Even though I read only 2 of them (I am actually reading the third, Neil Flambé and the crusader's curse ), I can tell why it is popular! This series was written by Kevin Sylvester. He won a Silver Birch award. For those who don't know, kids were the judges! The plots are mixes of real and false elements. For example, the Marco Polo mentioned in the first book was really an explorer/merchant from Venice, Italy, who served the Emperor(Khan) named Kublai. Kublai Khan was the ruler of the Mongolian empire. I learned that from both my Marco Polo book (in Italian) which was given to me by my Nonna ( when she gave it to me she said, "It's to teach you about Marco Polo" (high pitched, Lady voice) and Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo murders.
I learned about this series when it was assigned to me at my "battle of the books club." It did not look very promising to me at first, but let me tell you, I changed my mind as soon as I got on the first or second chapter, and now I am hooked. (P.S. That was partially thanks to my mom. She gently forced me to read it, all excited about the Marco Polo stuff. Well, it was also because of my school's librarian!) The first book, which is also the first I read,(duh!) is Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo murders. The second one that I read is called Neil Flambé and the Aztec abduction.
I would recommend this series for all ages above 9 years old. It combines mystery, adventure, fiction and reality. The main character, Neil Flambé, has to be a puzzle solver, must be able to think under pressure and must be able to balance his career(s). This is very hard considering that he is a 14 years old successful chef and, that being hard enough, he has a secret side job as a human bloodhound for the Vancouver Police Force.
He has a very sensitive olfactory nerve (nose) which makes him a prodigy in the kitchen, and an expert crime solver.
You should totally read this series! (and by the way, my mom was right!)
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