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The Brixton Brothers #1
The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity
Steve Brixton always wanted to be a detective...
until he found out he already WAS one.
It all starts here: The thrilling story of Steve Brixton's first case. Our hero has a national treasure to recover, a criminal mastermind to unmask, and a social studies report due Monday -- all while on the run from cops, thugs, and secret-agent librarians.
Since when can librarians rappel from helicopters? Does Steve have any brothers or sisters? If not, then why is this series called The Brixton Brothers? You will solve all these mysteries and many more by the time you finish The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity.
We think you'll agree: Steve Brixton's first adventure is his best adventure yet.
until he found out he already WAS one.
It all starts here: The thrilling story of Steve Brixton's first case. Our hero has a national treasure to recover, a criminal mastermind to unmask, and a social studies report due Monday -- all while on the run from cops, thugs, and secret-agent librarians.
Since when can librarians rappel from helicopters? Does Steve have any brothers or sisters? If not, then why is this series called The Brixton Brothers? You will solve all these mysteries and many more by the time you finish The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity.
We think you'll agree: Steve Brixton's first adventure is his best adventure yet.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2009
83 people are currently reading
1852 people want to read
About the author
Mac Barnett
105 books1,305 followersBorn to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He's on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews
December 8, 2016
I've always loved (and slightly laughed at) children's detective novels, so this book was a real treat! It celebrated the cliche in a preposterous, humorous way while disproving some of the old flex-your-muscles-when-you're-tied-up tricks in the process. ;) The main character has some crazy adventures with detective manual and wits tested to the limits as he faces kidnappers, thieves, , and the whole police department. I really enjoyed the writing style, and the true to life details kept me laughing. The plot was very good, and a few twists () were surprising. ;) Not recommended for younger readers because of some disrespect of adults and intense action including kidnapping.
Best quote: It's a well-known fact that the chums of detectives are always getting kidnapped. For instance, Shawn and Kevin Bailey's best friend, Ernest Plumly, gets abducted in thirty-two of the fifty-nine Bailey Brothers adventures. Every time, the Bailey Brothers always come to the rescue.
Altogether, I quite enjoyed this fantastic, clever, hilarious book! I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
Best quote: It's a well-known fact that the chums of detectives are always getting kidnapped. For instance, Shawn and Kevin Bailey's best friend, Ernest Plumly, gets abducted in thirty-two of the fifty-nine Bailey Brothers adventures. Every time, the Bailey Brothers always come to the rescue.
Altogether, I quite enjoyed this fantastic, clever, hilarious book! I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
September 30, 2016
An experimental light read that I took up searching for something similar to Hardy boys. It's that kind of YA mystery where juvenile sleuths who've never been behind the wheel go about honking and tonking in stolen police cars, and the police go about chasing them in commandeered bicycles painted blue with white bubbles and sporting a basket in front. But that is to say nothing of a clever twist here or an intelligent dash of good humor there. Sometimes I thought it to be perfect for the target audience-'the reluctant reader' category and sometimes I thought the book was even better than that and more current. An okayish kids-get-lucky read.
November 6, 2011
Omigosh, I love this book. It's an homage to the Hardy Boys and a send-up at the same time. My fellow school librarians should read this first book in the series if for no other reason than to savor the notion of librarians as part of an elite force of secret agents. For students looking for humor with their mystery, this series should fit the bill.
March 4, 2018
Even though the plot is quite ridiculous, I still enjoyed the novel. I love how it constantly uses references and information from The Bailey Brothers and points out how different novel version of detective work is from the real-life detective work. Only if the plot was a bit more realistic!
Another thing I didn't quite like is the confusing character portrayal of Steve Brixton, the young detective in this novel. He seemed extremely intelligent in some parts and a complete idiot in another. I was genuinely impressed at finding out the fingerprint part but annoyed at dressing up as a sailor a bit later.
I hope that the character will be stronger in the next books.
Another thing I didn't quite like is the confusing character portrayal of Steve Brixton, the young detective in this novel. He seemed extremely intelligent in some parts and a complete idiot in another. I was genuinely impressed at finding out the fingerprint part but annoyed at dressing up as a sailor a bit later.
I hope that the character will be stronger in the next books.
April 21, 2022
In all the days of looking up Mac Barnett and Adam Rex books from the library, I always skimmed past these books.
They weren't picture books (at least in the traditional sense), which is what I have come to love from these two.
And they look like bad Hardy Boys knock-offs.
Turns out, that's what they are -- and that's what makes this great.
Also, it turns out that Mac Barnett is as good at writing middle grade novels as he is at writing picture books. Also, of course, Adam Rex's art is as good as ever.
This book is a parody of Hardy Boys, but, unlike some parodies, it can also stand on its own two feet.
It is clever, and it is funny, and it is a quick read. I'm really glad I read it.
The one downside is that it is not SUPER memorable... but then again, it's fast more memorable than, say "Hardy Boys", for instance.
They weren't picture books (at least in the traditional sense), which is what I have come to love from these two.
And they look like bad Hardy Boys knock-offs.
Turns out, that's what they are -- and that's what makes this great.
Also, it turns out that Mac Barnett is as good at writing middle grade novels as he is at writing picture books. Also, of course, Adam Rex's art is as good as ever.
This book is a parody of Hardy Boys, but, unlike some parodies, it can also stand on its own two feet.
It is clever, and it is funny, and it is a quick read. I'm really glad I read it.
The one downside is that it is not SUPER memorable... but then again, it's fast more memorable than, say "Hardy Boys", for instance.
January 24, 2019
Note entirely age appropriate, but my 5 1/2 year old still tried to wrangle more chapters each night. Hey Aunt Amy - we are on to you! ;-)
July 10, 2019
Steve Brixton, normal kid and superfan of an old detective series called The Bailey Brothers, finds himself involved in a bizarre caper involving a top secret spy organization called Librarians (who are also librarians). These Librarians enlist a reluctant and incredulous Steve to find the McGuffin Quilt, a Revolution-era quilt on which is encoded all of America’s most important secrets.
What makes this book stand out among the many mysteries and thrillers with kid protagonists is the humor. First and foremost, the fictional Bailey Brothers books are a thinly veiled and pitch-perfect pastiche of the hokey, outdated Hardy Boys, but Steve accepts the books’ ridiculous advice on how to be a detective at face value. This leads to him walking into a bar dressed as a sailor, talking like a heavy from a badly written 1950s noir film – only to be taken at face value as well. The police call him “Detective” and tell him to clean up his own messes, while the bad guys treat him as a gumshoe and not a kid. The plot is clever, the mystery is tricky, the danger and thrills are real, and deadpan humor is flat-out hilarious. A brilliant book, maybe even too clever for its young audience to appreciate.
What makes this book stand out among the many mysteries and thrillers with kid protagonists is the humor. First and foremost, the fictional Bailey Brothers books are a thinly veiled and pitch-perfect pastiche of the hokey, outdated Hardy Boys, but Steve accepts the books’ ridiculous advice on how to be a detective at face value. This leads to him walking into a bar dressed as a sailor, talking like a heavy from a badly written 1950s noir film – only to be taken at face value as well. The police call him “Detective” and tell him to clean up his own messes, while the bad guys treat him as a gumshoe and not a kid. The plot is clever, the mystery is tricky, the danger and thrills are real, and deadpan humor is flat-out hilarious. A brilliant book, maybe even too clever for its young audience to appreciate.
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January 11, 2013The case of the case of Mistaken Idenity identiy is about a boy named steve brixten and his favorite writer is Mac Bart. I think that is realy cool that steve has a favortie writer because you can read the whole seres or just the one book and know they are good because it is your favortie author. He writes letters to Bart and one day he gets one back form Mac. I was really exited when i heard that he gets a letter because it is so awsome that he got a letter from his favorite author,then he gose and tries to met him. This is my favorite part because it starts the mystery and it kind of makes you want to keep reading unit you finish the book. It is a realy good book and i hope you read it.
December 24, 2024
“Dear Mom,
I won't be home this weekend because I'm wanted for treason and I have to clear my name. Also, I took the last Sprite from the fridge.
Love, Steve”
The audio version of this book was very well done. The narrator does a good job.
The story itself was funny. Steve loves detective stories, so when he gets caught up in a mystery he is well prepared.
He is up against librarians, the police, and a mysterious bad guy named Mr. E.
With the help of his chum, Steve tackles "The Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity".
I won't be home this weekend because I'm wanted for treason and I have to clear my name. Also, I took the last Sprite from the fridge.
Love, Steve”
The audio version of this book was very well done. The narrator does a good job.
The story itself was funny. Steve loves detective stories, so when he gets caught up in a mystery he is well prepared.
He is up against librarians, the police, and a mysterious bad guy named Mr. E.
With the help of his chum, Steve tackles "The Case of the Case of the Mistaken Identity".
November 21, 2019
My favourite parts of these books were the passages it quoted from 'The Bailey Brothers Detective Handbook' such as it's breakdown of criminals into thugs, circus-ringleaders, and anchor-wielding madmen.
Comedy-mystery was a much larger part of my youth then it has remained since then. In elementary school, the two genres seemed as though they were innately affixed. Even Sherlock Holmes had a humour to it I thought was essential for the genre. Since elementary school, I've found much less comedy-mystery than that I was introduced to then.
Comedy-mystery was a much larger part of my youth then it has remained since then. In elementary school, the two genres seemed as though they were innately affixed. Even Sherlock Holmes had a humour to it I thought was essential for the genre. Since elementary school, I've found much less comedy-mystery than that I was introduced to then.
January 29, 2018
I listened to this book with my 8 year old son. He loves the Hardy Boys and we've listened to a bunch of them together. This book was fantastic - modern and dryly hilarious, poking fun at all the anachronistic and completely unrealistic aspects of the Hardy Boys, while filling the same need for wildly outrageous action and narrow escapes from dire situations.
January 28, 2025
This book was a catch! Steve is mistaken as a treasonous undercover detective. We learn that librarians are all spies who know taekwondo. I couldn't help but chuckle at the detective work and this fun adventure.
l-n, s-n, v-l/m
TW: almost drowning, violence, & confinement
l-n, s-n, v-l/m
TW: almost drowning, violence, & confinement
December 25, 2022
felt nostalgic for a middle school fav
Want to read
December 7, 2012Steve Brixton always wanted to be a detective, until he found out he was one. Just giving cereal box tops and $1.95 for handling and shipping you get a detective lisence. One day, Steve was given a homework assignment on needlework, though he would have rather written about detectives whom his best chum, Dana got. When Steve goes to the library, he shows the librarian his "detective lisence" and wants to get the book on american needlework, things start to go wrong. The library thinks Steve works for Mr. E, an international criminal. Something got to be interesting with this book, Steve has been chased by librarians, police, a guy who works for Mr. E, and Rick (Steve's mother's boyfriend.) Steve must find a way to get out of this dilemma, otherwise he will be put under bars. Using his Bailey Brother's detective book, Steve manages to escape the librarians and police by hiding in the most unthinkable places, for example, a grandfather clock. Together, Dana and Steve uncover who Mr. E really is and where the quilt was. Want to know who Mr. E actually is? Want to know who stole the quilt? Read the book to find out!
I really liked how the author used a book inside of a book, for example, Mac Barnett put the detective book inside of the actual story. I never knew that librarians would ever become top-secret agents, even in stories because it doeesn't make any sense. Why don't they just have the FBI instead of the librarians? I was surprised that Steve succeeded the mission because all he followed was a detective book. I also really liked how the author uses hilarious quotes, for example, "You see, Steven, Librarians are the most elite, best trained secret force in the United States of America. Probably in the world."
"No way."
"Yes way."
"What about the FBI?"
"Featherweights."
"The CIA?"
Mackintosh snorted. "Don't make me laugh. Those guys can't even dunk a basketball and read a book at the same time.” I really recommend this book to you because it is funny and mysterious.
I really liked how the author used a book inside of a book, for example, Mac Barnett put the detective book inside of the actual story. I never knew that librarians would ever become top-secret agents, even in stories because it doeesn't make any sense. Why don't they just have the FBI instead of the librarians? I was surprised that Steve succeeded the mission because all he followed was a detective book. I also really liked how the author uses hilarious quotes, for example, "You see, Steven, Librarians are the most elite, best trained secret force in the United States of America. Probably in the world."
"No way."
"Yes way."
"What about the FBI?"
"Featherweights."
"The CIA?"
Mackintosh snorted. "Don't make me laugh. Those guys can't even dunk a basketball and read a book at the same time.” I really recommend this book to you because it is funny and mysterious.
July 6, 2011
The boys in my elementary library would not leave this book on the shelves long enough during the school year for me to read it. And when they kept coming in asking me for more like it, I knew I had to read it myself just so I would know what they are looking for!
This book has all the classic elements that boys are looking for in a book -- mystery, detective work, a little humor, and lots of very SHORT cliffhanger chapters that will leave them saying, "OK, just one more chapter!"
The illustrations are all done in black and white. Also included are letters, notes that the main character, Steve Brixton, takes about the crime he is solving, and references to a detective handbook Steve enjoys reading. (References in a fiction book about another fiction book is coined metafiction, a new and highly popular writing style.) It is easy for the reader to follow along with these references because the font is different. Steve is constanly referring to his handbook to help him out.
Librarians are portayed in this book as secret agents (one of the reasons I love this book). I loved all the references to their undercover abilities..."Every Librarian is a highly trained agent. An expert in intelligence, counterintelligence, Boolean searching, and hand-to-hand combat."
I enjoyed reading this fast paced mystery. I even caught myself laughing out loud a couple of times (and I solved the mystery before the book ended and I didn't even skim the last chapter!) And hey, if Jeff Kinney and Jon Scieszka give their stamp of approval, then what more convincing does anyone need?
This book has all the classic elements that boys are looking for in a book -- mystery, detective work, a little humor, and lots of very SHORT cliffhanger chapters that will leave them saying, "OK, just one more chapter!"
The illustrations are all done in black and white. Also included are letters, notes that the main character, Steve Brixton, takes about the crime he is solving, and references to a detective handbook Steve enjoys reading. (References in a fiction book about another fiction book is coined metafiction, a new and highly popular writing style.) It is easy for the reader to follow along with these references because the font is different. Steve is constanly referring to his handbook to help him out.
Librarians are portayed in this book as secret agents (one of the reasons I love this book). I loved all the references to their undercover abilities..."Every Librarian is a highly trained agent. An expert in intelligence, counterintelligence, Boolean searching, and hand-to-hand combat."
I enjoyed reading this fast paced mystery. I even caught myself laughing out loud a couple of times (and I solved the mystery before the book ended and I didn't even skim the last chapter!) And hey, if Jeff Kinney and Jon Scieszka give their stamp of approval, then what more convincing does anyone need?
February 15, 2010
Part Encylopedia Brown, part Hardy Boys homage and parody, the first installment in the Brixton Brothers mystery series is a lot of fun and one of those books that kids will get a kick out of while older readers smile at the jokes and references.
Steve Brixton is an ordinary kid who loves reading the fictional adventures of the Baily Brothers (his favorite is whichever in the 50 plus series he's reading at the time). Steve is assigned a school project to write about the history of quilt making, something he is less than thrilled about. He heads out to his local library to get a book and before he knows it, he's being pursued by a secret society of librarians, the U.S. government, his mom's new boyfriend.
"The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity" is a fun book in the vein of the old Encyclopedia Brown mysteries I grew up reading. But the story does have an over-the-top absurdity factor that keeps the smiles coming and will have you racing through to see how it all ends. The asides in which Steve reflects on advice he's taken from the Bailey Brothers mystery series and their detective's handbook are a pure joy and worth the price of admission alone.
I only hope the next installment comes soon.
Steve Brixton is an ordinary kid who loves reading the fictional adventures of the Baily Brothers (his favorite is whichever in the 50 plus series he's reading at the time). Steve is assigned a school project to write about the history of quilt making, something he is less than thrilled about. He heads out to his local library to get a book and before he knows it, he's being pursued by a secret society of librarians, the U.S. government, his mom's new boyfriend.
"The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity" is a fun book in the vein of the old Encyclopedia Brown mysteries I grew up reading. But the story does have an over-the-top absurdity factor that keeps the smiles coming and will have you racing through to see how it all ends. The asides in which Steve reflects on advice he's taken from the Bailey Brothers mystery series and their detective's handbook are a pure joy and worth the price of admission alone.
I only hope the next installment comes soon.
May 10, 2010
Twelve-year-old Steve Brixton has always dreamed of being a detective. He hopes one day to be like the Bailey Brothers, the heroes of his favorite books. When Steve is assigned a topic for an essay, his life gets very strange very quickly. Suddenly he finds himself in the middle of a mystery as the suspected criminal, and he needs to use all those skills he learned from the Bailey Brothers to save himself and the world. Who knew early American needlework could be so interesting?
This book cracked me up. I suspect that I would have found it even funnier if I had been a big Hardy Boys fan when I was younger because that is very obviously what this book is mimicking. I know enough about the Hardy Boys to find those references amusing, but it would have been funny even if I knew nothing about them. Any book that involves librarians as secret agents automatically earns major points. And throw in lines like "Every Librarian is a highly trained agent. An expert in intelligence, counterintelligence, Boolean searching, and hand-to-hand combat" and... yeah. I laughed a lot both because it was funny and because it was so very awesome.
This book cracked me up. I suspect that I would have found it even funnier if I had been a big Hardy Boys fan when I was younger because that is very obviously what this book is mimicking. I know enough about the Hardy Boys to find those references amusing, but it would have been funny even if I knew nothing about them. Any book that involves librarians as secret agents automatically earns major points. And throw in lines like "Every Librarian is a highly trained agent. An expert in intelligence, counterintelligence, Boolean searching, and hand-to-hand combat" and... yeah. I laughed a lot both because it was funny and because it was so very awesome.
November 6, 2012
I recently finished the book, The Brixton Brothers by: Mac Barnett. It is about a young student named Steve Brixton who goes on an in expected adventure. One day, Steve was at the library to check out a quilting book for a school report. He thought that it was just a normal book, but it turns out that it holds all of the government's secrets. When he checked the book out his life changed for ever. Everything went black and he got kidnaped by a bunch of librarians who claimed that they were the nations top soldiers and that Steve was a private detective working for the evil Mr.E. Steve uses hints from the Bailey Brothers Detective Handbook (a book that teaches him all the tips and tricks a good deceive needs to know) and his sleuthing skills to gather clues and evedance to clear his name. He also ends up saving America from Mr.E! I don't think that I can really relate to Steve because he always thinks like a detective everywhere he goes. I think this book will appeal to people who like mystery, adventure, and humor books. This is a great first book in a great series.
March 16, 2010
Sarah loved it. I didn't. I kept thinking, "Are you kidding me?" "Who would seriously believe this?" In my opinion, if an author wants me to suspend disbelief long enough to read a book, then they have to be convincing. This book wasn't. A character/ hero/ protagonist needs to have some scrap of likeability/ humanity. If the author had said his main character was in 3rd or 4th grade, I might have been willing to go along with it, but in 7th? This kid would be seriously made fun of for being so gullible as to believe everything in his detective handbook, and for the adults in the book to be equally blind is beyond me. What's worse is that I have to be a moderator for a group of 4th graders reading it, so I can't just get rid of it and let the memory die. I have to hear them rehash it week after week. UGH! I only gave it two stars because a couple kids in the group actually like it.
August 14, 2011
This was fun! Sort of Hardy Boys meets Nate the Great meets Leave it to Beaver. Steve (never Steven!) consults his Brixton Brothers (like the Hardy Boys) Detective Handbook for advice on everything. This comes in handy with the Librarians accuse him of trying to steal one of America's great knowledge secrets- a quilt-- from the library. (Because Librarians are more skilled than FBI or CIA agents, didn't you know). Meanwhile, the evil schemer trying to get the quilt, Mr. E (like mystery, get it?) is trying to catch Steve to see what he knows, and the good intentioned but generally bumbling local law enforcement are trying to find him too. Recommended to me a patron who listened to the audiobook with her boys (7 and 5) on a car trip and said the boys were "howling" with laughter the entire story. Sadly, there's just one sequel so far, but it appears book #3 is due out in early October!
May 2, 2010
Um, goodreads, where is the sixth star when I need one?! This book was pure joy for me to read from first page to last. Why? Because it entertained both the writer in me (perfect novel structure, characterizations, suspense, and clever as all get out) AND the kid in me. It is truly kid-friendly- it will entertain kids while not talking down to them, which is what it's all about with a chapter book. Short chapters and a fast-paced fun plot filled with humor and danger and smartness- I'm going to be completely confident handing The Brixton Brothers to a boy who might not like reading very much... until he gets hooked for life with a book like this. Thank you, Mac Barnett. LOVE this book.
April 24, 2010
Did you grow up on the Hardy Boys? Do you love sharing mysteries and adventures with your kids? Look no further, but go right out and snag a copy of The Brixton Brothers: The Case of the Case of Mistaken Identity. Mac Barnett's new series is full of chases, excitement and mysteries that only Steve Brixton, the intrepid kid-detective, can solve. This was great as an audiobook, and will hook families with its wit and adventure.
The audio production fits the dry wit of Barnett's writing perfectly. Arte Johnson's voice helps create the 1950s throw-back vibe, reminding me of voice-overs from kid detective TV programs or documentaries. This would make good family listening, pulling in kids in 2nd through 4th grade.
The audio production fits the dry wit of Barnett's writing perfectly. Arte Johnson's voice helps create the 1950s throw-back vibe, reminding me of voice-overs from kid detective TV programs or documentaries. This would make good family listening, pulling in kids in 2nd through 4th grade.
October 12, 2010
What fun! This is what happens when a boy who loves the Hardy Boys--uh, I mean, the 'Bailey Brothers'--finds himself caught in a mystery that could have come straight from one of his favorite books. Good thing he has his Bailey Brothers Detective Handbook with him! Bad thing is he's being chased by fifteen secret agent librarians...and all because his teacher wanted him to do a report on early American needlework. Well, we all know that research is not for the faint of heart.
January 11, 2025
A twelve-year-old “Bailey Brothers” enthusiast gets mistaken for a private detective/traitor and must solve a mystery to clear his name.
Never thought I’d describe a middle grade detective book as Kakfaesque (especially a surprise that I’m saying it positively, given how much I hated reading The Metamorphosis last year), but here we are. Hilarious, fun characters, great homage to the Hardy Boys. Very excited to read more.
Never thought I’d describe a middle grade detective book as Kakfaesque (especially a surprise that I’m saying it positively, given how much I hated reading The Metamorphosis last year), but here we are. Hilarious, fun characters, great homage to the Hardy Boys. Very excited to read more.
March 6, 2013
Secret agent librarians? Who knew? Certainly not Steve Brixton, kid detective. Steve has always wanted to be a detective, but now everyone's taking him a little too seriously and he's in over his head. To clear his name, Steve must find out who the real bad guy is. A great step up for fans of the Secret Agent Jack Stalwart series.
February 3, 2010
If you read the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, or Boxcar Children series, you will appreciate this book. It's kind of a play on those kid detectives. Also, librarians are super spies, so that's kind of cool.
March 14, 2012
We listened to this Texas Bluebonnet Book on the way back from Amarillo with our nine-year-old-son. It is a definite must if you have a reluctant reader or a child who loves a great action packed mystery. My husband and I loved it too!
May 25, 2012
Solid YA mystery. Not as funny as it perhaps thinks it is, but then again, I'm not 10 years old. Probably works better for the target audience than for adult YA lovers, which is not at all a bad thing. Still, fun and light.
October 24, 2012
So good
April 30, 2013
Librarians...they're everywhere!
A fun read for kids and grownups alike. Especially, if you happen to be a librarian.
Try this with fans of Fake Mustache
A fun read for kids and grownups alike. Especially, if you happen to be a librarian.
Try this with fans of Fake Mustache
Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews