The third in a series of irresistibly charming, beautifully illustrated children's classics - the adventures of Detective Nosegoode and his talking dog, Cody Ashworth has been hit by a crime wave: a gang of robbers are plotting to pinch a painting by the celebrated Bonaventure Splotch, the local chess club has been burgled and, as if that wasn't enough, notorious pickpocket The Elusive Hand is in town too! Luckily, Ashworth can count on its most famous resident for help: the brilliant Detective Ambrosius Nosegoode. Aided by his faithful (and often very peckish) hound, Cody, Nosegoode is on the case. But can he draw the art thieves into a trap, slap a pair of cuffs on The Elusive Hand and checkmate the chess club culprits, or will all these crimes be too much, even for the greatest detective in the land? This charmingly illustrated classic of children's literature is part of the Detective Nosegoode series. Marian Orlon (1932-1990) worked as a teacher, and then a librarian while pursuing an extremely successful career as a children's writer. His subtle sense of humour and exciting plots made the stories in his Detective Nosegoode series bestsellers in Poland. His books have now been translated into six languages. In 1981 he was given Poland's highest literary honour, the Council of Ministers Award, for his life's work.