Julian Press
2008 - Ongoing
A series of books by Julian Press, son of Hans Jurgen Press, in the same style as his original classic 'The Adventures of the Black Hand Gang'.
The Get A Clue series from Julian Press are tales of a young detective agency, comprised of Josh, David, Lilly and David’s pet cockatoo Robinson travelling to various locations to solve mysteries. If this sounds familiar it’s because Julian, is the son of Hans Jurgen Press, author of ‘The Adventures of the Black Hand Gang’ - an iconic children’s puzzle book from the 60s with a similar setup.
Julian pays homage to his father’s body of work with this ongoing series, with black and white illustrations, each portraying a puzzle for the reader to solve on every double page, while tying it all together in different mysteries. A beautifully simple style and very simple story telling, makes this a very popular series on its own merit.
Get A Clue was originally published in German, before then being translated into many languages under different names, including ‘Find the Culprit’ and ‘The Malice and Liquorice Agency’ in French.
On this page the series order is slightly shuffled to accomodate the English translated versions, only 4 of which exist.
Help young detectives Josh, David, and Lily solve the mystery of a counterfeit coin, track down an international jewel smuggler, recover a diamond necklace stolen from an innocent old lady, solve a missing-person case, put a pickpocket behind bars, and find a missing horse.
Josh, David, and Lilly are on the case again, and they need your help! Join them as they catch a jewel thief at the opera, chase down a crook with a stolen bar of gold, uncover the truth behind a famous casino cheat who faked his own death, and hunt down a robber who snatched an antique golden scepter from a museum exhibit.
Join young detectives Josh, David, and Lilly (and David's pet cockatoo, Robinson) as they decipher a mysterious message in a glass bottle washed up on the beach, find the thief who stole a precious artifact from a monastery, solve the mystery of the kidnapped prize-winning rabbit, and hunt down a famous opera singer who has gone missing.
Josh, David, and Lily solve the mystery of a missing will, find out who has been kidnapping the neighborhood dogs, discover who stole a bow and arrow from the police station and has been threatening townspeople with it, and why someone is dumping toxic waste into the river.
There is something fishy going on in Poldavia. First the Liquorice Band picks up the trail of a strange hunter; then it is onto a mysterious secret society; and then large amounts of some dangerous sneezing powder area pinched. At the last minute, the friends manage to prevent an attack on Prince Carolus II. After that, things come thick and fast.
So many mysteries to solve for the sleuths of the Malice et Licorice agency: thefts from school, the counterfeiting of a precious stamp (the blue Amanda), the sudden disappearance of an eminent scientist and, finally, a matter of diamonds and false soy sauce "Black Junk" ... It is up to the reader to show as much perspicacity and sense of observation as the heroes.
Back at last: Philipp, Flo, Caro, Leo and Inspector Lars are at it again and doing what they like doing best of all — puzzling over new detective cases. This time the Liquorice Gang chase after a black suitcase, unmask a mysterious thief and not only have to disclose a creepy secret but also need to clear up the spook on Owl Moor! A criminological instinct and eyes like hawks are necessary to find the decisive clues in the look-and-find pictures. And the exciting chase carries on over the page! A generous layout, short texts and magnificent look-and-find pictures make trying to solve the mysteries into huge fun, even for less practiced readers!
Original title: 'Finde den Täter - Jagd auf Dr. Struppek'
There are four new cases in store for amateur detectives Philip, Flo, Caro, Leo and Inspector Lars: after the reappearance of the Katschinsky jewels, the file for the "Struppek Case" can finally be closed. But before that happens, a series of burglaries must be cleared up, some pirate treasure be found, a criminal case involving some musical stolen goods solved. A criminological instinct and eyes like a hawk are necessary to find the decisive clues in the look-and-find pictures. And the next exciting case is on the following page.
Four new unpublished investigations for the sleuths of the Malice et Licorice agency. So many mysteries to unravel in the alleys of a leisure park, in the meanders of a cemetery or in the dark corridors of a hotel! Insight, sense of observation and logic are the three assets of a good detective!
Leo, Caro, Flo, Phillip, and Inspector Lars don't have a minute's peace: no sooner have the Liquorice Gang solved the case of the lost treasure than a sinister monster puts the fear of God into the town.
There is nothing for it: the young sleuths simply must help. There are important clues hidden in numerous hidden-object pictures and you have to look very closely to find them – for the next puzzle is already waiting!
What's in the travel bag stolen from art collector Alonzo Biblo? The man remains silent but the Malice and Liquorice make the clues speak and engage in a hectic treasure hunt. Three other major investigations await them. It's up to the reader to show as much insight and sense of observation as our sleuths.
A mysterious theft of jewelry, the spinning of a kleptomaniac musician, a treasure hidden in the middle of a desert island (the booty of a former pirate nicknamed The Shark), and the theft of a sheet music. The young detectives are not at the end of their surprises ... It is up to the reader to look with them for clues hidden in the illustrations.
Take part and become a detective yourself! With the exciting cases of the liquorice gang, snoopers dive into the world of guessing thrillers. Side by side, you need to look closely and make comparisons in order to discover the decisive clues for solving the case in the short texts and detailed hidden objects. Excitement and fun puzzles are guaranteed even for inexperienced readers!