If you had an IQ of 180 (most folks score about 100), what could you achieve?

Graduate from MIT at 17? Start your own software empire? Or get yourself hauled to the principal's office for: (a) repeated tardiness, (b) cheating during the finals or (c) skipping class (again). Take your pick.

Enter Kindaichi Hajime, academically-challenged grandson of legendary sleuth Kindaichi Kosuke. For all appearances, he is an average high school student with little hope (or motivation) to graduate, despite the best efforts of his best friend, model student Nanase Miyuki.

Just when you think poor Grandpapa must be flipping in his grave, the happy-go-lucky lad is confronted with a case that has the local cops stumped. An impossible crime, a dangerous serial killer. When the other folks are either paralysed with fear or scratching their heads in bewilderment, the lacklustre student turns first-rate sleuth.

His amateur status and clumsy antics often irk the investigating police officer on the case but he is not without supporters in the police force. One of his most ardent supporters is police inspector Kenmochi. The inspector is not above seeking Kindaichi's assistance in solving tricky crimes.

Another policeman who crosses paths with our teen sleuth is Superintendent Akechi. An elite detective, Akechi initially appears as Kindaichi's 'rival' in crime solving. The rivalry has since mellowed and Akechi quietly concedes Kindaichi's uncanny talent as a detective. Kindaichi still thinks the superintendent is a snob though.

However, the true Watson to Kindaichi's Sherlock is still Miyuki, who believes in him, no matter what. One might suspect their friendship is more than just best friends or childhood friends. She does get a tad jealous when Hajime gets favourable attention from a certain young actress and singer, and responds accordingly.

What is Sherlock without his nemesis Professor Moriartory? Just because he is a talented sleuth, it does not necessarily mean that the criminal is arrested. Some of the cases have fairly tragic outcomes for the criminal, who is often forced to commit the crime due to some unfortunate circumstances. However, there are a rare few who thwart the law with impunity.

Moriartory of the Kindaichi series is a character who calls himself "Hell's Puppeteer". He refers to crime as an art form and manipulates others to commit crimes. He kills his 'puppets' if they fail to meet his expectations of carrying out the perfect crime. He is finally arrested at the end of the second series. Will a prison cell hold him this time?

Another criminal character is the "Gentleman Thief", a master of disguise. A connoisseur of fine art, the thief's modus operandi is to send a warning letter to the police, then steal the artwork from under their noses. This criminal is currently at large.

Since Kindaichi's initial appearance in 1992, the teen sleuth is still going strong. The first manga series runs for 27 volumes and spans 19 cases. It is in this series that Kindaichi meets most of what would eventually become his support team, including a reporter and a video-cam toting schoolmate. Full of unexpected twists, this series has readers guessing until our sleuth unveils the truth behind mysterious crimes.

The second series spans 10 volumes and 7 cases. The team has also produced 6 volumes of short cases. The manga has spawned an animation series, movies, a television drama series and novels. Fans of Superintendent Akechi may be interested to know that the Kindaichi team has published 2 volumes of short cases featuring Akechi.

The team is currently working on the third series which currently spans 4 cases. There is one question that has yet to be answered though. Will Kindaichi Hajime ever graduate from high school?