THE MALTESE MUMMY

The Chicagoland Detective Agency returns with another pseudoscientific, near-mystery graphic adventure. Self-absorbed but enthusiastic poet-cum-detective Megan has won tickets to a press conference held by goth-rocker Sun D’Arc; she’s written hundreds of haiku dedicated to him and his dark, dreamy, depressing dirges. She asks Raf, self-described boy genius, to go with her, but he gets the flu. Since Bradley, their other partner, is an experimentally enhanced dog, Megan takes Raf’s friend William. When Sun and his oddly familiar manager express interest in William and Megan catches Egyptian exchange student Jazmin lurking about the concert hall, she realizes something odd is definitely going on…then William disappears! Does this have anything to do with the mummy exhibit at the museum? Can the CDA solve the case in time to save their friend? Robbins’ sophomore preteen detective effort (The Drained Brains Caper, 2010) is a tale that’s light on mystery but makes up for it with age-appropriate edgy, sarcastic humor and pop-culture jibes. Page’s black-and-white cartoon panels are full of pulpy action and visually exciting cinematography and include several “screen shots” from MyBlogFace. Readers of book one will spot the villain long before the heroes do, making them feel extra smart. Good graphic fun. (Graphic mystery. 7-12)