Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Smuggler’s Secret
Zaiba and the other members of the UK branch of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency have joined the school History Club. When they learn there is to be an outing to Chisel Bay to see a shipwreck and a priceless artefact recovered from the wreckage. But, when the artefact goes missing, Zaiba’s investigative skills take over and she and her team are quickly on the case…
This is a fabulous series! Zaiba is everything you could want from a young detective- bright, methodical and determined, she closely observes the world around her as she makes her deductions. Through her relationships with others, the reader also knows her to be kind and loving. Although she and cousin Mariam have not always been close, Zaiba is prepared to build bridges and welcome her as a valuable member of the Snow Leopard team. Part of a very warm, loving and supportive family, each of whom plays a role in the stories, Zaiba still feels a close bond to her own mother, constantly consulting the annotated copies of the ‘Eden Lockett’ mysteries she inherited from her mother. Although this book is the fourth in the series, it could easily be read as a stand alone as Annabelle Sami does an excellent job of filling in the details as this story builds.
Through the children’s investigations and the History Club’s visit, the reader learns much about smugglers and the East India Trading Company. The story also raises questions about the rightful ownership of historical artefacts, challenging children to think whilst still enjoying the story. An additional note on this subject at the end of the story encourages readers to develop the historical skills of questioning sources and looking at a range of accounts and evidence.
This pacy adventure is an excellent read with plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Daniela Sosa’s illustrations add much to the enjoyment of this fresh mystery series. These stories would make brilliant read alouds for a class of budding sleuths and also engaging guided readers.
Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Smuggler’s Secret
Annabelle Sami, illustrated by Daniela Sosa
Make sure you read the other adventures in this series. My review of ‘The Missing Diamonds’ can be found in the ‘Reviews from Another Life’ section.
