First published 2013
Detective Rick Zengo of the Platypus Police Squad faces a puzzling case when a local schoolteacher vanishes without a trace. The only evidence left behind is a bag that reeks of something fishy. Zengo teams up with his partner Detective Corey O'Malley to follow the clues. Their investigation leads them straight to Frank Pandini Jr., a wealthy businessman with deep pockets and questionable connections. The detectives must figure out why a billionaire would involve himself in smuggling fish. As Zengo digs deeper into the case, he discovers that nothing is quite what it seems in this animal-filled city. The missing teacher, the mysterious bag, and Pandini's business dealings all connect in ways that challenge the platypus detective's skills. Zengo must solve the puzzle before the trail goes cold.
Genres: fiction, animals, adventure, mystery, detective
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, whimsical
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, buddy-cops, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Platypus Police Squad
240 pages · Kindle Edition · Walden Pond Press