In this latest Issy & Poppy dispatch, a kids detective story, our furry detectives return for a cosy mystery set in the heart of Monte Lope Álvarez, the sleepy Andalusian village surrounding their home, Casa Adora. When beloved neighbour Mari Carmen vanishes without a trace, Issy & Poppy — with help from their quirky team — uncover clues involving a red van, a lavender soap box, and a cookbook titled The Lost Recipes of Andalucía. With half the village watching and Dad still yelling at Chelsea FC on the telly, this short story blends playful banter, gentle suspense, and a warm nod to grown-ups. Perfect for fans of kids’ detective stories and cosy mysteries for children.
🐾 Lazy Mornings & Football Banter
It’s another warm and sunny morning at Casa Adora, and Monte Lope Álvarez is feeling lazy.
Issy & Poppy are stretched out on the cool courtyard tiles, tails flicking lazily as they gossip in the shade.
🐾 Issy: “I’m always the first one to fall asleep when Dad puts football on.”
🐾 Poppy: “You? Please. You snore before the second whistle. I’ve timed it.”
🐾 Issy: “Exactly. That makes me first.”
🐾 Poppy: “No, it makes you predictable.”
Issy: “Predictably elegant.”
🐾 Poppy: “Predictably unconscious.”
They giggle.
🐾 Issy: “Anyway, it’s always the same teams. Chelsea versus Chelsea’s hopes and dreams.”
🐾 Poppy: “And it’s always nil-nil. I’ve seen more action in a snail race.”
🐾 Issy: “Dad still yells like it’s the Champions League final.”
🐾 Poppy: “He once shouted so loud, Joey fell off his perch.”
👻 Joey (from the fountain): “I did not! I glided down with dignity.”
🐾 Poppy: “You squawked like a kettle.”
👻 Joey: “It was a tactical squawk. I was protesting the offside.”
👻 Issy: “There wasn’t an offside. It was a replay.”
👻 Joey: “Then I was protesting the déjà vu.”
They all laugh, the courtyard echoing with the sound of sleepy sunshine and silly stories.
🚨 The Mystery Begins
Their banter is interrupted by Pilar, breathless and urgent.
Pilar: “Girls! Mari Carmen hasn’t been seen for days. No answer at her door. No phone. Antonio Chispa says before we call the police… we call you.”
Issy & Poppy spring into action, assembling their team:
- Gary the Gerbil – nimble and nosy
- Kizzy the white cat – sleek and silent
- Joey the budgie – sharp-eyed and chatty
🏡 The Village Gathers
At Mari Carmen’s house, half of Monte Lope Álvarez has arrived.
Antonio Tuerca: “Try the back door!”
José Torres: “No, check the roof!”
Loli: “She might be at the market!”
But everything is locked. No tracks. No clues.
Joey swoops down.
👻 Joey: “Two days ago. A red van near the bakery. Mari Carmen was talking to the driver. Tall guy. Sunglasses. Big moustache. He gave her a box.”
🧁 The Bakery Clue
At the bakery, Señora Dulce confirms the van visit.
Señora Dulce: “He sells rare herbs and old books. Mari Carmen bought lavender soap and a cookbook — The Lost Recipes of Andalucía.”
Issy’s ears twitch.
🐾 Issy: “She’s always said she’d write down her old recipes one day.”
🐾 Poppy: “And she once told us about a library in the hills — the one with the broken roof and the bats.”
🐾 Issy: “She said it had a shelf full of handwritten cookbooks. She called it her ‘secret pantry.’”
They exchange a look. The kind of look that says: Adventure.
🐾 Poppy: “If she found that book… she might’ve gone back there.”
🐾 Issy: “To copy them down before she forgets.”
🏞️ The Hillside Library
The team finds Mari Carmen at a dusty desk, surrounded by cookbooks and lavender soap wrappers.
Mari Carmen: “I didn’t mean to worry anyone. I came here to copy recipes before I forgot them.”
🐾 Issy: “You could’ve left a note.”
Mari Carmen: “I did. In the flour tin. But I suppose no one bakes anymore.”
💬 Epilogue
Back in Monte Lope Álvarez, almond pastries are warmed. Radios hum. The grown-ups smile.
Pilar: “Remember when we used to do this?”
Antonio: “We still do. We just call it ‘running errands’ now.”
And Dad? Still yelling at Chelsea on the telly.
This kids detective story is part of the Issy & Poppy: Kids Edition collection — bilingual adventures with Issy and Poppy in Andalucía. You can explore the whole collection in the Kids Edition Hub.
Esta historia forma parte de la colección Issy & Poppy: Kids Edition — aventuras bilingües con Issy y Poppy en Andalucía. Descubre toda la colección en el Kids Edition Hub.
Footnote: AI images, my stories — The Flexible Chef
