The discovery of a piece of pasta on the pavement outside the block of flats where he lives, gets Rico involved in some very strange goings-on. When he tries to find out where the pasta came from, he meets the new neighbour in the 4th floor flat, and discovers more about the other people who live in the block. The Pasta Detectives are born!
As he says himself, Rico thinks a lot, just not very quickly. He is sure that his new friend Oliver will be able to help work out the pasta puzzle, Oliver can always work things out. Rico and Oliver are no nearer to solving the pasta problem, when Oliver disappears. Has he become the latest victim of a kidnapper who has been holding children for ransom all across the city?
The story is set in Berlin, in the present day, with many details of life in the city, which may be unfamiliar to some readers. We see the city through Rico's eyes as he tries to solve the mystery of Oliver's disappearance. Rico has a form of ADHD which he describes as like having a head full of lottery balls which get scrambled on a regular basis, so he is not very good about remembering things, or working things out. But when Oliver goes missing, Rico tries his best to find him, something even the police have failed to do.
Andreas Steinhofel has written great mystery story with an unusual twist at the end. Possibly a book for more thoughtful readers, but mystery addicts will enjoy it too.
