The Boy Genius Detective Agency

by Robert Grey

THE POWER OF A VILLAIN. THE HEART OF A HERO.

When happy-go-lucky Phidias Isaac Newman opens a detective agency in the sleepy Highland Falls ward of the Mégapolis he isn't sure what to expect.

The Case of the Vanishing Bones? Sounds like a promising start.

Then, seemingly from nowhere, disaster strikes! Together with his partner, Agent Bubble Gum, the Boy Genius is plunged into the recovery of a mysterious (and deadly) stolen artifact--the Afterthought Resonator.

But then something wonderful happens.

Or does it?

Bubble Gum has always known the Boy Genius is ill mannered, uncouth and never listens to others. (Not that she keeps a list or anything.) But now she learns Phidias is harboring a dark secret.

Of forbidden knowledge that unlocks a terrible power... no one even suspected existed.

If you like adventure and excitement with just the right touch of romance this is one explosive ride you will not want to miss. Get your copy of The Boy Genius Detective Agency and let this thrilling tale of heroic adventure begin!

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2015

Reviews

[Scott Spotson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love middle grade / young adult books, and this one was a challenge to read because of the NON-STOP FAST FURIOUS ACTION PACE THAT GOES YADDA YADDA YADDA! I felt there was little plot, because it's just one hair-raising adventure after the other with no resolution or any brainwork required on the part of the two main child characters, a boy and a girl. It's like watching an action-burst animated cartoon on a speed three-times fast-forward with the audio also turned up.

Plus, despite all the shenanigans that the characters go through, in case the author didn't think you had enough, the book doesn't end! That's right, the adventures continue in another upcoming book! At times, the characters seem to experience thoughts of dying that seem adult-like and out of place in this middle-grade novel.

The author has a lot of imagination, but what he needs to do is slow down the action (badly) and reward the characters for thinking through their choices. For a detective agency, there were painfully few clues and little detective work. It's basically the two running away from danger, over and over. Sort of like the Roadrunner cartoons.

I do appreciate the author trying, though. A boy detective and his sidekick... that should be a cool concept to work with in a better book.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the author in return for an honest review
This is a fun middle grade book. It is well written and the characters are engaging. This story takes place in the future, the MC lives in a well described district called Highland Falls and underneath it all is an area called The Pell Mell which is described as, "A constantly shining sea of shops, stores, hovercarts, street mongers, sky peddlers, vending machines, sunken gardens, ying zoos, passerby's, belongers, commuters, gawkers and much, much more. It was an art show, a freak show, a horror show, a side show. It was the big time, the big top and the main event. It was a carnival, a casino, a bazaar, a food court, another ying zoo!"

The MC Phidias is a fun, slightly annoying, sarcastic smart aleck boy who works for the Boy Genius Agency full of delightful characters like Lollipop and Bubble Gum, also agents. All the characters are very vibrant.

They investigate, not really crimes...I mean some guys bones vanish, so more like mysterious circumstances. Each chapter has a delightful headline like, "THE WORST GO-FAST CYCLE PILOT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE" and there are villains like The Sinister Brain. There are also aliens like the Krell Empire, "a space faring race of slime-tentacle aliens who feed on the brains of humans." Quite creatively written.

This is volume one, so it ends with the obvious intention of there being a volume two. I liked how there was a major story arc, but there was also other little tidbits that didn't pertain to the main plot.. The book was very fast paced, the ending perhaps a bit rushed. There is a deleted scene at the end, which was interesting and gives you a little more time with the well developed characters.

My favorite part? The meta, there is a second epilogue which discusses the "Purple Prose Princess" who writes fan fiction about Boy Genius , and it adds a bit of a surprise to the characters personality.

This was a clever and fun read, I had a few issues with the formatting, but it didn't matter much. Plus I am not a big Sci Fi fan and this is very much hover boards, advanced tech, Mass Effect for little kids. So give it a try, or buy it for a funny kid in your life.

[Mark Ewig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Genius Detective Agency is a true roller-coaster. We are quickly introduced to Phidias, the boy genius and his trusty partner, Agent Bubble Gum. Along with Lollipop, they have started a detective agency. Phidias is very smart, but he sometimes need to listen to his partner which causes them to run into more issues. Agent Bubble Gum is the sound of reason. This makes the two the perfect partners.

The first day on the job they are called to a museum to investigate some missing bones for a professor studying them. The job turns out a bust. However as they are leaving they are pulled into a theater by a strange woman with orange hair and color changing eyes. From here we are sent into a whirlwind of craze. She ends up stealing a resonator causing The Boy Genius and Bubble Gum to pursuit. It seems as if this resonator causes everything to go in disarray.

The author starts the adventure off fast and does not let up. One minute our team is in the pits of darkness and the next they are in a chess match. Definitely a rare writing style.

I will agree with some of the other reviews, that I wish there was a bit of a back story behind The Boy Genius and Agent Bubble Gum. Perhaps that was left out intentionally? In any case, you are thrown in the story so fast it is not missed.

I would recommend to those interested in the YA Scifi. It was a fun read!

[Nesly Clerge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was somewhat out of the ordinary for me and not my preferred genre; yet, I found it more than enjoyable. The main character Phidias started a detective agency, and this is where the excitement starts. His partners Agent Bubble Gum and Lollipop are cruising for missions. Their first mission was “The Case of the Vanishing Bones” which turned out to be a huge disappointment since the professor’s dog was the culprit―the case was solved before it got started. This is just one example of the content of the book. But don’t let that fool you; the story is chock-full of adventure. The Boy Genius is entertaining and upbeat. It’s a melange of the Jetsons and the Flintstones.

Younger readers are the target audience, but it packed enough punch to regale even an adult audience. The story is crammed with science-fiction like action and the narrative is made electrifying by a volley of nicknamed characters such as The Woman With the Organge Hair, Soggy Bottoms, and Professor Calgari. Grey delivered an amusing story filled with colorful characters. I strongly recommend this book for younger readers.

[Valicity Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Genius Detective Agency surprised me. I’ll say that first. I wasn’t so sure about it when I heard the title and then read the description, it all seemed a little … out there. But every book deserves a chance so I thought, could it be any stranger than the stuff I write?

Not at all.

Actually, The Boy Genius Detective Agency is really good! It’s not written for people in their early twenties but that just goes to show how intriguing the story really was. I was taken hostage by Grey’s writing right from the start. It opened with a pretty witty scene between a boy lying in bed and his mother fussing from the kitchen. Classic writing. The dialogue was very normal, a conversation I could actually imagine happening in real life, not just book life. And the way the world was built and the theme was explained was very smooth.

I really can’t tell you what a ‘gravity well’ is, I can’t break it down and explain the quantum physics behind it—if that’s even minutely correct—but Grey does and he does it well. He does it hilariously well. I found myself laughing out loud in many parts of this book. Phidias is an awesome main character, I loved watching him move through the story with his very adult-like attitude that’s actually complementary to the rest of the book. His maturity isn’t annoying, nor is it demeaning. Most ‘really smart’ protagonists get on my nerves. They can get really corny really quickly but not Phidias. Not only does he have a really cool name, he’s got a very human demeanor.

I know that might sound weird because he actually is human, but he’s also a genius and I can put together a really convincing argument that people as smart as Phidias are not human. What I mean when I say that Phidias is human is that he is very real. He is very believable and can transfer to reality very well. He’s not just a character, he is someone I could imagine that actually exists. Yes, he is ridiculously smart but he is also still a boy and we see that in his personality. In his frustrations and in his exchanges with others. He’s a very well-crafted and layered character that you don’t find so often in children’s fiction.

One thing I love about Grey’s writing; its sophistication. The Boy Genius Detective Agency is about a child who’s really really smart and decides to use all that knowledge to solve crimes with his two friends, Lollipop and Bubble Gum. These three are children, maybe 10-14, but the situations they face and their reactions to those situations are very well played out and very entertaining! Even though the agents face potentially life-threatening fights and chases, Phidias’ inner-thoughts provide a very light and humorous edge to the book, making it an enjoyable read for the young and old.

One of the best parts of this piece was its originality. I thought some of the names of the characters were silly but they fit the story well. The world and the plot was fun and easy to imagine. All that paired with Grey’s dynamic style of writing made for an awesome book I could definitely see as a best-seller for children’s fiction in the near future.

I felt like there was always something happening in this book and I mean that in a good way. I hate long books with too many unnecessary words, I hate it when stories are really extended to the point of just sucking out more action or more drama. This book doesn’t do that at all. It’s very fast-paced and to-the-point. While that may not be everyone’s style, it made me jump right into the story and reach the end before I’d even realized it. That being said, I won’t call this book a ‘quick read’. Yes, it wasn’t so long and yes, I’d finished it before I realized it, but Grey’s crafty and unique writing forced me to think while I read. I felt very active in reading this book. I wasn’t just sitting back and letting the words pass before my eyes, I was there and I was entertained.

If this were historical fiction, that wouldn’t be a surprise. If this were a psychological thriller it wouldn’t be a big deal. But this was written for an audience between ages 12-15. So to have that much depth in the plot and development in the characters was very impressive. I appreciated that part of Grey’s writing and I think anyone who’s willing to take an awesome, action-packed adventure will appreciate it too.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys quirky stories with a serious edge. Especially fans of comedy, friendship, and bits of fast-paced action here and there. The Boy Genius Detective Agency is a thrilling ride for children and young adults but don’t be surprised if parents begin to enjoy it too!

[Avanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time really deciding what to rate this one... On the one had, it was a really quick read and it was really unique, interesting, silly, and kind of fun. On the other hand, there was such a lack of information presented, that I'm not sure is really necessary?

It's about a boy genius... whose age is never revealed, but based on context clues could be anywhere from .... 12 to 17? He's sort of girl-crazy, but doesn't care at all about his appearance; he's obviously super intelligent, but also kind of arrogant-a** about it; and he seems to be appealing to the opposite gender of various ages... ranging from, I don't know, 8 to 50? And his detective agency cohorts, Lollipop, who I think might be younger and less intelligent, and Bubble Gum, who is I think the same age as Boy Genius (aka Phidias) and perhaps just as smart. And they have started a "kid" detective agency and Boy Genius is concerned about not being taken seriously... when Wham! Boom! Bam! they're suddenly in the middle of some crazy sci-fi, super-villain, time-traveling, time-looping, telepathy whirlwind adventure. And the wham-boom-bam... it's a literal description. The book reads like a comic book, but without the actual pictures.

And it somehow works! Although there's virtually no set up of the overall book or each scene, somehow you have just enough information to mostly glean what is going on and keep turning the pages (quickly) to find out how it all resolves. And you mostly know at the end of it all. Or maybe not. Despite the plethora of unanswered questions (including, notably, how old Boy Genius and Bubble Gum are and... I don't believe we know when it takes place? (though it's definitely in the future)), it's a fun middle-grade book with bad guys, super-hero abilities, intrigue, hot women (perhaps a little too much focus on this?), and a clear ongoing plot-base (i.e., it's the beginning of a series). I think the younger generation will appreciate a book that seems much more catered to their way of thinking (maybe? at least insofar as the ADD plot & pace were concerned), though I am a little hesitant to suggest it to my friend's 12-year-old son because, really, Boy Genius has a serious wandering-eye, and it does not seem to matter how old the girl/woman is.

So. Enjoyable? yes. Quick fun read? yes. Amazing? well, no. But still recommended for something completely different.. and pretty well accomplished. So overall, . (bumped to 4 stars on sites w/o half-stars)

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little story.

The style is a bit like reading a comic book without the pictures, and the pacing is just insane, almost too fast. The characters get thrown into the action just a few scenes in, and from there on the book is pretty much full throttle all the way through.

The writing style is very visual. Robert Grey doesn't focus too much on inner monologue. He mostly throws images at you, one after another, images like you see in the highest budget blockbuster movies--chase scenes, battles, explosions. And the pacing reminds me of one of those summer blockbuster movies too. You get a barrage of high-stakes scenes, flying at you from every direction imaginable, so many that they almost give you whiplash.

The tone is very breezy and light, with a fair amount of humor, but there's also a lot of techno jargon in the classic sci-fi tradition. In this regard, it almost feels like a YA version of Neil Stephenson's Snow Crash.

My biggest beef with the book is that perhaps the tone is a little TOO light. I'm not a huge YA fan, but I do like certain things aimed at younger readers: Harry Potter, The Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, The Earthsea books by Ursula K. Le Guin. Most of the YA books I've enjoyed have little more darkness to contrast with the lighter elements. They have humor and fun, but there's more of a bittersweet tone at times.

This is probably because most of my favorite YA is fantasy, and this is sci-fi, a genre which tends to focus more on intellect and less on emotion.

Overall though, this is a worthy read. It's a very weird book in some ways, very experimental in the way it mimics the visual storytelling style of comics and movies.

Highly recommended to fans of young adult science fiction who're looking for something action-packed.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair, non reciprocal review.

[Sean Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is interesting in its premise and has a lot of good points that make it interesting. The hero is a young man of unknown age, (sometimes he acts like an adult and others he acts like a ten year old.) whom has started a detective agency with the help of two female friends. He is a genius and is using his intelligence to solve crimes.

With the new detective agency they fear they will spend time doing the “find-the-lost-cat” and “where-is-my-piggy-bank” cases. However their first case leads them onto the trail of a major crime.
The hidden adversary caught my attention and seemed to be a great shadow figure for future works.


This book had some problems in my opinion. The first is the use of nonsense words. The book is full of them with no explanation of their meaning. The hero and his sidekick use something called a “Deck”; at the end of the book I still have no idea what it is. It can be used as a flashlight and a computer, with internet access anywhere. Their also “go-fast-cycles” that apparently fly, but I have no idea what they look like. The story lacks those little details that bring forth a good mental picture to the reader.

The “boy-genius” never really uses any kind of dazzling intelligence during the story. He never has to figure out a puzzle or find a hidden clue. I felt his title was just honorary and not earned.
The woman they chase throughout the story, lacked any depth of character and seemed about as menacing as a large mouse. She spent most of her time running away.

The action was at an almost frantic pace with no real let up. As such the whole story felt almost childlike. It left me feeling as if the work should have been expanded to give it more depth, or shortened and used as the opening sequence in a much larger work.


In the end I did enjoy reading the story. It was interesting and made me think. It was not an “easy read” however and in the end I could not rate it highly.

[Deidre Huesmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boy Genius Detective Agency is not my typical genre. But with my stepsons nearing this age range, I figured it was high time for me to get a little more involved so I can give them good recommendations. Does this book hold up?

Well... mostly.

The Boy Genius Detective Agency follows the adventures of Phidias, who has tag-along buddies Bubble Gum and Lollipop trading wise-cracks with him as they solve mysteries. The language is probably my favorite part. There is a LOT of fun to be had here, and little tidbits like one girl naming her weapon "Butt Cold" kept me amused and coming back for more. In that sense, it definitely speaks to middle-school boys. It's fast-paced, lots of action, and great fun with the quips traded and colorful prose throughout.

So my complaint? Maybe it's my older age, but I personally found reading this exhausting. I had to put it down numerous times just because my thoughts would start spinning and I'd feel winded. I've felt similar when reading before and have it come out positive (Dean Koontz's Intensity comes to mind), but somehow this was just... a little too much. There wasn't enough room for the reader to step back, breathe, and truly absorb the events and surroundings of the story. Which is a shame, because from what I gleaned, there's a rich, not wholly explored world buried in there that I'd like to see more of.

Would I still recommend this to the age group? I think so. I wouldn't hail it as a masterpiece of any sort (it commits the unforgivable sin of using multiple exclamation points, for instance), but it's a silly, humorous, fun read that I feel a lot of middle-school kids--mostly boys, but I'll bet a lot of girls, too--would really enjoy.

4 stars. I'll he shelving this on my Kindle app for my stepsons in the next couple years.

[Jim Mackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was reading this book to see if it would be suitable for my grandchildren. As an ageing granddad, perhaps I’m not the ideal type to review “The Boy Genius Detective Agency”. It's aimed at 12 to 15 year olds. There is rather a lot of blood, gore and vomiting, and the subject of death crops up too. No swear words, but plenty of violence which is what kids seem to enjoy these days. For me, the book is rather like a fast-moving computer game in novel format. In fact, I reckon the book could be the basis for a terrific comic-book type computer game…

It’s a rip-roaring ride more or less from the outset, with chases galore. The proof-reading was spot-on and unlike so many books on Kindle, the grammar and punctuation are faultless – very important when trying to entice children away from txting abbreviations lol. There is no description of the book’s main character, the idea presumably being that the child reading it.can imagine themselves as the hero. In addition, the author Robert Grey seems to want to leave it up to the reader to decide what an afterthought resonator, a deck or a gravity well might be might be. This is possibly not a problem for kids with vivid imaginations, but it was a bit confusing for an oldie like me. Anyway, I put that aside and really enjoyed the romp. It took me back to the world of childhood comics but with a darker modern take which should suit today’s children.

Overall, Robert Grey’s book is a quirky, highly original, exhausting action-packed roller-coaster ride which older kids will love. I believe my grandchildren are a bit young just yet for this book, but in couple of years’ time they’ll love it too.

I’m off for a lie-down now after that amazing roller-coaster ride. Phew!

[Ian Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Genius Detective AgencyI was given a copy of Boy Genius in exchange for an honest review.
This is a futuristic sci-fi and not something I would usually read. Having said that I approached the novel with an open mind and hoping to be entertained. Wow, I wasn't disappointed. The book is laced with humor and nonstop action. The introduction on the first page to the two main characters, agent Boy Genius and agent Bubblegum sets the tone for an hilarious read.
The action starts immediately, Boy Genius is targeted by an unknown sniper, quickly followed by madcap chases. Throw in time machine travel, futuristic phenomenal powers and finish with a sedate game of chess. I'm at a loss to describe the in-between. Let's just say take wild, funny, weird, wonderful, wacky, mind-blowing, ridiculous and brilliant. Imagine it all thrown in a food mixer and someone has forgotten to hit the stop button. Well not quite like that but definitely entertaining and laced with humor.
If you are into sci-fi, you enjoy sitting back and being transported into a mind-blowing futuristic world or maybe just wanting a hilarious fun read then grab your Boy Genius copy today.

[Steven Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this one started so fast I found it hard to keep up. There's a lot of great new technology dreamed up in this sci-fi adventure, and the boy genius is like Encyclopedia Brown crossed with Doctor Who! His interactions with his partner, Bubble Gum test the boundaries of young, pre-teen love without crossing any serious lines.
The action in this story does not disappoint. There's deadly underground tunnels with poisonous vapors and dangerous creatures. There's time travel, lots of time travel, enough to confuse you some more. And then comes the flat out action, followed by physical pain.
The writer treats us to a chess match later in the story that is superbly written and suspenseful. I found myself unable to put it down at that point and powered through to the end.
This is a great adventure for those who like a really fast pace along with some tongue in cheek humor. It has a maturity to it though, so maybe not best for the little ones, but absolutely fun for its intended age group. Well done

[John Autero · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I stumbled upon this book and read the reviews, I figured I would give it a try. It sounded interesting and different and a nice break away from reality. When I first started to read, I thought I may have purchased a children’s book, but I was wrong. “The Boy Genius Detective Agency” is indeed a book for a variety of readers from older child to geriatrics. The characters have interesting names like “Bubble Gum”, “Soggy Bottoms”, “The Sinister Brain” and “The Woman with Orange Hair” to name a few. The story is extremely creative and action packed. It takes you from go-cycle chases to chess tournaments to underground water falls. The author’s style of writing makes it even more interesting by providing a bit of wit and background humor that tickles you in the right places and makes you laugh. With all of the repetitive music, movies and TV shows now days, it’s nice to see something truly different. I really enjoyed reading this book.

[Craig Furchtenicht · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA fiction is not normally my forte, but every once in awhile a certain book catches my attention and I give it a go. A few chapters into Boy Genius and I was sure glad that the kid inside me prevailed once again. It meets the very same criteria that I hold every story that I consider a darn good read. The author wastes no time at all pushing the pace of the plot. The characters are quite colorful and piqued my interest as each entered the story. The vibe was sort of a cross between harry Potter and Jeanne Duprau's Ember series. Not so much in content, but more in flavor and style. The main players are young, albeit their ages are never really clear. They are put into situations that would have adults frazzled and running. I love that in a good Young Adult story. I highly recommend this for anyone wishing to encourage good reading habits to the children in their lives. But don't take my word for it, check it out yourself first.

[Martin Perks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Genius Boy Detective Agency, is a YA fiction novel aimed at teenagers. And for that it is exactly what the doctor ordered. When Phidias Isaac Newman, the protagonist of the story opens a detective agency, with two friends, he doesn’t expect to be landed with a first case about a major crime. What follows is a tongue in cheek tale that has both amusing and edge of your seat action. It just never lets up.
It reminded me a little of a young Indiana Jones, or Sherlock Holmes only better. Reading it didn’t take long as it breezes along at a rattling pace, hardly giving you time to breathe. Liked the villain’s and the hero’s, but I did wonder if it had too much blood and gore for who it’s aimed at. But nonetheless it was a well thought out story, that deserves many accolades for what it actually is. I’d like to see more of these stories, and further character development as Phidias is a great character. I enjoyed it very much.

[S.J. Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardy boys meets Nancy Drew meets a comic version of The Matrix.

With names like Boy Genius, Bubble Gum, Lollipop and Soggy Bottoms you have a read that is delightfully humorous and entertaining. Boy Genius doesn’t take himself too seriously with his greatest fear being that The Agency will only ever rescue lost kittens or find stolen lunch money. Luckily for him, that is far from the case. A fast paced novel which amongst great action leaves you feeling as though you’ve fallen down a rabbit hole into a comic book world. Ker-Plop
Quote – “Phidias, I’m scared.”
That was the problem with girls. Always talking about their feelings. Who wanted to talk about those? Especially at a time like this?
“Me too.” Oops, he hadn’t meant to say that. - Hilarious

Whilst I don’t normally read this sort of book I found it to be an amusing and great read.

[Joe Cosentino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enter into the wacky, sci-fi world of twelve-year-old Phidias Isaac Newman who lives on the two hundred and fifty sixth floor of his apartment building in the Highland Falls ward of the Megapolis. As Phidias and his partner, Agent Bubble Gum, run the detective agency, they come across characters like Lollipop, Soggy Bottoms, Professor Calgari at the Department of Exobiology, the Woman with the Orange Hair, and Dr. Merriweather of the Department of Unthoughtabology. They also search for vanishing bones and stolen artifacts like the Afterthought Resonator, and discover Phidias’ unusual powers. This is a great book for middle school age kids who love sci-fi. It reads like an animated film, and may very well be one someday. I can’t say I understood all of the book, but I didn’t care. I just went along for the fun ride.

[Ibiloye Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

AN EXCITING and FUNNY SCI-FI FANTASY 'HORRAMA' FOR YOUNG TEENS

This fast pace children horrama {author's slang} book is about the Adventures of Phidias (the genius, Panda sort of), his girlfriend Bubble Gum as they pursue the Woman with the orange hair (leapardess) and the stolen thoughts resonant device. The boy genius pranks, remarks, color tsck (less of detective action but adrenaline thing, fun though ), and 'gravity well fantasy', also lollipop and other crew member of his Detective Agency will keep you ALIVE with expectations, color fantasy and laughter. I got it on Amazon with skeptical and curious motive , I indeed find it an exciting and a brain teaser even as an adult.
The lexicon at the end of the book is of great help. Yeah, tsck, tsch, 'chromisis yarnist bone' ...a goodread.

[Shanlynn Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book throws you into action right off the bat after a hasty introduction of Phidias, the Boy Genius, and his accomplice, Bubblegum. The idea isn't that unique, it kind of reminds me of that movie, Spy Kids, but there is certainly a lot of action, mystery, and intrigue in the story. I found some of what happens in the book confusing, but overall I can see where young readers would like the fast pace and zany characters.

Robert certainly has an imagination brimming over with visions of futuristic type technology and the sort of crazy villainous plots that would come with it, and for that I applaud him. As a writer myself, I know it's not easy to pick something out of your brain that doesn't exist and put it on paper, making up the scene, plot, and details as you go along. In short, if you have a teenager who likes to read, this would be a good recommendation.

[Josephine Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Boy Genius Detective Agency
By Robert Grey

The Boy Genius Detective Agency is an interesting science fiction, adventure story. Phidias Isaac Newman opens a detective agency.
His nickname is Boy Genius.

Phidias works with his partner, Agent Bubble Gum, to recover an artifact known as the Afterthought Resonator. Phidias and Agent Bubble Gum continuously argue with each other in a humorous way, not in a hurtful manner. The combination of humor, science fiction, and adventure held my
interest throughout the book.

You'll read of them battling assassins and voracious monsters, the Woman With the Orange Hair, time machines, the Sinister Brain, a secret underground research laboratory, cloning, and rejuvenation tanks.

I read the Kindle Edition of this book and rate it five stars.

Josephine Calabrese
Writer, lyricist, publisher, and teacher

[Katja Vartiainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has succeeded regrading its YA audience. It made me giggle and it streams forward very well. I found the chapter titles amusing. There is sci-fi elements and 'things' that one has to create in one's head, and these give a good spark to the story. It is very imaginative. The characters are genuine and the dialogue touches the touchy subjects of boy-girl tensions in a entertaining way. At times the comic-like writing style (Crash! Boom! Bang!) was a bit too interrupted, but it got smoother towards the end. The glossary in the end is great, and the end brought a needed depth to the story. Only thing - the cover-please the cover...

[Rose Gluck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "The Boy Genius Detective Agency,: I checked it out for my 13 year old. It was a super-fun read that led me, as the reader, through many fun and interesting twists and turns. It was funny too. I often laughed out loud. The sci-fi / superhero context made the detective work that much more exciting. I would recommend this book to all ages but I think it would particularly appeal to 8-13 year olds. The younger kids will love the fast-action heroes and clever characters. The older kids will be on the edge of their seat through the suspenseful adventures. Superb read!

[Dermot Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like your private detectives to be young with attitude, then Phidias Isaac Newman is the boy for the job. From page one I had no idea where this story was headed but I soon relaxed into it and enjoyed the ride. I smiled at the introduction of every new character and that was mainly because they had names like Bubblegum, Soggy Bottoms and my favorite, The Girl With the Orange Hair. Different to anything I've read in quite a while this super-silly romp will put a smile on your face, no matter what your age.

[Marco Marek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isaac Newman most common called Phidias created an detective agency along with his partners Bubble Gum, and Lollipop, though they are kids they are good to solve many cases, see (The Case of the Vanishing Bones) and conquer trust of adults too.
They find on their track other curious characters like Suggy Bottoms and the woman with Orange hair, and many other too.
Funny adventures of Boy Genius and Bubble Gum with amazing words like in cartoons, swooosh, boom, szzzzz, i think kids will love it and read it with great amusement.

[Brandi Nyborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sounds like just another middle grade detective adventure, but it's goes a completely different direction than what you are expecting. It's a great book for any age. It's packed full of nonstop action and humor that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I read the entire story in one sitting. I can't wait for volume 2 to get some more answers! I'm sure this will be a very popular series!

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I thought the book was okay but even trying to keep in mind it was a YA for teen age boys I still felt they would want a little more info on the characters. Who was the boy genius, why and when to get into the characters and follow the series. But even though you have no idea who the characters really are there is lots of action and adventure so maybe that will make up for the lack of background since the writing was sound.

[Ana Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author found his audience....I am big Hardy Boys fan so I love the young detective stories. This one fits the mold perfectly. This book is a more updated version of the child detective stories, has all the fun with the futuristic setting. It is designed for the young adult audience and it is a perfect fit.

I really enjoyed reading this and got through it in half a day. I look forward to many sequels to see what mysteries the Boy Genius has to solve.

[Ju Ephraime · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast, and furiously paced, adventure story. The author moved the book along and I guess he forgot to reveal the characters’ ages. Having said this, casting the two boys in the very adult roles of agent and detective open up a whole new world for the reader, especially, when they come in contact with the notorious evil genius. It’s definitely an unusual read, which I enjoyed very much.

[Nick Reichert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Futuristic and Loaded With Mystery and Adventure

This was a fun story full of twists and turns, heroes and villains and even time travel. I especially enjoyed all the futuristic technology references - Dr Who has a rival in Phidias Isaac Newman and his team of detectives! Highly recommend.

[Cory Tsuhako · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and would recommend to readers in the young adult age bracket. The story was developed with memorable characters and suspenseful situations. This was a fun, easy read and I hope to read more of these books by Robert Grey.