The Case of the Exploding Brains

by Rachel Hamilton

Science, silliness and super-villains make this a perfect read for fans of David Walliams, Simon Mayo and Liz Pichon Noelle "Know-All" Hawkins has another case on her hands.Her famous scientist dad - Professor Brian "Big Brain" Hawkins - is in prison as a result of his portaloo mishaps. A trip to the Science Museum results in an international mystery involving the moon, some mindreading, and an awful lot of grumpy people. But how are they all connected? Noelle, Holly and Porter are on the case. Will they piece together the crazy clues in time to save the planet? And why is Dad walking round prison with a blanket on his head? Rachel Hamilton does it again in this laugh-out-loud detective story for both boys and girls.

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 26, 2015

About the author

Rachel Hamilton’s first children’s book, 'The Case of the Exploding Loo', was published by Simon & Schuster in May 2014 and the second book in the series, 'The Case of the Exploding Brains', came out in February 2015. 'The Case of the Exploding Loo' won the Worcestershire Awesomest Book Award and the Ossett Riveting Reads Award. It was also runner up in the Montegrappa First Fiction award at the Emirates Festival of Literature and nominated for the Leeds Book Award and Redbridge Children's Book Award as well as being chosen as a recommended holiday read by The Sunday Express, the National Geographic Kids Magazine, and the Travel Show.

Rachel's second series, 'The Unicorn in New York' is published by Oxford University Press, The first book - 'Louie Let's Loose' - was chosen as part of the Big Read Great Summer Reads programme, the second book came out June 2016 and the third is due out in February 2016

Rachel is a graduate of both Oxford University and Cambridge University and has put her education to good use by working in an advertising agency, a secondary school, a building site and a men’s prison. She developed a passion for story-telling as an English teacher when she discovered it was the perfect way to get her students to shhh and listen to her.

Rachel now divides her time between the UK and Dubai, creating funny books for 9 to 12 year-olds and talking to young people about the joys of reading and writing. Rachel loves to make people laugh, especially when it’s intentional rather than accidental.

Reviews

[Sue]

I loved this book because it is a mystery with lots of clues. I like all the pictures and diagrams and at the end I like how the clues join together to create a theory. The heroine, Noelle returns for another exciting and exploding adventure with Holly and Porter, from the case of the exploding loo. Rachel Hamilton is a funny writer and I can't wait to read her next book.

[Nayuleska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious book 2 with lots of misdirection and thwarted plans.

[Annabel Kantaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having devoured The Case of the Exploding Loo in two days, my daughter, 9, was very excited to see that Rachel Hamilton had a new book out.
My daughter read it very quickly and says, 'It was very good. Noelle is my favourite character because she's so brainy. I loved the way it was so funny and and also kept me thinking right up to the end.'
I say: You can't go wrong with Rachel's books. I'm saving it for my son!

[Tatum Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As sparkling, entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny as The Case of the Exploding Loo, the characters are as engaging as ever, and have another brilliant case to solve, this time involving a mysterious missing moon rock. I absolutely love these books. Here's to many more in this wonderful series.

[Katy Allington · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I were thrilled when the 2nd installment of Noelle's adventures came out (my 2 girls are very similar to Noelle and her sister, Holly!). An excellent 2nd book from Rachel Hamilton - easy to read and laugh out loud funny.