Tintin is the famous Belgian sleuth, a comic character created by Herge and loved all over the world. He has many adventures in different parts of the world and is inseparable from his dog Snowy. The regular gang and friends of Tintin in these adventures are Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus. They all live in a mansion, Marlinspike which is managed with the help of their able butler Nester, who was once upon a time a small time crook. In many of these adventures we find the official detective force represented by Thomson and Thompson, twins and the worst bunglers ever found outside a P.G. Wodehouse novel.

The story begins with Tintin and Captain Haddock walking in marlinspike grounds together. The sun is shining and captain is singing the merry month of May! Spring, the sweet spring, Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!

But Captain Haddock has little idea that a storm is brewing in distance and the sun is about to go behind the clouds. His home and peace is going to be invaded by none other than The Milanese Nightingale Bianca Castafiore with her accompanist Wanger and maid Irma.

When the Captain gets an inkling of the things, he immediately declares that the ship is sinking and all hands should work for their own survival. But his plans of escape are foiled by a broken step on the staircase. Not only Captain Haddock is unable to escape but he is now confined to a wheel chair.

The storm arrives with a gift for the captain, a parakeet, who speaks the most annoying things to Captain Haddock. Throw in a few press reporters, an engagement, a few gypsies and Cutts- the butcher and the story starts building up.

Then, to top it all, we find that the precious emerald of Bianca Castafiore goes missing, only to be found under her cushion later. But it goes missing a second time and this time for good. Our sleuth Tintin gets into action, so does the official force of Thompson and Thomson. The suspects are:

1) Gypsies?
2) Irma?
3) Wanger?
4) Nestor, the butler of the house?
5) A suspicious looking reporter?

To find out who has actually done it, of course you will have to read the book.

The Castafiore Emerald is the best book in the Tintin series that I have read till date. It is really funny, with our fierce Captain Haddock confined to a wheel chair and to keep him company is the parakeet who opens his mouth at all the wrong times. Captain Haddock is a perfect gentleman and however much he wants to escape Biancas company, he is forced to be darlingned and deared by her and suffer in silence. In such a situation what can he do but yell his chant billions of blue blistering barnacles.

On top of it he is called every other name than Haddock by Bianca like Fatstock, Hopscotch, Paddock and what not. Herge is really creative with these aliases of Haddock and there are not less than fifteen variations to be found in this book. Bianca is of course is at her haughty best, inviting a hoard of reporters to poor Captain Haddocks peaceful mansion.

Professor Calculus is a genius at his work but a little hard of hearing and that leads to some very interesting conversation throughout the book. In this book he keeps saying yes and no to reporters thinking that they are questioning him about the new snow white roses he has developed. Only his yes and no lead the reporters to announce an engagement.

The mystery is of course solved by the young hero Tintin with a lucky brainwave and the emerald found and returned to The Milanese Nightingale, clearing many, who have been accused wrongly. The Castafiore Emerald definitely is a fantastic read.

My other two Tintin reviews can be found at

Tintin in Tibet
http://www.epinions.com/content_166687444612

Tintin and the Picaros
http://www.epinions.com/content_167905693316

Recommended: Yes