Taking cues from 1940s noir detective tales, this graphic novel is intended for reluctant readers. When a priceless diamond disappears, police call in TV detective Roy Kane. Since the caper involves magic tricks and misdirections, Kane consults a magician, who may be more involved in the dirty tricks than he lets on. The story is adequate, with motives, tricks, and clues neatly threaded through the plot. The art, however, is clunky at best, and the characters are static and largely expressionless. A vocabulary list and discussion questions  suggest a school audience, but consider the book an optional purchase.--Brenner, Robin Copyright 2007 Booklist