Unicorn Detective 1: Who Stole the Mermaid's Purse?

By Becky Baines

A top-secret case. A mythical mystery. And a crime-fighting unicorn detective with no patience for nonsense (or split ends).

Detective Spark Bubblewand takes pride in two things: his flawless mane and flawless case record. He thought he'd seen it all working at the Mythical Bureau of Investigation. But when a fairy causes chaos and a mermaid's magical purse goes missing, Spark finds himself up to his horn in a case that's stranger than a sasquatch's shower schedule.

Spark and his big-footed rookie partner Squatch will have to follow the clues and outsmart the Rainbow Realm's cleverest creatures to crack the case--before it's too late.

Mystery, mayhem, and magical mishaps await in this laugh-out-loud adventure that proves one thing: Not all heroes need capes. Some just need a little bit of magic . . . and lot of glitter.

Unicorn Detective is an illustrated chapter book series featuring a clever unicorn detective, his big-foot partner, and mysteries rooted in global folklore and mythology. Who Stole the Mermaid's Purse? is the first title in the series, and the next two in the series - one featuring leprechauns and the other werewolves-- will follow in 2027.

"Baines's beat is typically nonfiction, and appended notes on real mermaid purses, mermaid myths, mice, Blackbeard, and more, along with a character guide, show her sure hand. Spark's vanity and silly swears ("Fluffy frog fingers ") and Squatch's earnest misunderstandings add amusement. Marks' goofy line drawings enliven every page. The mash-up of fantastical elements and hardboiled detective story will garner plenty of fans for this series opener. Magic and laughs fuel an engaging and goofy mystery." --Kirkus Reviews

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1223189708
• ISBN13: 9781223189703
• Release Date: December 2026
• Publisher: Paw Prints Publishing
• Length: 112 Pages
• Age Range: 7 to 10 years
• Grade Range: Grades 2 to 5