Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case

Kommissarie Gordon / Detective Gordon #2

by Ulf Nilsson, Gitte Spee (Illustrator)

The detective lay in bed with his eyes closed. But he couldn't sleep. He was thinking. He always thought best in bed. Especially with his eyes closed.



Something is going on in the forest: one of the animals is saying nasty things about the other forest creatures. But no one dares make a statement to the police. Who is the culprit?



Detective Gordon and his assistant Buffy must investigate! But this is a complicated case. The two police officers split the workload: Buffy questions the suspects, while Gordon stays in bed to think.



Once the investigation is over, Detective Gordon plans to go fishing and eat all the cakes he wants to. And maybe then Buffy will be appointed Police Chief! But that won't happen unless this case can be solved...



Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case is a warm and humor-filled follow-up to the well-reviewed Detective Gordon: The First Case.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Animals, Chapter Books, Fiction, Friendship, Middle Grade

111 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Ulf Nilsson is a prolific author, who's written over 100 books and received many awards, including the August and American Batchelder awards.

Reviews

[DaNae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yep, it's best to solve the case where no pistols are fired, amorphous nuts are exchanged as penance and everyone gets to go to kindergarten.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the story because he investigates and I like investigating because I'm an investigator.

[Cleo Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute transitional chapter book--perfect for advanced younger readers or as a family read aloud. Adorable characters with the right touch of mystery. My only complaint is that it was sometimes a little heavy handed on the "lessons" and morality.

[Bookrapt (Est. 1983) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This finely-illustrated chapter book has a mystery that will keep young readers guessing.

Kind-hearted Detective Gordon and his police assistant, Buffy, are puzzled by the sadness that has descended on the animals in the forest. They are being teased about embarrassing worries they keep secret and they’re reluctant to name the culprit in case their fears will be made public. Even Detective Gordon and sweet-natured Buffy are targeted by the mean-spirited felon.

However, some special cakes fortify the two sleuths as they set about uncovering the cause of the problem. The wise toad and the clever mouse are a well-matched pair. Their tolerance and understanding of each other is a study in caring, kindness, and good humour. Witty dialogue lightens the serious nature of the bullying. While Detective Gordon’s rewriting of the law is a masterstroke of simplicity and common sense.

Softly-coloured illustrations add visual delight to the storyline. Detective Gordon’s thoughtful personality shines through his large eyes. Hardworking Buffy is seen to be a valiant character determined to prove her worth as a police assistant.

A valuable tale for discussion with children about inclusive play, consideration for others, and how what we say can affect people.

Reviewed by Jean Bennett (Bookrapt)

[Vaelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one as a "2 chapters per night before bed" book to my daughter who requested it right after we finished the first book in the series.

The story as a whole had some great messages for children (and humanity) about including others and being kind.

Once again the translation from Swedish-English caused some very oddly worded sentences which I had to change on the fly as I read it aloud.

Good but not quite as enjoyable as the first one.

[Tim O'neill · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are spectacular first chapter books, with nothing too complex going on and themes little kids can relate to, plus at least some picture on every two-page spread. The case was a little more straightforward in the first one, but there was a nicer message in the background of this one, so I'd put them at about parity.

[MaoMeow1035 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3rd to 5th grade level
The two detectives find that somebody is causing mischief. There is injustice. The two chiefs of police go investigating. In the end, they teach everybody a lesson; rights are not to be taken for granted.

[Teolinda Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Någon går runt och retar skogens djur, vem kan det vara och varför?
Kommissarie Gordon och assistent Paddy löser mysteriet varför alla djur är så ledsna.
Så ska det ju inte vara i deras skog.
En gullig bok som lär barn att mobbing kan göra väldigt ont på insidan.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a charming series. Funny, too. Also juicy with details about different things like the personalities of the interviewed victims, and the different cakes for different times of day, and what makes a good Book of Law, etc. Much more than a mystery.

[SJ West · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is age appropriate and fine, we won't be continuing with Detective Gordon. The pure purpose seems to be trite morals and the frivolities of a complacent police chief. The enjoyment level was mediocre for my 6 year old and I felt the time spent within these pages was just rather a waste.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second one of these stories I have read aloud to a class. They are sweet, gentle and amusing and the children enjoy them. And the illustrations are charming.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this one 4 stars, and the 8-year-old gives it 5.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of a mystery with a side of the importance of literacy, gun control and universal education.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely second book in this sweet series.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gordon and Buffy are back, in a case of hurt feelings and more.

[Chelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family read aloud #11

[Bridget Neace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as the first in this series.

[Steven McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good fun! And good, heart warming lessons

This was my introduction detectives Gordon and Buffy. I know, out of order. I look forward to getting the other books and reading them with my kids!

[Mehsi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wat een teleurstelling was dit boek zeg. Het vorige boek was echt hartstikke leuk, maar dit? Ik heb me maar geforceerd om te lezen in de hoop dat het beter wordt.

Helaas werd dat het niet. Ik ergerde me enorm aan Gordon. Ja, hij is oud, en ja hij is dik (zijn woorden), maar moet dat nou TELKENS weer opnieuw en opnieuw worden gezegd. Ik kreeg de hint wel na de eerste 4 keer hoor. En in plaats van dat hij nou eens wat doet tegen dat (vooral het dik zijn) schranst hij zich gewoon nog voller met de magische muffins (zo blijf ik ze noemen) en gaat hij maar gewoon de hele dag slapen en laat ie zowat alles over aan zijn collega Paddy. Lekkere agent ben jij zeg. Alleen maar nadenken over het verleden en ondertussen amper iets doen. Wauw.
Ik blijf er bij dat ik niet kan inzien hoe hij ooit agent/inspecteur is geworden. Het is ook jammer dat we dat niet zien. Oh wacht, ja, een heldendaad, woohooo. *rolt met haar ogen*
Natuurlijk was Gordon ook wel aardig, hij hielp Paddy met lezen, en hij gaf haar een lief cadeau en nog meer, maar sorry, zijn constante depressie over dik en oud zijn nam gewoon teveel over om hier van te genieten. Jammer, echt jammer.

Paddy was zo-zo. Ze heeft nog veel te leren, nog veel te doen, en ook al vond ik het gebaar van Gordon leuk, ik vond niet dat Paddy had al verdiende. Het was ook gewoon te snel. Natuurlijk weten we niet hoeveel tijd er is verstreken, maar ik heb het gevoel dat het niet heel veel is (een seizoen maximaal), en om haar dan al die eer te geven? Nee.

Het geheim van de pestvogel, en wie nou zo gemeen was? Het was makkelijk te zien wie het deed, maar de waarom was wat moeilijker te raden, maar wel interessant toen we er achterkwamen. De straf die ze moeten doen is leuk bedacht, maar een beetje te.

Ik heb ook nog steeds bergen vragen. Zoals over de muffins, of waarom ze niet een extra huisje bouwen zodat ze weer een cel hebben. Hoe is Gordon ooit bij de politie begonnen, en was hij net zo zeurderig toen. Waarom wist Gordon niet dat Paddy niet kon lezen, immers hij schreef van alles neer en ze was het er mee eens. Natuurlijk zei hij veel dingen hardop, maar ze moet toch ook af en toe dingen vergeten zijn.

De tekeningen zijn echt heel erg leuk, en tja, waren de stukjes die me nog in het boek trokken toen alles mij ergerde of niet meer interesseerde.

Zou ik dit boek aanraden? Tja, niet echt. En ik denk ook niet dat ik de serie verder ga lezen, als er nog meer boeken komen.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com

[Shai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shai Reynolds
11/16/18

In the book "A Complicated Case" the main character Gordon and his police assistant Buffy are trying to figure out who keeps bullying the other animals in the forest. It starts out with Gordon eating all of the breakfast, afternoon, and evening cakes without knowing it. Buffy wanted to become Chief of police with Gordon but she doesn't know how to read so she can't read The Book of Law. Gordon came up with a plan to fix this. Every night he would read a little part of The Book of Law to Buffy before she went to bed and in the morning he would teach her the alphabet. This plan worked really well until one day they had to top because they got a clue but they had to meet up with the rabbit. When they got to the rabbit's location he was crying, so they asked what had happened and he said the crow did it. Gordon went back to the station, but when Buffy was walking home she stumbled across a little toad who was crying so she stopped and asked what had happened and the little toad said the magpie did it. When Buffy heard that she went running to tell Gordon who was surprised as ever when he heard the news. Buffy wanted to test something so she remembered one of the laws from The Book of Law and it was "Don't make fun of little mice with big ears and a big red nose." Since she was a mouse she put on big ears and a big red nose and went wandering. Sure enough the Magpie came up to her and teased her, but after that she felt sad. Gordon was really mad so he said lets go see what the Magpie's daily life was like. They followed the Magpie home and to their surprise the Magpie had little baby magpies in her nest and when she left to get food the Crow went to the nest and bullied the little magpie babies. It turns out that the magpie was trying to get her babies into kindergarten but the teacher wouldn't let her.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Detective Gordon series and offers a new mystery for the toad police chief and his young mouse assistant to solve. The detective pair live together at the police station after converting the jail into bedrooms. Gordon is getting pudgier and finding it harder to run, partly because he loves his cakes and his naps. Buffy is just as energetic as ever, but has some of her own personal fears to overcome, like admitting that she can’t read. The two detectives discover that someone in the forest is being mean to others, something that is clearly against the rules set forth in the law. But things are not as clear as they may seem as the two detectives discover.

Nilsson has just the right amount of drama in this second installment of the series. The lovely friendship between the aging toad and the young mouse is delightfully presented with plenty of appreciation for what each of them bring to the partnership, and I don’t just mean that Gordon can swim and Buffy can climb trees. In this mystery, the two of them also convey their own doubts and fears, something that is done with enough subtlety that readers may not realize until the end of the book that that is the focus of this mystery.

The art is warm and playful. The two characters are wonderfully distinct from one another as Gordon mopes on the page about how pudgy he is while Buffy dances and dreams of wearing costumes. There is a coziness in the illustrations as well, from the cakes and their tins to the soft furniture.

Another lovely outing for the two detectives, this series is one to watch for children just starting to read chapter books. Appropriate for ages 5-7.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reviewed for School Library Journal in March 1, 2016 issue.

Gr 1-4-Detective Gordon is a pudgy toad with a strong penchant for cakes and a predilection for naps. Luckily for all involved, his assistant Buffy, an energetic and kind-hearted mouse, is always by his side and ready to work. When Buffy discovers that not everyone in the forest is happy and, indeed, some have become "sad and serious," the two set off to investigate. As they interview various witnesses, such as a weepy crow and a depressed rabbit, the two realize that someone is being intentionally cruel, and this constitutes a major crime for these gentle creatures. In order to solve the case, Buffy and Gordon must brave some of their own fears to figure out who is spreading gloom throughout the land. Once again, Nilsson (Detective Gordon: The First Case, [Gecko, 2015]) delivers a rare gem of a book with age-appropriate content for precocious young readers. Full of droll asides and an emphasis on the importance of kindness, this is also an excellent read-aloud selection for classrooms or families. Spee's charming illustrations add just the right feel to the gentle tone of the text, which is translated from the original Swedish. While it is optimal if kids have read the first book, it certainly is not necessary. VERDICT A wonderful choice for independent readers who enjoy light mystery and adorable anthropomorphized animals, this is a must-have for chapter book collections.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was just as charmed by this second outing by Detective Gordon and his enthusiastic sidekick Buffy as I was by the first book, published originally in Sweden. . In this case, the two detectives must solve the mystery behind who's bullying all the other animals and making them feel less than worthy. While it might seem odd that a toad and a mouse would form a crime-fighting team, it works here. Detective Gordon would much rather spend his days dreaming of past cases and eating cakes while Buffy is eager to bring would-be criminals to justice. Both are loveiy but also flawed--Detective Gordon is selfish and self-absorbed, tired, ready to go on vacation or retire, and Buffy reveals that she is illiterate and thus cannot possibly learn all the laws that justify her job. The story is heartfelt and wriggles its way into readers' heartstrings because of its subtle quality. The softly-colored illustrations fit the story quite well, and there will be a tear or two shed as the story concludes. While the case they solve may be complicated, their relationship is not. This one would serve as an excellent read aloud for elementary students. I hope there are more titles forthcoming since I've grown quite attached to these two.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an odd and interesting book. The characters are extremely childlike but the topics covered, teasing/bullying, shame have great weight. I admire the sensitive handling and was interested at how uncomfortable I became when the toad detective, Gordon, feels shame about his body but continues to eat cake with abandon and when another young character has wet himself and is picking his nose. This is not stuff we see in American children's literature and yet, if we take a page out of Proust's book and actually remember what it is like to be a child, it is clearly a big part of the landscape. I hesitate to put this on a reading list as in many ways there is not much of a traditional story here, but there is clearly a lot going on. Anecdotal evidence indicates some kids love it and it no doubt gives an adult reading to a child an excellent chance to open a discussion on some complicated issues.

[Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

(JF-2017 CCBC recommendation): maybe I should have started with the first in this series. I have no quibble with the concept of bullying and how it affects us all, but even if you take into consideration this is a JF, it did not hold my interest…, seemed, well juvenile. 2016 hardback via Madison County Public Library, Berea, 107 pgs.; 2 out of 5 stars;

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nilsson and Spee have created another cute mystery. The relationship between Gordon and Buffy is a sweet one of mentor and mentee as Gordon deals with the challenges of getting older and Buffy reveals that she doesn't know how to read. Another interesting idea introduced in the book is what exactly should be a law and what should be written as law and what left to a matter of conscience. It's sweet to see a couple of characters with strengths and weaknesses who through persistence solve the case. The solution they come up with is quite creative. This is the kind of mystery I would hand to a young reader not ready for the darkness that can come with a lot of mysteries. This mystery is sweet and satisfying without being scary in any way.

[Courtney Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book, that is ideal for readers transitioning out of chapter books. It is anthropomorphic in an endearing way, like how Stuart Little and the Cricket in Times Square is. It would be a good recommendation for young kids who like mysteries, it would also be good for parents to read to kids of varying ages (for that patron question- I have an 11 year old and a 6 year old, what could work for both of them?) This little book also deals with bullying, conflicts and resolutions.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely little mystery and life lesson with beautifully illustrated chapters beginnings. My 8yo daughter and I decided to give this one a 4 stars instead of 5 simply because the end is a bit melancholic and bittersweet - though it did give us a topic for conversation so that's a huge plus. The way this ended I'm not sure if there will be another one but I hope so! I would love to spend some more time in the forest and see what the new Chief of Police Buffy is up to.

[Sharni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The peace of the forest is disturbed when animals start being unkind to each other. Luckily, Detective Gordon and Buffy are determined to restore peace and eat cake. Lots of cake. The tone of this story is somewhat heavy handed in its delivery of its anti bullying message, but it is a good message - and the illustrations are gorgeous.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Gordon: A Complicated Case was a good book. The illustrations were good and I liked the character Buffy.