SHERLOCK SAM AND THE GHOSTLY MOANS IN FORT CANNING - A.J. Low

The second mystery featuring Singapore's greatest kid detective, Samuel Tan Cher Lock - aka Sherlock Sam, never without his trusty robot (and sometimes smart-mouthed) sidekick Watson.  This time, the 10-year-old detective is on a field trip with his school to historic Fort Canning when the gang discovers a previously unknown-of sally port leading underground.  Wanting to investigate the doorway to the mysterious tunnel, the kids are suddenly scared off by a series of creepy, ailing moans emanating from the darkness ... and Sam, a man of science like his father, becomes determined to solve the mystery, and prove to his scared friends that there are no such things as ghosts!  As an adult who was weaned as a kid on Encyclopedia Brown, the Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew, I really wish someone like Sherlock Sam had been around when I was a kid.  Set in Singapore and with a cast of multi-ethnic characters, not only are both characters and story wholly entertaining, but kids reading these books also become aware of another culture's history, food and language, opening their eyes and minds to a world beyond their own.  The characters never come off like stereotypes or cardboard; even Sam's sister and parents, while indulgent - even proud - of Sam's detecting skills, still understand and treat him like the imperfect little boy he is.  Only two books in, and I find myself anxious to jump into number three ... Andrew Tan's comic book-like illustrations only further enhancing, perfectly, these wonderfully written stories.  4.5/5 stars

Note: I received a free ARC of this title via NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.