Half Moon Investigations facts for kids
First edition cover
|
|
| Author | Eoin Colfer |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Art done by Mark Riedy, Designed by Ellice M. Lee |
| Country | United Kingdom (first edition) |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Mystery novel |
| Publisher | Miramax Books |
|
Publication date
|
March 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 290 pp |
| ISBN | 0-7862-9362-4 (first edition, hardback) |
| OCLC | 80910252 |
Half Moon Investigations is an exciting mystery novel written by the Irish author Eoin Colfer. It first came out in the United States in March 2006. Later, it was released in the UK and Ireland in June 2006. This popular book was also turned into a TV show by the BBC, which started in January 2009.
Contents
Story of Half Moon Investigations
The main character is Fletcher Moon. People often call him "Half-Moon" because he is not very tall. Fletcher is a natural detective. He is even a "certified" detective, having graduated from the Bernsteins Academy.
Fletcher's First Case
One day, a girl from his school named April asks for his help. She believes someone stole a lock of her hair. Fletcher agrees to investigate. He starts by looking into all the possible suspects. This leads him to get a warning from a 13-year-old boy named Red Sharkey.
An Attack and a Frame-Up
While Fletcher is working on the hair mystery, someone throws a hurling stick at him. He gets seriously hurt. Fletcher thinks Red is the main suspect because the stick had "Red" written on it. He believes Red attacked him.
Fletcher then goes to April's cousin, May. He wants to take pictures of the stick as evidence. But he goes to the wrong house. There, he sees someone setting fire to May's special dancing costume. Fletcher passes out in the yard because of medicine from the hospital. When he wakes up, he finds a torch in his hand. All the clues for the fire point to him.
Teaming Up with Red Sharkey
The police question Fletcher. Luckily, Red Sharkey comes and helps him. Red says he was also set up for the hurling stick attack. So, Half-Moon and Red decide to work together. They have 24 hours to solve these strange mysteries.
Uncovering the Girls' Club
The two boy detectives follow a clue to April's house. They discover the truth about a girls' club called Les Jeunes Etudiantes. The girls' real goal is to get rid of all the boys they think are ruining their education. Three boys were recently kicked out of school because of these girls. Fletcher and Red feel they must stop them.
The girls find out about Fletcher and Red. They manage to trap the boys in the cellar. But May, April's cousin, saves them. Fletcher and Red had heard the girls practicing what they would say. The girls planned to accuse Red's brother, Herod, of an attack. Red quickly sends a text message to the police officer. He tells the officer the exact words the girls would use.
Solving the Mystery
The police officer realizes the girls are lying. Herod Sharkey is found innocent and saved from being expelled. April tries to escape in her father's car but crashes into the police car.
Fletcher gets a text from the officer. It says that this still does not solve all the mysteries, including his own attack. So, Fletcher meets a secret helper. He gives the helper the password to a police account he had hacked earlier. In return, he gets the information he needs.
Fletcher learns that all the crimes are connected to the upcoming school talent show. It turns out that everyone who was a victim had a part in the show. Red suggests that May was behind everything. But on stage, Fletcher proves that May's father, Gregor Devereux, was the real culprit.
New Detective Duo
In the end, Red and Fletcher decide to start their own detective group. Red suggests "Moon Investigations." Fletcher replies, "You're half right." This refers to his nickname and the book's title.
Future of Half Moon Investigations
In an interview from September 2007, Eoin Colfer shared an idea for a second Half Moon book. In this story, Moon would go undercover with a group of goths. He would listen to music by Kate Bush and Metallica. Colfer also said he would like to tell more about Moon's sister, Hazel.
Television Show Adaptation
In 2008, the BBC announced a TV series called Half Moon Investigations. This show was made to replace Grange Hill. One season with 13 episodes was aired.
