Heaven 2024: August Book Group: Montgomery Bon Bon, Murder at the Museum by Alasdair Beckett-King

Mili

This is our quick read for August, a children's murder mystery about a 10 year old girl Bonnie Montgomery who has a secret identity as a moustachioed detective by author and comedian Alasdair Beckett-King.

Caissa has let me know their may be an issue accessing the book in the US and Canada as it has not been released there yet. The third book in the series is put in the UK soon and this one was available in Australia so sorry for not realising it was not available in other English speaking parts of the world.

I hope a few people are able to join the discussion or if not I recommend it for children and the young at heart when it is released in North America next January.

Mili

Here is a link to more information about the book if you missed it in the book club suggestions thread https://www.walkerbooks.com.au/book/9781529501049/

Doublethink

I enjoyed it on Audible

Mili

It may just be 2 of us or a small number taking part this month, but here are the discussion questions. I had fun coming up with them anyway

1. Did you enjoy the references to other fictional detectives such as Poirot? Why/why not?

2. Bonnie is a lot more confident and assertive as Montgomery Bon Bon. Could you relate to being more confident when you are playing a role?

3. I enjoyed the descriptions of the houses and buildings in the novel. Did you have a favourite building?

4. Were you able to solve the murder? Did you feel it was complex enough to keep young readers guessing?

5. Was Grampa Banks more of a help or a hindrance in solving the case?

6. For those who are familiar with English villages was their any truth in the rivalry between Widdlington and Widdling-on-Sea?

7. Did you have a favourite comedic moment?

8. Friendship was another theme in the book. Do you see Dana and Bonnie become friends in future books? Was it Dana or someone else who sent the note declaring they knew that Bonnie was Bon Bon?

Doublethink

Mili wrote: »

It may just be 2 of us or a small number taking part this month, but here are the discussion questions. I had fun coming up with them anyway

1. Did you enjoy the references to other fictional detectives such as Poirot? Why/why not?

Yeah, I found that fun.

2. Bonnie is a lot more confident and assertive as Montgomery Bon Bon. Could you relate to being more confident when you are playing a role?

I used to do drama as a teenager, and I primarily associate acting with feeling really nervous, so it wouldn’t work for me !

4. I enjoyed the descriptions of the houses and buildings in the novel. Did you have a favourite building?

That rather passed me by, but I enjoyed the reconstructed animals in the museum.

5. Were you able to solve the murder? Did you feel it was complex enough to keep young readers guessing?

I got it very late. I didn’t find the motive terribly convincing but was willing to suspend my disbelief.

5. Was Grampa Banks more of a help or a hindrance in solving the case?

I think he was accidentally helpful !

6. For those who are familiar with English villages was there any truth in the rivalry between Widdlington and Widdling-on-Sea?

I was about to say yes and then realised it’s only something I’ve heard about in fiction - never really seen in real life. I think possibly it used to be more common.

8. Did you have a favourite comedic moment?

Not a specific set-piece, but I enjoyed his use of descriptive language - it mildly reminded me of Terry Pratchett.

8. Friendship was another theme in the book. Do you see Dana and Bonnie become friends in future books? Was it Dana or someone else who sent the note declaring they knew that Bonnie was Bon Bon?

I think it was Dana, but I’ve little evidence for that.

Overall I enjoyed it as a light read - but really I’d have liked more of Montgomery Bon Bon and less of Bonnie.

I will consider getting others in the series.

Mili

Thanks for your answers Double Think. I was trying to think of a question about the monsters but couldn't think of a good one. They remind me of some of the strange stuffed animals in museums that were made by taxidermists who never saw the real thing. Sad Otter at my local museum is an example https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/specimens/131294

1. Did you enjoy the references to other fictional detectives such as Poirot? Why/why not?


I am a big Agatha Christie fan so I liked the references. Especially Bon Bon throwing in random phrases from pseudo or mixed French and German. I am currently reading a collection of Poirot short stories and now I can't take his French phrases as added by and English author seriously!

3. Bonnie is a lot more confident and assertive as Montgomery Bon Bon. Could you relate to being more confident when you are playing a role?

I work as a teacher for part of the week and although I don't exactly feel I am playing a role, I do feel more confident in certain areas. I can deal with blood and giant hunstman spiders and angry neighbours jumping into the school grounds because the kids through sticks at their house. The rest of the week I work as a care worker and tend to avoid huntsmans, but one came in my client's house after a storm this week and I reminded myself I catch and release them outside at school so I can do it there too! There's much more pressure to do so in a classroom of screaming children however.

3. I enjoyed the descriptions of the houses and buildings in the novel. Did you have a favourite building?

The descriptions were one of my favourite parts of the book. I loved the descriptions of Harriet Spruce's jungle house.

4. Were you able to solve the murder? Did you feel it was complex enough to keep young readers guessing?

I narrowed it down to a couple of suspects, but it wasn't totally obvious. It was complex enough for children.

5. Was Grampa Banks more of a help or a hindrance in solving the case?

Grampa Banks thwarted some of Bon Bon's attempts to solve the case, but at other times Bonnie couldn't have done without his help. He also protected her from getting into too many dangerous situations. I liked reading about their family relationship. She relied on him a lot as she had trouble making friends her own age.

6. For those who are familiar with English villages was their any truth in the rivalry between Widdlington and Widdling-on-Sea?

I'm still curious to know!

7. Did you have a favourite comedic moment?

I liked Harriet Spruce's macaw and the fact that he was the only one who could spot that Montgomery Bon Bon was wearing a disguise. The moustache caterpillar was funny as well.

8. Friendship was another theme in the book. Do you see Dana and Bonnie become friends in future books? Was it Dana or someone else who sent the note declaring they knew that Bonnie was Bon Bon?

I have not read the sequels but it seems set up that Bonnie needs a friend and that she and Dana could become friends in the future. However I also think she is the only one (apart from the macaw) that knows her secret identity and this could complicate things. I hope Bonnie becomes more confident in making friends as the books go on.