Buck & Ears Pirate Detectives

Two terrible pirates ... two brilliant detectives! The first book in a hilarious illustrated pirate mystery series for readers 6-9, crammed with puzzles and clues for the reader to solve. Young fans of funny books like Invesitgators and Grimwood and puzzle books like Cluedle and Murdle Junior will love this series!

Buck and his loyal rabbit, Ears, are officially the WORSE PIRATES on the Seventy Seas! When they bump into the terrifying CAPTAIN BLOODFANG, she gives them an ultimatum: follow CLUES to find her missing chef, or else be turned into pirate stew!

Along with their MISFIT CREW, can Buck and Ears SOLVE THE CASE and save themselves from a horrible fate?

Laugh out loud as you spot the clues and try to solve the mystery before pirate detectives Buck and Ears!

Praise for Buck & Ears Pirate Detectives:

"Buck & Ears is the funniest book of 2026! Hilariously bonkers and full of brilliantly twisty puzzles to solve, this is as fun and as fab as a book can be!" Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark

"Five stars on the seven seas for this brilliant new series." Andy Shepherd, author of The Boy who Grew Dragons

"A funny mystery story with perfectly plotted clues and stunning illustrations. The perfect reading for pleasure series.” Mel Taylor-Bessent, author of Race to Imagination Island

"Buck & Ears Pirate Detectives invites you to enter a colourful and distinctly smelly world. You just want to pinch your nose and dive right in!" Alasdair Beckett-King, author of Montgomery BonBon: Murder at the Museum

"A rollicking read packed with humour and heart. I can’t wait to read Buck & Ears' next adventure!" Rachel Chivers-Khoo, author of The Wishkeeper's Apprentice

About the Author

Londoner Jennifer Bell worked as a children's bookseller at a world-famous bookshop before becoming an author. Her debut series, The Uncommoners, was an international bestseller. She is also the author of Agents of the Wild, a wildlife-rescue series for younger readers, the gaming and time travel duology Wonderscape and Legendarium, and the Magicalia series – thrilling fantasy and STEM adventures starring incredible creatures conjured from emotions. Find out more about Jennifer at jennifer-bell-author.com or say hello on Instagram @jenbellauthor.

Sarah Horne learnt to draw whilst trying to explain her reasoning for an elaborate haircut at the age of nine. An illustrator for 24 years, she started her Illustration career working freelance for newspapers such as The Guardian, The Independent On Sunday and Print Week. She also worked on commissions for advertising clients such as Nike, IKEA and Kew Gardens. In 2010, Sarah published Paws, Claws and Frilly Drawers and Tantrums And Tiaras, her first author/illustrator young fiction titles with Stripes. She has illustrated over 100 books, and in 2023 was shortlisted for the Laugh Out Loud Awards. She loves to include detail and extra visual narratives in her work. When not at her desk, Sarah loves running, painting, photography, cooking, film and a good stomp up a hill.