Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery (Max and Maddy Series) Book

Max and Maddy Twist have a flair for solving crimes. You might even say it's in their blood. That's because their parents once ran a thriving detective agency—until the notorious Professor Claude Sardine shut them down. But now Max and Maddy are ready to pick up where their parents left off.

When an eccentric balloonist enlists their help in finding out who is sabotaging a hot air balloon race, Max and Maddy not only take the case—they take to the air! But will they be able to find the culprit before their balloon becomes the next target?

Bestselling novelist Alexander McCall Smith introduces readers to a delightfully funny new set of heroes—and the tricky villain who's always keeping them on their toes.

Children's Literature

Max and Maddy Twist, sibling detectives of indeterminate age, are back for their second outing. This time around, they are called into action by the famous millionaire/philanthropist Harry Helium. Hoping to raise big bucks for his latest charity, Home for Children Whose Parents Have Disappeared in Balloons, Helium is sponsoring a daring balloon race from New York to Vancouver. The six contestants, all accomplished balloonists from various countries, are vying for a million dollar prize. The Twists are needed because the balloonists are being sabotaged, and the race is only a day away! Deciding the best place to solve the case is in the air, they join Mr. Helium in his balloon. The danger escalates (the starter pistol shoots a real bullet; a model plane attacks a balloon; a spare gas cylinder is punctured), and then the savvy siblings discover—to their horror—that one of the balloonists is not only an impostor; he is Professor Sardine, the evil villain who ruined their parents! This is an enjoyable, tongue-in-cheek series, somewhat reminiscent of Handlers A Series of Unfortunate Events, both in tone and style. For example, the narrator occasionally interjects lines such as "Could you sleep? I don't think I could," and the wicked Professor Sardine is very similar to Count Olaf in his ability to appear—and disappear—with alarming ease. Although most of the illustrations were unavailable, the story is well-paced, the humor droll, and the characters resourceful.