Key Lardo — Bruce Hale

Hold on to your fedoras, Gecko fans: Chet and Natalie have at last met their sleuthing match. That's right -- a new detective has arrived at Emerson Hicky Elementary. His name's Bland. James Bland.      Bland immediately cracks a case that has baffled Chet and Natalie. Do our favorite PIs get jealous? You'd better believe it! And if this wasn't bad enough, when Bland suddenly goes missing, the blame falls squarely on Chet. The only way for our hero to clear his name is to rescue his tubby rival. It's either that or face a stint behind bars -- and we're not talking the jungle gym.  
    This twelfth installment in Bruce Hale's Chet Gecko series is full of the hilarious characters, witty one-liners, and fast-paced mystery that have made Chet a favorite with middle grade readers.