Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner

This is a delightful and charming book. When his mother packs him off to visit his Aunts in Berlin, school boy Emil Tischbein is given an envelope containing money. Promising to look after it and keep it safe, the first thing that happens of course is that he is robbed whilst asleep on his train journey. The robber is a sinister stranger in a bowler hat, but he reckons without the indignant Emil who sets off in hot pursuit. Whilst following the man, Emil comes across Gustav and his friends who vow to help him get back his money.

First published in 1929, the book is a sort of easy going detective story in which the wide-eyed and innocent Emil soon learns that Berlin is a city of many surprises. The chase is exciting and the boys Emil encounters are all suitably eccentric: there is the Professor who likes to think of himself as the brains of the outfit and then there is Gustav who communicates via a car horm which he blows at every opportunity. Even Emil's annoying cousin Pony makes a brief appearance on her new bicycle. It is not difficult to see why Disney has turned this into a movie not once but twice.

The ending when it comes is very satisfying. It all ends happily of course and there is even a moral to be had. I missed this book when I was young, but I'm glad I've caught up with it now. If you're in the market for a quick, heart-warming adventure set in a realistic Berlin (all the places mentioned still exist: go check them out) then you could do far worse than read this book. You could switch on Hollyoaks.

Mr Mudd