This is the second book in a series that revolves around 11-year-old Timmy Failure, head of the most impressive detective agency in town. It's packed with humor, charm and delightful illustrations. Timmy is an appealing but disgruntled pre-adolescent who escapes the typical middle school woes by creating his own Mitty-esque world. He and his bumbling sidekick (a polar bear named Total) form Total Failure, Inc., a global agency that meets in odd corners of his quirky aunt's dilapidated mansion to plot and work through their sticky adventures. In this case, there's a school-wide mystery contest to be won that comes with a $500 prize.

If at times insufferably self-confident, Timmy is also empathetic and likeable. A subtle pathos lingers in the background, which gives his story substance. He and his recently unemployed mother live a precarious life, but Timmy's impressive imagination propels them beyond it.

Author Stephen Pastis is a cartoonist and his whimsical drawings are a great complement to the book. The humor is age-appropriate but not gratuitous. Timmy's refusal to entertain reality results in scenes that may make both adult and young readers laugh out loud. He's a perfect anti-hero, and this is a great read for the recommended age group.