Joey Fly, Private Eye, in Big Hairy Drama by Aaron Reynolds

Joey Fly, Private Eye, is back in this hilarious sequel to Creepy Crawly Crime.  This time Joey and his sidekick, Sammy Stingtail the scorpion, are in a "rough and tumble dive" just about to dig in to some lunch when a huge shadow falls over their table. The shadow turns out to belong to none other than Harry Spyderson, the aptly-named tarantula who is owner of the Scarab Beetle Theatre or, as Joey notes, "...the first bug I'd ever seen who could probably braid his back hair."

The theatre is in dire straights, as their big star, Greta Divawing, has gone missing just one week before the opening of their latest production, Bugliacci.  Harry suspects kidnapping, and money is no object!  They simply must find Greta, and quick!

Joey, with Sammy in tow, heads for the theatre to investigate its odd cast of misfits: Fleeago the stinkbug, an arrogant tortured-artist type; Skeeter, the crotchety theater janitor; Trixie Featherfeelers, the femme fatale luna moth who steals Sammy's heart; and the Bedbug Chorus, fifteen nameless nobodies who like to bite ankles.

Joey is a Sam Spade-like fella, a tough talkin', wise crackin', no nonsense guy.  Sammy, however, is my favorite character, a little guy who can't keep his big stinger out of trouble!  Whenever Trixie is nearby his eyes turn to hearts, but (as you can probably guess) the romance turns out to be ill fated. Poor Sammy!

If you like mystery and humor you will love Joey Fly.  Even if you haven't seen the old movies this is playing off of you can still have chuckle over the goofy artwork and snappy dialogue.