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Accidental Detectives #8
The Downtown Desperadoes
A mysterious phone call seems like just a prank…until Ricky realizes it was Brother Phillip’s voice pleading for help. But when Ricky discovers that Brother Phillip is thought to have died in a fire, Ricky and his companions travel to New York to help their friend. But what--and who--they discover makes them question everything they thought they knew! Accidental Detectives book 13.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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About the author
Sigmund Brouwer
256 books408 followersSigmund loves going to schools to get kids excited about reading, reaching roughly 80,000 students a year through his Rock&Roll Literacy Show.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 19, 2020
It all starts with a phone call. Ricky Kidd is confused by the strange message, and he is certain it is a prank, expect for the fact that the voice sounds familiar. It’s a couple of hours later when he recognizes it as Brother Phillip, the man who had helped him track down his younger brother when Joel was kidnapped during the class trip to New York City back in the spring. When his father tries to find out what is happening with Brother Phillip, he discovers the mission the man run has burned down, and the police believe that Brother Phillip died in the fire. The only problem is, the fire took place before the phone call. Ricky is able to convince his family and friends, Ralphy and Mike, to change their Thanksgiving plans and go to the city, but when they arrive, things only get weirder. Did they really know Brother Phillip? Is he in danger? Or is he a criminal?
Unlike many middle grade mysteries, this one is a direct sequel to an earlier book. To completely understand the events that happen here, it is best to have already read LOST BENEATH MANHATTAN. But if you haven’t read that one yet, there is enough context here to follow the events as they unfold. And what a plot! While I remembered a few key things, like the climax, I was still caught up in the twists and turns. This book is a master class is dropping clues into a story, and I still marvel at how Mr. Brouwer does it. The characters are developed enough to make us care, but they are a bit on the thin side. The adult in me notices that, but as I’m reading I don’t care. The book was originally written for the Christian market, but the Christian elements aren’t overwhelming here. These stories were originally released in the 1990’s, so a few references are dated, but it isn’t enough to ruin the story in the slightest. This book is still as strong now as when I first read it. Readers of all ages will be thrilled they picked it up.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Unlike many middle grade mysteries, this one is a direct sequel to an earlier book. To completely understand the events that happen here, it is best to have already read LOST BENEATH MANHATTAN. But if you haven’t read that one yet, there is enough context here to follow the events as they unfold. And what a plot! While I remembered a few key things, like the climax, I was still caught up in the twists and turns. This book is a master class is dropping clues into a story, and I still marvel at how Mr. Brouwer does it. The characters are developed enough to make us care, but they are a bit on the thin side. The adult in me notices that, but as I’m reading I don’t care. The book was originally written for the Christian market, but the Christian elements aren’t overwhelming here. These stories were originally released in the 1990’s, so a few references are dated, but it isn’t enough to ruin the story in the slightest. This book is still as strong now as when I first read it. Readers of all ages will be thrilled they picked it up.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 1, 2024
The Downtown Desperadoes was always one of my favorite Accidental Detectives novels growing up, but rereading it as an adult, it’s actually one of the messiest, underwhelming books in the series — though, of course, it’s still an above-average kids mystery book since it’s written by Sigmund Brouwer, the undisputed master of dropping subtle clues to build up his finale.
After Ricky receives a mysterious phone call from Brother Phillip, a New York street preacher who saved his life and who now seems to be pleading for help, Ricky and his friends and family cancel their planned Thanksgiving vacation to fly to New York City in search of Brother Phillip. Their first discovery is that Brother Phillip is presumed dead in a fire that burned his street mission to the ground, but they are shocked to encounter Brother Phillip himself that evening, exhausted and claiming that he has been experiencing PTSD and memory loss. However, Ricky remains suspicious that all is not as it seems to be, and the gang begins investigating a mystery that involves a strange fire insurance policy, a bundle of money owed to a dangerous bookie, and the ten-year old theft of two million dollars’ worth of priceless stamps from Brother Phillip’s father, Henry DuBerg.
The Downtown Desperadoes is the first and only example of a direct sequel in The Accidental Detectives series, playing straight off the events and characters of Lost Beneath Manhattan. As always, Brouwer constructs a tight, complex mystery for Ricky and the gang, but he doesn’t generate his usual excellent combination of action, comedy, and drama. The plot almost exclusively follows Ricky, Mike, and Ralphy as they talk to various involved persons, travel by taxi across New York City, and sit in the hotel room to make deductions. We get a few comedic interludes here and there (the hot sauce trick and the pickpocketing practice are highlights), but the bulk of the plot rests on our ability to focus on the subtle clues Brouwer inserts throughout the entire story. Even the usual Christian overtones are downplayed, reduced to simple statements about trusting God in the hard times and knowing that true love bears all things. After the absolute powerhouse that was Race for the Park Street Treasure, The Downtown Desperadoes has no climactic value and often comes off like a half-hearted attempt to reuse an old setting with a plot that feels vaguely similar to the classic 1963 spy movie Charade.
It’s not a complete wash-out, of course, because Brouwer does create an intriguing, fantastical mystery, even if it does move at a slower, lower-action pace. The clues Ricky pieces together are nothing short of brilliant, if incredibly far-fetched. In fact, that’s what makes The Downtown Desperadoes weaker than its predecessors: its inability to seem like it could plausibly happen. The Accidental Detectives is supposed to be pure entertainment, which requires our suspension of belief sometimes, but I have to draw the line sometimes.
The inclusion of Jennifer Mitchell is a good touch, however, as she brings diplomacy and depth to the search for Brother Phillip (overlooking her ridiculous sting operation). Brouwer has a good understanding for female characters and doesn’t write them as stereotypes, allowing Jennifer to be emotional, impulsive, and sentimental while also being strong, compassionate, and resolved. Her immediate connection with Imalda is nicely handled, especially since The Downtown Desperadoes is the first Accidental Detectives novel to directly tackle the issue of racism. Imalda Vasquez is our leading girl in this book, carried over from her first, much smaller appearance in Lost Beneath Manhattan. I dislike Brouwer’s exclusion of Lisa Higgins in some books simply so he can include other girls for Ricky to like (and Ricky and Imalda’s mutual crush is a bit painful at times), but I really like Imalda as a character in this book. Sort of like a kid-friendly Mercy from the 1979 film The Warriors, Imalda represents the kids from the other side of the tracks, insecure about trekking to the DuBerg mansion because of her race and economic background. I would have liked to see Lisa coming along on the trip and befriending Imalda, rather than creating a rivalry over Ricky’s attention.
Brouwer manages a few other interesting tidbits amid the insanity of the plot, like Ricky’s offhand observation about the contrast between different social classes. We see the pristine silence of the wealthy world of the DuBerg family contrasted with the life Brother Phillip chose as a preacher in a noisy, dirty street mission. We also see the city slickers (Ricky and his friends) trying to understand Imalda’s background as a former thief and pickpocket. Brouwer has several nice moments where he shows Christianity as the link between all the people of the different classes, like Jennifer and Imalda, or the Jamesville boys and the Vasquez brothers.
Ultimately, The Downtown Desperadoes isn’t Brouwer’s best work and features an extremely rushed, anticlimactic ending without much emotional stakes, but it has a few fun moments and certainly keeps you on your toes as you try to piece together the complicated mystery. Keep your eyes peeled for a hilarious cameo from Old Lady Ethel Bugsby (the villainess of Race for the Park Street Treasure who will return in Sunrise at the Mayan Temple). It’s amazing how different these books seem from rereading them as an adult!
After Ricky receives a mysterious phone call from Brother Phillip, a New York street preacher who saved his life and who now seems to be pleading for help, Ricky and his friends and family cancel their planned Thanksgiving vacation to fly to New York City in search of Brother Phillip. Their first discovery is that Brother Phillip is presumed dead in a fire that burned his street mission to the ground, but they are shocked to encounter Brother Phillip himself that evening, exhausted and claiming that he has been experiencing PTSD and memory loss. However, Ricky remains suspicious that all is not as it seems to be, and the gang begins investigating a mystery that involves a strange fire insurance policy, a bundle of money owed to a dangerous bookie, and the ten-year old theft of two million dollars’ worth of priceless stamps from Brother Phillip’s father, Henry DuBerg.
The Downtown Desperadoes is the first and only example of a direct sequel in The Accidental Detectives series, playing straight off the events and characters of Lost Beneath Manhattan. As always, Brouwer constructs a tight, complex mystery for Ricky and the gang, but he doesn’t generate his usual excellent combination of action, comedy, and drama. The plot almost exclusively follows Ricky, Mike, and Ralphy as they talk to various involved persons, travel by taxi across New York City, and sit in the hotel room to make deductions. We get a few comedic interludes here and there (the hot sauce trick and the pickpocketing practice are highlights), but the bulk of the plot rests on our ability to focus on the subtle clues Brouwer inserts throughout the entire story. Even the usual Christian overtones are downplayed, reduced to simple statements about trusting God in the hard times and knowing that true love bears all things. After the absolute powerhouse that was Race for the Park Street Treasure, The Downtown Desperadoes has no climactic value and often comes off like a half-hearted attempt to reuse an old setting with a plot that feels vaguely similar to the classic 1963 spy movie Charade.
It’s not a complete wash-out, of course, because Brouwer does create an intriguing, fantastical mystery, even if it does move at a slower, lower-action pace. The clues Ricky pieces together are nothing short of brilliant, if incredibly far-fetched. In fact, that’s what makes The Downtown Desperadoes weaker than its predecessors: its inability to seem like it could plausibly happen. The Accidental Detectives is supposed to be pure entertainment, which requires our suspension of belief sometimes, but I have to draw the line sometimes.
The inclusion of Jennifer Mitchell is a good touch, however, as she brings diplomacy and depth to the search for Brother Phillip (overlooking her ridiculous sting operation). Brouwer has a good understanding for female characters and doesn’t write them as stereotypes, allowing Jennifer to be emotional, impulsive, and sentimental while also being strong, compassionate, and resolved. Her immediate connection with Imalda is nicely handled, especially since The Downtown Desperadoes is the first Accidental Detectives novel to directly tackle the issue of racism. Imalda Vasquez is our leading girl in this book, carried over from her first, much smaller appearance in Lost Beneath Manhattan. I dislike Brouwer’s exclusion of Lisa Higgins in some books simply so he can include other girls for Ricky to like (and Ricky and Imalda’s mutual crush is a bit painful at times), but I really like Imalda as a character in this book. Sort of like a kid-friendly Mercy from the 1979 film The Warriors, Imalda represents the kids from the other side of the tracks, insecure about trekking to the DuBerg mansion because of her race and economic background. I would have liked to see Lisa coming along on the trip and befriending Imalda, rather than creating a rivalry over Ricky’s attention.
Brouwer manages a few other interesting tidbits amid the insanity of the plot, like Ricky’s offhand observation about the contrast between different social classes. We see the pristine silence of the wealthy world of the DuBerg family contrasted with the life Brother Phillip chose as a preacher in a noisy, dirty street mission. We also see the city slickers (Ricky and his friends) trying to understand Imalda’s background as a former thief and pickpocket. Brouwer has several nice moments where he shows Christianity as the link between all the people of the different classes, like Jennifer and Imalda, or the Jamesville boys and the Vasquez brothers.
Ultimately, The Downtown Desperadoes isn’t Brouwer’s best work and features an extremely rushed, anticlimactic ending without much emotional stakes, but it has a few fun moments and certainly keeps you on your toes as you try to piece together the complicated mystery. Keep your eyes peeled for a hilarious cameo from Old Lady Ethel Bugsby (the villainess of Race for the Park Street Treasure who will return in Sunrise at the Mayan Temple). It’s amazing how different these books seem from rereading them as an adult!
April 17, 2023
Reviewed for local school library. Another crazy adventure. This one was written worse than the others I've read, but still a fun read for a young adventurer. "idiots" pg 77, 83. "dumb girl" pg 79
October 23, 2023
2.5⭐️
The main characters are supposed to be 12 years old but it doesn’t really read like that. To me, they read as older except for maybe the pranks they played on each other. I dunno. 🤷🏻♀️
The main characters are supposed to be 12 years old but it doesn’t really read like that. To me, they read as older except for maybe the pranks they played on each other. I dunno. 🤷🏻♀️
February 16, 2025
Labāka par pirmajām grāmatām sērijā, tomēr ne tik laba kā iepriekšējā - nav raksturīgais humors, sirsnība un sižets liekas pārāk haotisks.
March 13, 2017
This was such a fun series for me when I was in my early teen years. I get the feeling it was intended for boys, and I was a couple years older than the main characters when I got into it, but I didn't care. After years of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, as much as I loved them, it was nice to have some more modern mysteries to read.
I made the mistake of reading this one before I read its prequel, Lost Beneath Manhattan, so I might have enjoyed it more with that background, but I don't think it mattered too much. It was a fun mystery and an interesting view of city life for a country girl like me -- gangs, crime, bookies, and all that.
My favorite part of this series is the characterizations and the humor. There's a lot of sarcasm, and I was always intrigued by Joel, the kid brother who seems to appear and disappear at will and can be very brave, yet can't be without his teddy bear.
I haven't yet re-read this series as an adult, and so maybe some of the kid-centered situations will be less compelling to me now, but I still have great memories of reading it.
I made the mistake of reading this one before I read its prequel, Lost Beneath Manhattan, so I might have enjoyed it more with that background, but I don't think it mattered too much. It was a fun mystery and an interesting view of city life for a country girl like me -- gangs, crime, bookies, and all that.
My favorite part of this series is the characterizations and the humor. There's a lot of sarcasm, and I was always intrigued by Joel, the kid brother who seems to appear and disappear at will and can be very brave, yet can't be without his teddy bear.
I haven't yet re-read this series as an adult, and so maybe some of the kid-centered situations will be less compelling to me now, but I still have great memories of reading it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews