Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Review: Li’l Tom and the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau: The Case of the New Year Dragon by Angela Crider Neary

Li’l Tom and the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau: The Case of the New Year Dragon is the second book in this fun mystery series. It follows The Case of the Parrots Desaparecidos that came out in 2015. While the new book is a sequel, one does not really need to have read the first book in the series as those references are few.

It is late January and the Chinese New Year and the start of the Year of The Dragon is almost upon the world. That includes the animals, domestic and otherwise, in San Francisco. That also includes a certain ancient cat living in Chinatown. He has the ability to summon a creature from the zoo to assist him as he has great plans for the future. Plans that require servants to answer his call and serve their master. It begins with this one from the zoo, but there will be more if things go to plan.

Meanwhile, Li’l Tom and his assistant, Lola, continue their work in the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau located in the basement of the Malloch building on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. Lola, a stunningly attractive Calico cat, handles reception as well as the initial intake process on all clients. They have taken on a new employee, Lenny, who recently has fallen on hard times and is turning his life around with their help. He does paperwork, cleans the offices, makes the snack runs as Tender Vittles just don’t magically appear on their own, or whatever needs doing. Business is good, but Li’l Tom still has time to start the day by reading the printed newspaper.

There is troubling news in the morning paper. In recent days, there has been a rash of animal deaths mainly among the pet companions to humans in the area. It could be bad luck or it could be foul play through nobody has come in to talk about the cases. Not much of the deceased is left except collars after an attack. There have been also some art thefts of small statues and jewels from various small and upscale galleries in the area around Union Square. As in the animal deaths, according to Lil Tom’s source, the police have no evidence or suspects.

The discussion between Lola and Li’l Tom of the two situations is interrupted by the arrival of a potential new client. Oreo is her name and she happens to be the resident cat at an art gallery near to Union Square. Normally, as it is people problem she would stay out of it, but since the people authorities have no clues and she was there when the gallery was robbed, she is upset and wants something done. She was asleep when one of the windows shattered and rained glass shards down on her.


She hid as whatever it was ransacked a nearby collection of small African tribal at statuettes. She stayed hidden until things had gone quiet and she thought it was all over. Oreo then raised her had to look out of her hiding place and came face to face with something that had a foul breath and evil red eyes. It opened its jaws to bite her before the sirens signaling the coming of the police scared whatever it was off. It was a terrifying experience and she is still scared.


After a bit of back and forth with the he with the prospective client as Li’l Tom attempts to get a better sense of what she saw and what happened, he is very intrigued and takes the case. A case that will ultimately put himself and Lola in considerable danger from fellow feline and foe alike.

The latest in the series, Li’l Tom and the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau: The Case of the New Year Dragon is another fun mystery romp through the animal world. Numerous characters from the first book make another appearance as does the milk bar and other hangouts from the first book. Then there are the new characters all working their own agendas. Plenty of mystery adventure is present told from the perspective of various animal characters. Also present is the occasional nod to human landmarks and stories as well as a laugh or two. Li’l Tom and the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau: The Case of the New Year Dragon is flat out fun, entertaining, and very much worth your time.


Li’l Tom and the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau: The Case of the New Year Dragon
Angela Crider Neary
Tornado Alley Publications (imprint of Prairie Rose Publications)
March 2018
ISBN # 978-1986039765
Print (eBook available)
222 Pages
$11.99



PDF review copy was supplied by the author in exchange for my objective review.



Kevin R. Tipple ©2018

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