When a missing surfboard proves to have hidden depths, twelve-year-old super-sleuth Steve Brixton must go undercover—and underwater—to tackle a puzzling tangle of mysteries.

Steve Brixton’s finally gotten a hang of this super-sleuth thing. After a few months of busting bad guys he finally has his own office—even if it’s a bit small, and outside, and okay, used to be a doghouse.

So when someone asks him to help track down a board stolen by a local surf gang, it’s just a matter of slipping into a neon wetsuit and blending in with the surfers—right?

But when the assignment goes all wrong, Steve is going to have to test his wits against pirate smugglers, thick-necked goons, and a sixth-grader who just wants his gym shorts back—all with the help of the tips and tricks he learned from his beloved Bailey Brothers books, of course!

About The Author

Photo courtesy of the author

Mac Barnett

Mac Barnett is the author of the Brixton Brother series and several picture books, including Guess Again! and Chloe and the Lion (both illustrated by Adam Rex), and the New York Times bestseller Extra Yarn. He’s on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center, and founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers. Mac lives in Oakland, California.

About The Illustrator

Photograph by Christine Jones

Matt Myers

Matt Myers has illustrated more than a dozen books, including The Most Terrible of All, A Dog Named Doug, the New York Times bestseller Battle Bunny, and The Infamous Ratsos, a Theodor Seuss Geisel honor book. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can see more illustrations and fine art at MyersPaints.com.

Product Details

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (October 2, 2012)
Length: 256 pages
ISBN13: 9781442439795
Ages: 8 - 12

Raves and Reviews

"Like the three earlier volumes of the Brixton Brothers series, this chapter book takes the adventure and plotting
of an old-school (think Hardy Boys) series mystery and overlays it with deadpan, offbeat humor. The
occasional full-page drawings help define the characters, settings, and tone of the story. Wildly improbable
and reliably entertaining."

– Booklist

In this hilarious takeoff on "Hardy Boys"-style mysteries, a young wannabee sleuth gets more than he bargained for when he finds himself pitched into a wild round of stunning revelations - about books, espionage, and librarians. Rex's deadpan illustrations perfectly complement one of the funniest and most promising series openers in years.

– School Library Journal

“Action! Adventure! Humor! Mac Barnett has written a book kids will devour.”

– Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

“Full of excitement and danger, of narrow escapes and unexpected twists, while also being one of the funniest books of its kind ever written.”

– Dave Eggers, author of The Wild Things and cofounder of 826 National

“This is the craziest, funniest book you will ever read all year. What are you waiting for?”

– Jon Scieszka, the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

“Barnett’s coolly hysterical sendup of the Hardy Boys…and Rex’s tongue-in-cheek black-and-white illustrations…will entertain all who have outgrown the originals. Pray for sequels.”

– Kirkus Reviews

“One of the funniest and most promising series openers in years.”

– School Library Journals

“A smart, amusing mystery, this promising first novel is a fine start for the Brixton Brother series.”

– Booklist

“Barnett’s second Brixton Brothers mystery continues the whimsically sardonic adventures of everyone’s soon-to-be-favorite clueless-yet-earnest boy detective–wannabe. Shot through with moments of goofiness and dotted with Rex’s black-and-white illustrations, this is sure to please existing fans and win new ones.”

– Kirkus Reviews

"Barnett has written a fun, adventure-filled book. This is a great choice for slow or reluctant readers."

– School Library Journal

"Barnett’s sly and often silly Hardy Boy parody chugs along with plenty of laughs and enough honest-to-gosh mystery to please any lover of boy detective fiction. Rex’s black-and-white pencils (which also parody the Hardy tales) are still a fine match for the goofiness. Mention of the next adventure at mystery’s close will make Brixton fans smile."

– Kirkus Reviews

“An amusing addition to the Brixton Brothers series.”

– Booklist