Bridget Vanderpuff and the Great Airship Robbery 3 by Martiin Stewart

What worked:

Readers will enjoy the zany humor as Bridget thwarts evil efforts from the League of Meanies. The book opens with Bridget atop the bakery’s bicycle, chasing Hungry Horace Harris through the streets. Tom is on the back of the bike being traumatized, while Bridget enjoys every moment of the pursuit. Horace tosses all kinds of pastries at them, while Bridget pulls a variety of gadgets from her voluminous hair. Later, Bridget chases the Hood on the outside of an airship and scales the Eiffel Tower using handy, pastry-themed inventions. She often has witty interactions with the villains she faces.

Bridget is always supremely confident and enjoys every moment of her life. She rarely gets rattled, even when things don’t go as planned. Who else would have fun defying death while falling from tall structures? She has keen observation skills and notices details and connections others overlook. Think of her as a miniature Sherlock Holmes. There are a few times when it looks like she’s made mistakes, but things always work out. Afterwards, she always explains her thinking and logic, showing she knew what was happening all along.

Bridget and her father spend most of the story in Paris while leaving the bakery unattended. Actually, an invisible elf named Pascal is inside alone, and a subplot finds the League of Meanies attempting to ruin the business. Bridget gives Tom instructions on how to enter the bakery, but he wishes he knew what she would do to stop the Meanies. Meanwhile, Bridget tries to solve the mystery of her father’s stolen golden whisk, and the author inserts unexpected twists. Bridget follows clues all over Paris, but readers never know if the people she meets are allies or Meanies. Of course, Bridget declares that she can immediately spot the Meanies, even if readers might harbor doubts.

What didn’t work as well:

Some readers might not appreciate the cheesy humor, as the theme of baked goods runs throughout the story. The objective of the League of Meanies is to eliminate all good and kindness, so the conflict doesn’t generate much tension.

The final verdict:

This book can be read independently, even though it’s the third one in a series. Bridget is a delightful, confident detective, and her investigation is full of creative turns based on clues and characters. Overall, I recommend this book for mystery lovers with an additional taste for humor.