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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