Detective Beans & the Map of Mystery

By Li Chen

Penguin 2026

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Li Chen was born in Beijing, China, and moved to New Zealand when she was five. Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat, her first graphic novel was followed by Detective Beans Adventures in Cat Town, and now we have the third episode in the life  of the kitten detective.

Detective Beans, in trench coat and hat, armed with a big magnifying glass is available for all you detecting needs 24/7, except weekdays when he has school, and not after 8pm as his mum says he is not allowed out that late.

When Captain Scuttlebeard gives Beans a treasure map, Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over Cat Town – to places he doesn’t expect! With Biscuits by his side, and with help from some other familiar faces, can Beans find the treasure . . . and get home in time to clean up his room?

What child doesn’t love following the clues of a treasure map? This one leads Beans to some crazy characters including Captain Scuttlebeard, and some hilarious escapades including a trip through the Tunnel of Terrier (full of scary dogs, geddit?). Biscuits is his clever and sensible sidekick who is doing some volunteering at the Cat Town Library which turns out to be very helpful.

I love all the jokes scattered throughout the book (the librarian is called Mrs Shelvington), which carry you along with Beans as he unravels quite a complex mystery. The art is consistenly lively, beautifully coloured, expressive and varied in angles and perspective.

While celebrating the usual values of family and friendship this clever and funny series is a great way for children to become familiar with the detective genre.

Perfect for lovers of cats, graphic fiction, humorous stories and adventure.

Learn how to draw Detective Beans with Li Chen (youtube video)