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Michael Jung
, September 16, 2011
(view all comments by Michael Jung)
In this third book to Linda Stewart's "Sam the Cat" middle school book series tough-talking cat detective Sam tracks down a missing kitten with a priceless secret -- a case that puts him in touch with parodied versions of "Maltese Falcon" characters as he encounters feline femme fatale Brigid Wonderful, villainous lackey Wilmer, and even a Sydney Greenstreet look-alike. Soon, however, the plot proves even more complex than the original story -- and eventually becomes so convoluted that one of the cat characters throws up her paws and grumbles that the story has "interesting characters, patches of wit, some intelligent dialogue, dozens of twists, but it doesn't make sense." Thankfully her assessment proves to be false and more than a few readers will eagerly flip back through the chapters to connect the dots themselves once Sam arrives at the mystery's amazing conclusion. A great book for young mystery fans as well as older fans of Humphrey Bogart movies.
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