Alex T. Smith presents J. Algernon Pickle, possibly the greatest detective in the world, definitely a beaver in the Mystery at Odd-Doings House
Ten year old Jacob Oolong lives with his eccentric great aunt, Lady Petronella Oolong, on the top floor of Odd-Doings House.
When the most expensive chocolates on the world are stolen from Lady Oolong's Very Safe Safe, it's up to Jacob to catch the thief. But he'll need help from their neighbour J. Algernon Pickle, who is a beaver and also possibly the greatest detective in the world (it's his first case so we can't be sure).
A fast paced crime caper and hilarious whodunnit from bestselling author Alex T. Smith with his trademark black and white illustrations throughout the book, you can see more over on his portfolio.
Over to Alex to tell you more about his new book...
I am DELIGHTED to present to you my brand new book - ALEX T SMITH presents… J. ALGERNON PICKLE in… THE MYSTERY AT ODD-DOINGS HOUSE!
It’s a very serious work of children’s literary fiction that attempts to answer the question: WHAT IF HERCULE POIROT WAS A BEAVER? You can find out more about it on my substack pigeon post here and here.
THE BLURB…
Imagine if Hercule Poirot was a beaver... A fast-paced crime caper for readers aged 7+ with black and white illustrations.
Ten-year-old Jacob Oolong lives with his eccentric great aunt, Lady Petronella Oolong in the penthouse flat of Odd-Doings House.
They arrive home one afternoon to find an enormous heart shaped box of delicious chocolates has arrived for Lady Oolong. And these aren’t any old chocolates though. These are from Eclair’s (Est. 1844) and are the most wonderful and the most expensive chocolates in the entire world.
But the next morning - SHOCK HORROR! - they’ve vanished! Not just gone... STOLEN!
With his great aunt prostrate in her nightie with shock, it’s up to Jacob to find out who has taken them, but he’ll need help. He calls in a private detective who, rather surprisingly, is a beaver living on the floor below them. Enter... J. Algernon Pickle.
Together, J. Algernon Pickle and Jacob set about investigating this very confusing mystery. Things take an unexpected turn when it becomes clear that the chocolates could only have been stolen by someone who lives in Odd-Doings House. But WHO could it be?
The book publishes on September 10th 2026 with the Starboard imprint of Hachette Children’s Books.
Our dear pals at Waterstones have a number of SIGNED COPIES available! And you can pre-order a copy NOW!
You simply have to dance your mouse-clicking finger upon this link to find out more!
The book is also available to preorder through all your favourite indie, highstreet and online booksellers.
I’m SO excited for you to read this book. As I’ve said before, it’s VERY stupid. I wanted to write a book that was just daft and silly and this is that. I can’t wait for you to get your eyeballs on it!
Alex T. Smith
Thank you Alex! You can find Alex working very hard zipping about the country signing copies and doing events. He's appearing at The British Library in November as a guest of their family programme during the new Agatha Christie A World of Mystery exhibition.
He's visiting bookshops all over the place but you might see signed copies from his book tour in November in; Cardiff Waterstones, Swansea Waterstones, Bookish in Crickowel, Chepstow Books, Clifton Waterstones, Bristol Galleries Waterstones, Cribbs Causeway Waterstones, Bath Waterstones, Toppings of Bath, Mr B’s Emporium, Cheltenham Waterstones, Hatchards Cheltenham, Kenilworth Books, Leamington Waterstones, Coventry Waterstones and Stratford on Avon.
Then he'll need a lie down in a darkened room before the Christmas festivities begin with his brand new Winston Adventure! More news on that to come!
