The Spaghetti Detectives

Originally published in Germany, this novel, which has the feel of a middle-grade variation on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, is narrated by Rico, a self-described "child proddity. That's a bit like being a child prodigy, but also like the opposite." Though Rico never specifies his medical condition, he notes that his "head is sometimes as topsy-turvy as a barrel full of lottery balls," an analogy borne out by monologues that ricochet from topic to topic. After finding a strand of spaghetti on the sidewalk outside his Berlin apartment building, Rico goes in search of additional pieces of pasta. At a playground, he meets Oscar, an actual prodigy who, expecting the worst, insists on wearing a helmet. Though readers may find the pace languid, it picks up when Oscar becomes a victim of a serial kidnapper and Rico attempts to find his friend. In his English-language debut, Steinh%C3%B6fel introduces a diverse and well-developed cast; Rico's scattershot narration won't be for everyone, but his singular, inquisitive perspective makes for a drily funny and gratifying mystery. Ages 8%E2%80%9312. (July)