Trouble Is My Beeswax

Chet Gecko Mystery #8

by Bruce Hale

In these two wisecracking, sidesplitting mysteries from Chet Gecko's tattered casebook, the fourth-grade detective and his punning mockingbird partner, Natalie Attired, keep the peace at Emerson Hicky Elementary. In the first, the two sleuths blow the lid off a cheating ring in Mr. Ratnose's classroom, and in the second, they track down the winning ticket for the biggest, chocolatiest, most gut-busting dessert ever, the Malted Falcon. Danger has never been so delicious!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Childrens, Humor

111 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

A serious book addict, Bruce wanted to be a children's book author since he was in 4th grade (right after he got over wanting to be a pirate, Tarzan, and Daniel Boone). Today he's the author-illustrator of over 70 seriously funny books for kids, so some dreams do come true.

The Malted Falcon, one of his Chet Gecko Mysteries series, was an Edgar Award finalist, and Murder, My Tweet won a Little D Award for Juvenile Humor Writing. Bruce has written everything from picture books and easy readers, to graphic novels and novels.

Bruce's recent Monstertown Mysteries series blends horror and humor, based on his childhood love of monster movies. His other series include Class Pets, about the secret lives of classroom pets, and the forthcoming Outerspace Mystery Pizza Club books, due in 2024.

A Fulbright Scholar (in Storytelling), Bruce is also a popular speaker, both in the U.S. and internationally. He lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and knuckleheaded dog Riley. When he's not writing or reading, you may find him hiking, kickboxing, or singing with a latin-jazz band called Mezcal Martini.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty funny. Kids really like this series. My favorite line---"he ran like a bully with a wedgie: fast and furious"---demonstrates my need to get out more.

[maddie patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent children's gumshoe story. Would have loved to read more of this series when I was a young and impressionable child, but as an adult, it's just one of those kids book that's okay to read. It's got its funny moments and the characters are cute, but it's one of those books I can't really rank higher just because it's not necessarily meant for me.

[Thanh]

it good

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We've read a few of Bruce Hale's books with a Hawaiian theme and since we've been reading chapter books recently and our girls adore geckos, I thought this would be a hit. Well, I was wrong. Our girls just did not get into this story. They don't know anything about tests yet, so a mystery about cheaters didn't interest them. And while I was entertained with the Raymond Chandler-esque style of writing, they just didn't get it. They didn't understand words like dame and couldn't figure out the subtle word play that the author sprinkled liberally throughout the book. So, we never got further than a few chapters into the story and I decided to just give up and finish the story myself and spare them the trouble. I thought it was cute, but they just weren't ready for it. Perhaps in a few more years...

Overall it was a cute story, interesting mystery and somewhat of a surprise ending. Definitely for older readers.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is cheating on a test everyday and Chet Gecko can't see who's cheating on the test and he's doing research on how to cheat on a test and someone is keeping off track to make Chet Gecko confused.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite series as a kid.

[Luca · Rating 5 out of 5]

That cat was clever, but not clever enough for the gecko on the case of it. The cat made the gecko into the case but never out.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its envlycopedia brown with a gecko. What's not to like about that

[Jake Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

very very exciting,lots of detective stuff