Tintin: The Castafiore Emerald by Herge

“The Castafiore Emerald” is the twenty-first comic book in the series “The Adventures of Tintin,” created by Belgian cartoonist Hergé. The story is notable for its departure from the typical adventure plot of the series, and instead focuses on a humorous mystery centered around a valuable emerald stolen from the famous opera singer Bianca Castafiore.

The story takes place entirely at Marlinspike Hall, the country estate of Tintin’s friend, Captain Haddock. The peaceful atmosphere is disrupted when Castafiore arrives to stay with the captain, and brings with her her emerald necklace. Shortly after her arrival, the emerald goes missing, and a comedic investigation begins to determine who stole it.

As Tintin and his friends search for the missing jewel, they encounter a variety of eccentric characters, including a bumbling detective and a group of fortune tellers. Along the way, they also deal with various misunderstandings and mishaps, such as Captain Haddock mistakenly swallowing the emerald.

Despite its departure from the usual adventure plot of the series, “The Castafiore Emerald” has been well received for its humor, character development, and clever use of the series’ established characters. The book also features several references and callbacks to previous Tintin adventures, making it a favorite among fans of the series.