Detective Beans: and the Case of the Missing Hat

Detective Beans #1

by Li Chen

Meet Detective Beans, the best kitten detective in town, equipped with his tie, brown trench coat, and—GASP. It’s gone! His detective hat is missing! Follow along to discover the charming, whimsical, and mysterious world of Detective Beans.

Meet Detective Beans (just Beans for short), a young cat sleuth dedicated to doing whatever it takes to solve the case. After a night of mystery movies with his best friend, Biscuit, Detective Beans wakes up to find his detective hat is missing. There’s only one thing to do: hit the streets of Cat Town and find that missing hat! Cat Town is full of suspects, from the neighborhood bird to a magician in the park, and each twist and turn in this journey leads to an interesting new encounter — and to solving a much bigger case than Beans could have imagined.

Brilliantly written and illustrated by New Zealand comic artist Li Chen, creator of the internationally popular ExtraOrdinary Comics, Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat is filled with charming cat capers, warm-hearted humor, and detective stories all in the form of a graphic novel that will entertain comics fans and middle grade readers everywhere.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Mystery, Middle Grade, Comics, Animals, Childrens, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Li Chen lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. When she's not working on comics, you can find her wandering around the neighbourhood petting local cats. (Don't tell her cats though, they'll get jealous)

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s a cat
He’s a detective
He’s an adorable cat detective and we must protect him at all costs!
Detective Beans & the Case of the Missing Hat from Li Chen is the book version of saying “awwww” with giant heart eyes. Our furry little private eye has long yearned to be a detective so when his hat goes missing its time to bust out the notebook and grill some suspects. Its a mystery that will take him around the globe (town) with plenty of high-stakes action (low level intrigue) and danger (turtleneck-wearing strangers and giant wads of chewed gum) that is an utter delight. It’s a kids graphic novel but it doesn’t skimp on the joy and anyone could love this. I mean, look at this:

The case is closed: this is a winner. A cute little tail of mystery for all to enjoy, I love Detective Bean and I hope there are many many many more to come because let me tell you: I WILL READ THEM

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

We know a cat named Ms. Beans in Latvia. Had to take this on my visit to the EU and share with the grands. They loved reading it on their own. When it was time for bed, this book disappared out of my library bag almost every night. J kept reporting some of his favorite lines to me.

On my way back to the states I read it for myself on the plane. It is delightful! Beans is a young cat with an inquiring mind. He is on the hunt for clues about mysteries like what happened to his favorite hat. He spends much of the book chasing the hat down and meeting the quirk citizens of his town. I loved how Li Chen would have items from one scene pop up in a later scene -- like a wad of pink bubblegum found in a magicians hat. I know. You have so many questions. Read the book!

By the way, Beans is available for all your detecting needs twenty-four/seven -- except weekdays when he has school. Oh, and not after 8 p.m. His mom says he isn't allowed out that late.😻

[abigailscupoftea · Rating 5 out of 5]

this graphic novel was a magical little mystery featuring a cat detective— and it was paws-itively perfect! the illustrations were playful and colorful, and the plot was hilarious and charming. 🧥🌸🐱💎✨

[Max Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idc if this is a children's comic I read in 20 minutes it was so cute and sweet and I would kill someone if Beans asked me to

[Nat K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip Marlowe. Sam Spade. John Rebus.
Who's your favourite detective?

Now you can add a new one to your list. Detective Beans!

A young kitten with aspirations to be a detective gets his chance to put his sleuthing skills to the test when he discovers his beloved hat has gone missing. It was there the night before....

We join him as he chases his hat through the City. Via a gelato bar, museum, jazz club and even a diamond heist!

Nothing will stop this determined little kit from getting his paws back on his headwear. As we know, all good detectives have to look sharp. And Beans solves the case before it gets dark and he has to be home for dinner.

The story is clever and the illustrations colourful and bold.

This is seriously one of the cutest (and best) graphic novels I've read. You can't help but cheer on Detective Beans!

So put the angst of the world aside for a while and join our intrepid sleuth. You'll be so glad you did 🐾

Shout out to fellow reader @s.penkevich whose wonderful review caught my eye. I'm so glad it did!

I invite you to read his review (link below)✒️
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

"Stickers for everyone." Yes! Gold stars for all ✨️

[Chad Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot stress how much I love this book. It’s adorable and if anything happened to this cat I’d commit a war crime to get revenge…

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Detective Beans has a million fans, i’m one of them.
If Detective Beans has five fans, i’m one of them.
If Detective Beans has one fan, that one is me.
If Detective Beans has no fans, i’m no longer alive.
If the world is against Detective Beans, i’m against the world.

[sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

utterly delightful, funny and charming and GOOD. I’m so proud of Detective Beans!!

[Hanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I understand, now. Detective Beans is indeed without flaw

[anna b · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have been following ExoComics for ages and ages; Li Chen's lovely art and warm sense of humor always make me grin. Laughed aloud with genuine joy multiple times while reading this!

Detective Beans, you're remarkable!

[Sana · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Thanks, but no thanks. Okay, I'll have it! Mmm, yummy! Best crumb I've ever had!'
'Beans? Are you eating street crumbs?'

Actual footage of me reading Detective Beans:

No, but Detective Beans is actually everything. Easiest 5 stars of my life. Li Chen has done something incredible here because not only is Detective Beans: and the Case of the Missing Hat heartwarming, funny and adorable, Detective Beans is a kitten so seeing tiny Beans among bigger sized cats had me dying of even more cuteness. PROTECT HIM AT ALL COSTS 🥹🥹 (Cat Town agrees)

I won't go into details because it's magical to discover on your own but I love that almost every character got jokes that had me rolling LOL

The art is 10/10, no notes

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 shiny stars for the best kitten detective ever, Detective Beans. ✨ This was so, so cute!! I loved the humour and plot, and the art was absolutely adorable with such fun little details!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So ridiculously adorable and I laughed out loud throughout. LOVE!

[Claire Askew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that the more you read the more you're able to enjoy reading!!! Every book teaches you how to read it and how to get more out of all books!!! This was so funny and so cute. Pure delight. I haven't read a graphic novel quite like this before, but I love that I could tell how all previous graphic novels have helped me to get this book's visual humor more and to notice things like the book mostly being in panels for a while and then suddenly having a beautiful two-page panel-less spread. Which is not at all to say that I think someone who's never read a graphic novel wouldn't love this, just that it's so cool how the more you appreciate a book the more you're able to appreciate future books. I loved this so much!! I can't wait to read the next one!!

[Hayley Bannerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only just met Detective Beans, but if anything were to happen to him I would spiral out of control. A true legend.

[Ashley Croston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an uncorrected proof and it’s delightful! I’m intrigued to see how Detective Bean’s adventure ends as my proof was only a taster of the full adventure

[Teegan George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it a children’s comic? Yes.
Am I almost 26? Yes.
Would I die for Detective Beans? Yes.

[Anisha S · Rating 5 out of 5]

why do I want to say this is the best thing I’ve ever read

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute and silly. Not exactly a hat mystery as much a hat chase, but lots of cute touches. The very last page was my favorite.

[✨ Aaron Jeffery ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book! The art is adorable, the storyline is too cute but thorough, and I laughed throughout the whole read. The humor is sooo well delivered. I would recommend this to anyone of any age!

[Mia Frew · Rating 5 out of 5]

dare I say, the greatest (and cutest) detective who ever lived?

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of the year. Would die for Detective Beans.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing art, humor reminiscent of a cartoon, and a cute detective to boot. An easy 5 stars from me! I'm confident Detective Beans will return

[Keelin Rita]

My god this is the cutest thing I have ever read. Beans is the most precious little kitty. I wish there was a crying heart eyes emoji because that’s the emotion I’m feeling haha

[Catie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute. Loved the story.

[Lemurkat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable tail of a super cute kitty detective whose hat gets stolen by the wind. Follow Beans on a rip-roaring adventure across town ad he tries to get it back. The ending made me smile and Beans and Biscuits are a delight.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

this might be my favorite graphic novel of the year. i laughed a lot and it made me a very happy girl <3

edit: i came back here to say this was my #2 favorite read of 2024 closely behind Down the Drain by Julia Fox. the duality of women.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this graphic novel would be cute, but it ended up bringing me far more joy than I was expecting it to. It reads like a younger version of my old favorite, Peanutbutter & Jeremy's Best Book Ever. DETECTIVE BEANS is well-paced, creative, and clever, and will entertain readers from elementary school through adulthood.

It was also refreshing in that it was a junior graphic novel that didn't try too hard to be hip or turn the characters into brats; rather, the story was told organically and even the grumpy or misbehaving characters have a sense of humor and playfulness about them.

I cracked up when the cat police rewarded each other for a job well done with stickers. If this doesn't at least cause you to crack a smile, check your pulse.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something about this cute kitten going around looking for his missing hat was perfect. Why did it make me laugh, so many times and finding cozy moments so satisfying. His relationship with his mom is adorable, reminds me how important it is for parents to be supportive of their children. Even when they’re being silly it’s good to see his mom being supportive and playing along with what he’s doing. You should definitely pick this up if you’re feeling for something sweet, cozy and fun.