Detective Nosegoode and the music box mystery by Marian Orłoń illustrated by Jerzy Flisak

"In that case, here's another question. 

If there are so many suspects, how are you going to prove who the thief is?"

Clues

Matchbox left at the scene of the crime

Black silk thread from a glove found on the door of the workshop - Detective Nosegoode is sure this is from a woman's glove made of silk

Mysterious writing on the match box 4.15  7.15   21.30

A single spent match found on the floor

Suspects

Blackbeard the mysterious man who is wearing a fake beard and who is new to town

Joey Humming apprentice to Mr Blossom the clockmaker who has repaired the music box

Ben, nephew to the owner of the music box Mr Swllowtail

Blurb: "The famous detective Ambrosius Nosegoode is enjoying a quiet retirement in his cottage in the lazy town of Lower Limewood, along with his faithful dog Cody, who is remarkable in many ways - not the least that he can talk! But soon the peace is disturbed by a mysterious crime - Mr Swallowtail's music box has been stolen from Ignatius Blossom's workshop. Detective Nosegoode is called in to investigate, and Cody is determined to help him sniff out the solution to this puzzle. What is the secret of the music box, and who stole it? Could it be the mysterious stranger, Blackbeard? And most importantly when will Cody get his dinner?"

Detective Nosegoode - what a splendid name. And his offsider, an intelligent talking dog, is called Cody.

Detective Nosegoode is a book translated from Poland. The original title: Ostatnia przygoda detektywa Noska, was published in 1968. This new English edition comes from Pushkin Press, translated by Eliza Marciniak and published in 2017.

I discovered this book when someone asked for simple detective stories for their seven year old child on a recent forum. This child had enjoyed Friday Barnes and a series for much older readers - Agatha Oddly. Children in my previous school library in Grades 2 and 3 often asked for spy and detective stories. As I searched for books to recommend on the forum I found Detective Nosegoode. 

There are three books in this series. The slightly larger format and tactile cover are very appealing. 

I think this book series will appeal to readers aged 8+. I especially love the quirky illustrations. Jerzy Flisak (1930-2008) was a well-known Polish illustrator and designer of film posters and stage sets. He illustrated more than 70 books over his long career.

Here are some other detective stories for your young reading companion to enjoy:

A case in any case

The First Case

Andy Shane and the Barn Sale Mystery

Violet and the Pearl of the Orient

High Rise Private Eye

Stick and Fetch

I also need to mention this book - The Empty Envelope from the A to Z Mystery series. I loved this because I had no idea how or why this crime was committed.  There are 26 books in this series but if you only look for one make it E for Envelope. This is an old book (1998) but it is still available.