Detective Crusty & Boogie: The Case of the Missing Retainer is a laugh-out-loud mystery for middle-grade readers that proves even the smallest cases can lead to the biggest adventures.
Meet Bobby, an 11-year-old military kid with a sharp eye for suspicious behavior, and an unofficial detective title earned one summer in Rhode Island. Known as Detective Crusty, Bobby spends his final weeks in Windy Cove solving a neighborhood mystery alongside his loyal (and snore-prone) beagle, Boogie.

When Bobby’s sister’s bright green retainer mysteriously disappears, panic ensues, and Detective Crusty is on the case. As he interviews eccentric neighbors, including an 80s-obsessed gossip, a mysterious mail carrier, a grunting dog walker, and a hard-of-hearing cat owner with questionable pets, Bobby must piece together the clues before dinner and before his family’s next
military move.

Set against the backdrop of military family life, this heartwarming and hilarious story captures the chaos, resilience, and joy of growing up on the move. Filled with quirky characters, sibling antics, and a whole lot of heart, the book celebrates curiosity, family, faith, and the joy of finding laughter in everyday moments.

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