(3) 4-6 Brixton Brothers series. Illustrated by Matthew Myers. Twelve-year-old sleuth Steve has a nasty run-in with a group of hard-core surfers called the Berserkers while trying to track down a stolen surf board; he must assist the police in cracking a pirating case if he wants their help with the Berserkers. This fourth Brixton Brothers volume will appeal to both comical-mystery fans and extreme sports enthusiasts.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Brixton Brothers series. Illustrated by Adam Rex. Steve Brixton has sworn off detecting. His best friend (and trusty sidekick) Dana has a girlfriend, leaving Steve out in the cold. Steve and Dana get lured back into the biz by a mysterious millionaire with a private train compartment and a love of classic automobiles. Rex's black-and-white illustrations heighten exciting moments in the entertaining story.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Brixton Brothers series. Illustrated by Adam Rex. This second Brixton Brothers installment is similar in comedic elements to The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity. This time Steve must rescue his favorite author, MacArthur Bart, as well as find a missing diamond. The story functions well as a Hardy Boys–type parody; how humorous middle-grade readers find it may depend on their familiarity with the genre.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Brixton Brothers series. Illustrated by Adam Rex. Twelve-year-old Steve Brixton loves detective stories. After picking up a library book full of the nation's secrets, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of a mystery, and everyone thinks he's the villain. The characters are a little one-note (Rex's digital illustrations help round them out), but the story's action and humor should propel reluctant readers.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay