Fabio The World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: Mystery on the Ostrich Express – Laura James & Emily Fox

Fabio is back, he’s about to go on holiday with Gilbert but that would never stop a good Detective from saving the day.

I love it!! I’m a Detective like Fabio we solved the mystery!!

This was Littlefae’s response after we finished Mystery on the Ostrich Express and found her suspicions and theory had indeed been correct (no spoilers) especially because she had been so incensed when she got the first Fabio Mystery wrong!

Gilbert has persuaded Fabio he needs a holiday so they are headed to the Coconut Springs Resort to soak up some sunshine and fun and a well earned rest.

Before boarding the train though whilst getting a pocket watch fixed the jeweller tells Fabio he needs his help, but there is no time!

On board the Ostrich Express, The friends meet Zazie the Fox transporting a jewel to be auctioned in the dining car over Pink lemonades but just before the dessert trolley the train screeches to a halt as there is a baby elephant tied to the tracks… but it’s all a distraction as a scream rings out and the precious Laloozee Ruby is stolen!!

Can Fabio save the day??

Littlefae couldn’t stop smiling the day our copy arrived!

This is an excellent and playful addition to children’s mysteries with a cast of animal characters getting into exciting crime capers but safe enough for the Young reader market. The amazing illustrations by Emily Fox add a touch of whimsy but style to the book with bright colour palettes too!

Fabio is a constant gentleman, keeps a cool head and guides children through the mystery with the Poirot bonhomie voice of reason (without the snootiness or tummy troubles) whilst Gilbert his companion is the unintentionally comedy guy, making mistakes, banging heads and being the playful childlike friend to make it all less serious with slapstick and misunderstandings.

Whilst this plot is a little more ‘open’ in the outcome of the crime than the Case Of the Missing Hippo, which has far more red herrings, this is the opportunity for a little more exciting action with a dashing chase across the canyon floor and along the roof of a train which Littlefae enjoyed immensely. We didn’t mind losing a layered twisty and turning mystery to see a greater range from Fabio.
I loved seeing Fabio be more heroic and equally I would love to see a doozy stumper of a case to see how Littlefae deals with it. Basically wherever James & Fox go we will follow!!

I absolutely adore Laura James and Emily Fox for creating this series that has lit a spark of joy in Littlefae for mysteries, we highly recommend it for young readers who enjoy highly illustrated and playful plots especially as the chapters are well balanced for the young reader to cope and build stamina.

We’ve been embracing other children’s mysteries so if you know anything appropriate whether picture book, young reader or lower end of middle grade for read aloud please share them with us in the comments.

Fabio The World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: Mystery on the Ostrich Express by Laura James & Illustrated by Emily Fox is published by Bloomsbury and available online and from bookstores.

I received a copy of this book by winning a Toppsta giveaway, this has not affected my opinion.