Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders

March 15, 2010
Sylvester (Gold Medal for Weird
) takes readers into the culinary world of Vancouver, Canada, and into the kitchen of Neil Flambé, aka “the Nose,” a 14-year-old “wunderchef wunderbrat” with his own restaurant and line of cooking pans. Despite Neil's oversize ego, his highly sensitive nose makes him a valuable tool for the Vancouver police, who ask Neil to help them crack a series of murders targeting the city's famous chefs. Self-centered and arrogant, Neil is amusing if not likable (“I'm just trying to help ignorant slobs like you eat real food,” he tells the class bully). The mystery itself, connected to Marco Polo's final journey to Venice in the 14th century, is a tad overcomplicated, and readers may end up wondering if all the pieces ever really fell into place. Still, the antics of Neil's cousin and sous-chef, Larry, are chuckle-worthy, Sylvester's spot art sketches add an exuberant note, and the high-end cuisine will intrigue budding chefs. As pressure mounts for Neil, readers will hope this insufferable young chef is innocent, but mostly they'll wish they could sample his “Pommes de terre a la Flambé.” Ages 9–12.