephant works for peanuts. (He will settle for peanut brittle, however). Witty, clever, and smartly written satire. The authenticity begins to evaporate when Trunk meets Gale, who looks more like Ms. Dumont in the Marx Brothers movies than a femme fatale. She's staid-looking, with real pearls, and an upscale air. Opportunities for noirish illustrations and biting dialogue give way to a more pedestrian mystery exploring clues, questioning multiple suspects--and repeating jokes and puns about peanut butter. Only the chef (a bespeckled pig) and a walrus working at a diner look like character actors from the films this book tries to emulate. A few clues and an insight later, the mystery is solved, with a final page exploding with puns. Although Cushman's draws well, and he includes some interesting dialogue and characters, the spoof just doesn't feel authentic enough. A better satire would include and parody more noir elements in a manner that would appeal to a wider age range. Cushman does a good job with some of these ingredients: The snappy dialogue, the drawings of the pig, the walrus, and Lola, the contours of the diner, and, later, a more messy detective office. However, the lighting, the characters (especially Nick Trunk), the names, and much of the whole "look" and tone are not consistently authentic. Younger kids aren't going to get all of the film noir allusions without the help of an older reader. Therefore, the author--more so than in other books--has two audiences, kids and adults, and adults' knowledge of the genre should be satisfied. Still, the book is often snappy, and the kitchen and diner "s

Lola Gale is a famous singer who has lost he lucky marbles. She hires Nick Truck who is an elephant and detective to find them. Nick collects clues and tries to find out who has taken the marbles. The book includes lots of word play along the way! The book has a twist at the end you will never guess who has taken the marbles and why! The books illustrations were done in black and white. Most kids will not be drawn to this book due to the lack of color. This is a good book for kids who enjoy mysteries. They can read it and try to solve the mystery before Nick Trunk does!

The very young may not readily understand the meaning of the film noir black and white drawings in Mystery At The Club Sandwich: this caveat aside, it's an inviting, wonderful story of one Nick Trunk, Private Detective, who is the only one to help foxy singer Lola regain her lost marbles. Nick's efforts at solving a sticky crime prove hilarious; especially to picturebook readers with some reading and critical thinking skills behind them.

Written in the style of an old Phillip Marlow detective story but for young children, Mystery at the Club Sandwich is a great story with plenty of amusing word play. Even the pictures are black-and-white like the old movie series. It is the story of Club Sandwich singer Lola Gale (a fox) who lost her marbles - her six lucky marbles. It is up to Nick Trunk (an elephant) to solve the mystery and locate her marbles. With only the clues of a peanut butter smudge and an ostrich feather it will be a hard case to solve. Join Nick Trunk as he investigates the magician entertainer, the cook, and even Ms. Gale's personal employee seeking to solve the crime. Wonderfully written entertainment for adults and children Mystery at the Club Sandwich is a highly recommended book for young children.