Detective Work

by John Escott

[Penguin Readers Level 4]

A diamond necklace is stolen from a museum and everyone who works there is a suspect, but who really took the necklace, and why? Paul, a young student, becomes involved in the hunt to find the thief.

64 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2000

About the author

John Escott started by writing children's books and comic scripts, but now writes and adapts books for students of all ages. He especially enjoys writing crime and mystery thrillers, and is a member of the British Crime Writers Association.

With Oxford University Press John has published London for the Oxford Bookworms Factfile series; Agatha Christie, Woman of Mystery, Star Reporter, Girl on a Motorbike, The Fly and Other Horror Stories, and The Scarlet Letter for the Oxford Bookworms Library series; The Magician, Time for a Robbery, Star for a day, Tomorrow's Girl, and The Man with Three NAMEs for the Hotshot Puzzles series; and A Pretty Face for the Dominoes series.

Reviews

[Abdelhameed Bani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story talks about a student named Paul who during his summer vacation worked at Repsom museum. Paul was responsible for making some displays to distribute and showing the old items which the museum had. The day that Paul started working, the museum borrowed a diamond necklace that was worth a hundred thousand pounds from Mrs. Eve Gilbertson, who was a rich woman in that village. After two weeks, the necklace was stolen and the police were working to discover who the thief was. A few days later, Paul found the necklace in a treasure box that he had placed in the display that he was decorating. He thought that if he told the police about this, they would think that he was the thief as they had doubt about him, so he decided to catch the thief himself. Paul was able to do that through a good plan where he discovered that the thief was Derek Halliday, who was an employee at the museum. Derek committed this crime because Mrs. Eve Gilbertson, the owner of the necklace, asked him to steal it to obtain a sum of money from insurance. Mrs. Eve did that because she needed money as she had only a little lift. Therefore, she thought that if her plan worked, she would be able to get the insurance money and sell the necklace later on.

In my opinion, this story was a nice choice as it includes mystery parts that attract the reader to know more about its events. Also, I enjoyed reading it most of the time as I was encouraged to know more about the theft and developments in the case

I highly recommend this book as its English level is easy and understandable. However, I believe that the writer didn't succeed in writing some chapters as they were boring to the reader because the events happened slowly. Overall, it was an attractive story and can grab the attention of the reader in some parts.

[Aisha.r · Rating 5 out of 5]

paul got a job during the summer holiday at Respsom museum, Gilbertson necklace was brought to the museum , two weeks after the alarm went off at 11 o’clock . the necklace had been stolen. All of them who attended the event thought that the thief was one of them.

The next day Paul was very busy with the pirates display, and he dicovered the necklace, but he decided not to tell the director, they would think that he stole it and pretended that he found it. The director told him to find another job to do , he was very angry and decided to leave the museum. so he told everyone at the museum that the next day he would move everything on the platform.

At the same time he found a great idea, while he was hiding in the show prison he heared a noise of glass breaking,a person came to the room with a torchlight , he or she took out the necklace. The thief gave a little laugh , Paul recognised that laugh it was Derek , he went to him and asked him , how did that happen!

He answerd that someone paid him for the robber, suddenlly someone with a dark shape grabbed the necklace from Derek and tried to kill him but he missed his shot in Derek’s shoulder, while the person was walking Paul switched the light off in the dark, and he hid in the cell of the display.

Finally they discovered that the main thief was Mrs Gilberston she sent derek to steal to get the money. Dererk and Mrs Gilberston went to prison, and Paul had been a very good dective and got a real job in the meusum after the training.

I like this story because it makes me think about the end and pull me to reach the events with excitement.
I advise you to read this story because it’s really joyful, and makes you feel that you are the detective “you are the person who is doing the job”

[Fateme Norozi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too simple.its a book for childern like 4 years old

[Wara Diyari · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot was not bad, kinda liked reading this book!

[jaszczur.czyta · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sorry but it's just so bad.
It was so simple, like a book for 3rd graders. The language, the wording, the plot, everything.
I wasn't even surprised with who committed the theft, I was more surprised when they took out a gun and shot someone.

[Rumaisa Ahmad-Doleh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story for children

[Wakako Natsume · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. John Escott/ PENGUIN READERS/ Level 4

2. 12/5 26 min.
12/6 20 min.
12/9 50 min.

Total: 96 min.

3. museum, thief, newspaper, pirate, necklace, clock, insurance

4. Do you usually read newspapers? -- No, I don't, but I often check news on the Internet.

5. A diamond necklace is stolen from a museum. The police suspect Paul who is a young student and he try to find the real thief. Paul set a trap for finding the real thief. He is wise. However a person who I suspected is the real thief and I guessed the reason why the real thief stole the diamond necklace. In sum, it was an ordinary end. I wanted an unexpected end.

[Hideyuki Takahashi]

penguin reader level 4
chapter 1 to 5
1/4 = 26min 1/6 =38 min

museum - necklace - stolen - thief - policeman - questions -suspect

What detective fiction do you like?
When I was elementary school student,
I liked detective Conan. It is famous Japanese comic book. Also, I watched film of Sherlock Holmes and I enjoyed watching it.

I liked this book because the story is simple and easy to understand. The main character was suspected of thief by policemen, but he did not steal necklace. He tried to find real criminal, but he did not have much time. I liked the story that the main character could not afford to have ease. I wanted to read it more.

[메기짱 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. In summary, an expensive necklace, which was on display, was stolen so Paul who worked in the museum tried to find the thief. I was so surprised when Paul found out the thief because I never expected that the person would steal the necklace. I'd like to recommend this book especially to boys because I think boys will love this book!!! And after I read this book, I learned that I must not give up even if I don't think I can do it.

[Namiko]

It is like a two-hour-drama in Japan, which my mother likes. There are some why-did-you-do-that situations, but people watch it every week.