Friendship and shared problem-solving
Malee asks school friends Louise and Jean to help recover the stolen gift, and the three girls pursue clues together.
Book details
Leslie McFarlane - Author
A globe-spanning detective adventure centred on friendship, stolen treasure and pursuing clues. Expect travel, suspense and action, with Thailand forming the main setting; the book’s treatment of its places and people merits thoughtful attention.
When a precious gilded bamboo Garuda bird, containing a sacred golden statue studded with jewels, is stolen, the lovely Malee Wongsuwan begs her school friends, Louise and Jean Dana, to help recover the treasured bird, a gift from her father. Despite Malee's warning of possible danger, the Danas agree to take the case, never dreaming that in a few days they will be pursuing their search in the Oriental splendor of Malee's native land, exotic Thailand. Via romantic Honolulu and fascinating Tokyo, the three girls fly to Bangkok, spectacular shimmering capital of Thailand, where a mosaic of clues and harrowing experiences await the young detectives. Along the picturesque canals, or klongs, once the chief thoroughfares of the "Venice of the East," where the lighthearted, gentle people still ply their trade from boat to boat, Louise and Jean put their sleuthing ability to its greatest test. Clues discovered during a breathtaking boat chase through the floating market and a visit to the golden Temple of the Dawn lead to the capture of an elusive international jewel thief.
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Sign in for personalised guidanceA globe-spanning detective adventure centred on friendship, stolen treasure and pursuing clues. Expect travel, suspense and action, with Thailand forming the main setting; the book’s treatment of its places and people merits thoughtful attention.
Malee asks school friends Louise and Jean to help recover the stolen gift, and the three girls pursue clues together.
The investigation moves through Bangkok, canals, a floating market and the Temple of the Dawn, with Thailand described through travel-adventure imagery.
The story includes warnings of possible danger, harrowing experiences and a breathtaking boat chase.
This is a grounded book brief while Suitabook strengthens the analysis: the current material supports only a cautious reading; some draft conclusions still depend on unresolved evidence.
Book information
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Mystery of the bamboo bird. by Leslie McFarlane | Open Library
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Checked: 19 September 2026.
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