Half Moon Investigations

Plot summary

Fletcher Moon (often called "Half-Moon" due to his short stature) is a natural born investigator. Fletcher is a graduate from the Bernsteins Academy, so he is a "certified" detective. Knowing this, April Devereux, a girl from his school, comes to him for help in finding a lock of hair that she believes to have been stolen. Fletcher agrees to help her and starts off by investigating all suspects which eventually gets him threatened by a thirteen-year-old named Red Sharkey.

While Fletcher is investigating the stolen lock of hair, he is attacked by an unknown assailant and is hospitalized. Fletcher then sneaks out of the hospital to visit April's cousin, May, to photograph this newfound evidence, but ends up at the wrong house, where he catches sight of somebody setting fire to May's lucky dancing costume. He passes out in the yard due to the anesthetic from the hospital and later awakens to find a torch in his hand, with all evidence for the arson pointing to him. Following an interrogation by the police, Fletcher is rescued by Red Sharkey. Fletcher blames Red for the assault, but Red claims he was framed.

Fletcher is given a 24-hour ultimatum to solve the chain of mysteries, and he and Red team up. Following a lead to April's house, they discover the truth behind Les Jeunes Etudiantes, the girls' club, their true goal being to get rid of all the boys ruining their education. Three recent expulsions can be attributed to these girls, and the boys conclude that April was responsible for the crimes. Unfortunately, they are found out, and the girls manage to imprison the boys in the cellar. They are, however, saved by May. Fletcher and Red previously heard the girls practicing the lines that they plan to use to accuse Red's brother, Herod, of assault. Red is able to send a text message to the present police officer informing him of the lines they would use. Using this evidence, the officer exposes the girls as liars, and Herod Sharkey is found innocent, saving him from expulsion. April, being caught, attempts to escape in her father's car but promptly crashes into the police cruiser.

Believing themselves victorious, Red and Fletcher plan to come out of hiding. However, they are informed (by text from the officer) that this still does not solve the mysteries that included Fletcher’s assault. He meets a secret informant who, in exchange for the password of a police account he hacked earlier in the story, discovers that the link between the crimes ended up being the upcoming talent show at his school. Fletcher and Red race to the talent show, and Red suggests that May was the culprit. However, on stage, Fletcher declares that it was May's father, Gregor Devereux, who committed the previous crimes in an attempt to remove Fletcher from the investigation, forcibly eliminate every other talent show contestant (who were all ranked higher than May in the previous year's talent show), and leave May to take first place by default. Gregor is arrested and May becomes resentful of Fletcher. Fletcher, remorseful for hurting May, retires from his detective work.

In the epilogue, one month after Gregor’s arrest, Fletcher reveals he was able to implicate Gregor due to evidence planted on him by Herod during the talent show, and has become depressed from the ordeal. However, Red inspires Fletcher to return to his career, and they decide to form a detective group. Red suggests they name the group "Moon Investigations" while Fletcher replies, "You're half right", referencing his nickname.

Critical reception

Sequel