Bud Barkin, Private Eye

Tales from the House of Bunnicula #5

by James Howe, Brett Helquist (Illustrations)

Dear Reader,The guy who usually writes these letters asked me to do it instead. Maybe he was having a bad writing day. Maybe he wanted me to play the sap for him. Or maybe he ran into Trouble with a capital T.Well, Trouble’s in my business. I’m a dog. I’m a detective. The name’s Bud Barkin. And this book is about the case I had involving a dame named Delilah Gorbish, whom I would call Trouble with a capital T except I’ve used that metaphor already, and the clown named Crusty Carmady whose calling card is a teakettle that he heaves through windows. Nice pair of birds. The mystery deepens with another character called the Big Fish, who isn’t really a fish and who’s addicted to the Home Shopping Network.Hey, I don’t write ’em—I just solve ’em.Yours truly, Bud Barkin, P.E.

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Middle Grade, Horror, Animals, Chapter Books, Juvenile

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Katherine Loyacano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bud Barkin, Private Eye by James Howe is the fifth book in the Tales From the House of Bunnicula series. Howie decides to write a new kind of novel - a mystery novel.

Continuing with the other books in this series, the story alternates between Howie’s entries in his writing journal and the chapters of the story he is writing. Howie is writing a mystery novel with nods to classic noir. He imagines himself as Bud Barkin, a private eye who's clever, tough, and "as sensitive as a finely tuned concert piano." As always, Uncle Harold is available for some constructive criticism which Howie likes to disregard, like using too many adjectives and not writing a detailed outline.

This book would be a wonderful introduction for young readers learning about the elements of a mystery story or learning to write one of their own. Uncle Harold shares advice about writing a mystery that includes outlining, red herrings, and reading lots of mystery stories to get familiar with detective tropes. Additionally, this story has a plethora of hilarious similes which Bud Barkin likes to use often. You gotta love Howie! Here are a couple of my favorites:

"The light from the sign outside my window was blinking like a firefly with a bad case of the hiccups."

"My gut got as tight as a pair of all-cotton briefs after they'd been dried on high when the directions stated tumble dry low."

Bravo, James Howe, for adorable characters, witty dialogue, and imaginative storytelling! Bravo, Brett Helquist, for the amazing illustrations that capture the personalities of those adorable characters and add an extra layer of enjoyment while reading the story! I'm excited to read Howie's next tale, The Odorous Adventures of Stinky Dog.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who’s read James Howe’s Tales from the House of Bunnicula series knows it is more fun than a finely-tuned concert piano. This fifth installment is among the better of the series, with the talented and lovable (not to mention smart) wirehaired dachshund puppy Howie deciding to pen a mystery novel. Can he come up with enough over-the-top similes to prove himself worthy of the genre? A quote from page 25 helps to answer that question: “My gut got as tight as a pair of all-cotton briefs after they’d been dried on high when the directions clearly stated tumble dry low.”

What can’t this wirehaired dachshund puppy do?

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book to my students. They enjoyed it, but I think the aides and assistants enjoyed it more due to some
funny little asides. My class will be returning to the Bunnicula series.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the boy points out (Harold too) - Howie uses waaaaay to many adjectives and similes. Just lots of fun though.

[Kimberly Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Please!

We laughed and laughed at this one. Howie does it again! We hope there is more to come from Howie and the gang in the future.

[Nanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm amazed at how this short chapter book is actually a mystery, a detective story with puns, zanies and humour. It is told from a dog perspective - the protagonist Bud Barkin - and written in a dog perspective too, which is Howie Monroe.

I'm still indecisive if I enjoyed the interwoven storytelling of both Howie's journal in writing this story about Bud Barkin AND Bud Barkin's story. It is new, I'd give the author that.

I wish it was little bit longer and got a bit more serious. But the wordplay in every single chapter does nothing to help.

Reading this actually reminded me of a couple of my first chapter books. When I was in second or third grade, there was this new super bookstore in the middle of where I lived. So many books, so many stories, but I was most drawn to the horror section (even though I don't like horror). To my surprise, amidst the pulpy, adult scary fiction was a selection of spooky chapter books for children. I chipped in my savings and got myself, that summer, two or three books from a series with a grandmother main character. It's just a faint memory now. But I remember really chowing those tiny books down... How I wish I have kept them safer, better; that they would still be here with me.

Would I read another from the Bunnicula tales? I doubt it. But I kind of enjoyed this one: 3.5 stars.

[Toni Tawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Bud Barkin, Private Eye, Tales From the House of Bunnicula" is attended for grades 2-4. The book is a Fantasy/Mystery. The story is about a dog detective named Bud Barkin. The story is about a crime he is trying to solve for a dame named Delilah Gorbish. Who is trouble with a capital "T." I really enjoyed the book. It was funny because all the characters are animals which I really like. I think it is a good book that teachers could read to their students and I think it will keep their attention because of the characters. It is a very entertaining book and it will keep children laughing!

[Fuchsia Rascal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a great job of bordering the absolutely ridiculous while still being a good, engaging read. It has some great tips for budding juvenile writers, even if the main character doesn't fully understand them. All in all, it's a delightful read and although very different from the Bunnicula books, children will enjoy this as well.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was an interesting book for this series. it was interesting to see the mystery and everything but it wasn't a favorite. but it was still good like all the rest and a difinite recommendation to all who are willing to read it.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the pov was from the writer and that he talked about the process as the story went on. This would be a good addition to learning how to identify/write a mystery in the mid-elementary grades.

[Callie]

This book is the best of the whole series. It is very mysterious. The main character, Bud Barkin, is a detective. He solves a huge mystery. Howie is finally writing like a real author! I give this book a five!

[Ch J Loveall · Rating 4 out of 5]

If their are no references in background this will not be as fun.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good idea. But Howie's stories seem more like stream of consciousness than a thought out storyline.

[Tiffiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 10-yr-old son read it and liked it a lot!