Fabio the World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective – Mystery on the Ostrich Express

Laura James's Mystery on the Ostrich Express is a Fabio the flamingo detective story for 7 year olds, set aboard the fastest steam train in the world.

What happens

Fabio is small, pink and very, very clever. He and his best friend Gilbert are off on holiday to the Coral Coast (Gilbert has packed a bucket and spade, just for himself). But Fabio can't switch off. On the way to the station he spots someone he hoped he'd never see again.

Before they've even had pudding, the train screeches to a halt. There's a frightened baby elephant tied to the tracks. While everyone's busy freeing him, someone snatches the Laloozee Ruby, as big as an egg, from around the neck of a stylish desert fox called Zazie.

Fabio is sure it's the work of Janice the Claw, a leopard he's locked up once before. So he sets a trap. It involves Gilbert's seaside bucket filled with the passengers' jewellery, a pretend rockfall in a canyon and a lot of knotted-together tablecloths.

It's a proper little whodunnit. The clues are there for a sharp-eyed reader to spot, and Fabio explains every one of them at the end.

Gilbert is the star for laughs. He bangs his head and comes round muttering about Black Forest gateau. He's scared of heights and still clambers onto the roof of a moving train, then gets himself wedged between two carriages. Fabio is endlessly patient with him, and their friendship is lovely to read.

There's so much fun detail too, like pink lemonade in the dining car, a zebra who can't wait to tell her choir, and a rattlesnake tipping his hat at an auction. It's quick to read but has a big adventure feel, a bit like a classic detective story shrunk down for little paws (and feathers).

This isn't Fabio's first case, but you don't need to have read another to follow it.

What to read next

Laura James also wrote Captain Pug, and it's in the library too. Pug adores jam tarts, is not at all sure about water, and is about to be made a sea captain for a very grand boating trip.