GOOD GUYS AND BAD GUYS is a book about a mystery & the child who solves it, but it's also a book about nuance. I liked the concept and the reveal of the mystery. The narration was a bit forced at times, but it's a fun style I don't usually see. Combined with the plot and the takeaways I think this would be a solid readalike for The Mysterious Benedict Society.

All that said, I felt that the pacing was slightly off - Jake's knowledge of what happened was (I think) meant to add suspense, and maybe for a kid it would! But for me, his constant referrals to a "now" and "what we know now that the mystery's solved" were just frustrating. As well, the dialogue felt pretty stilted a lot of the time.

I'll be recommending this to fans of character-driven middle grade mysteries and kids who are looking for a bit deeper, more challenging of a read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Troubador, and the author for the eARC. This is 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 on Goodreads and NetGalley.

This was a very quick and entertaining read. Captivating characters and an endearing plot. It was fun, fast, and witty.