February 1, 2023
A series of break-ins gives the Strathmore apartment building's animal detectives an exciting new mystery to solve. Who is plundering the basement storage cages at night? Only momentarily dismayed by a hysterical Yorkie's reports of scratching claws and "THOUSANDS OF GLOWING EYES," the motley multispecies squad--consisting at this point of two dogs, a feline diva, three rats, a mynah bird, and an octopus named Chad--feverishly plan and execute an investigation under the noses of their oblivious human companions, Mrs. Food and her temporary ward, Madison Park. They run up against a troop of foraging raccoons, sneaking in beneath the security cameras to wreak havoc. How to get them to lay off? When threats don't work any better than polite requests, it's time for a different approach. Maybe a little sympathy? (Butterbean the spaniel is scheduled for therapy dog tryouts.) Maybe the troop can be transformed into...a troupe? (The unnamed cat has starred in many cat food commercials.) The nonstop action and droll exchanges offer chuckles aplenty on the way to a tidy resolution made all the more satisfactory by a hilarious viral video and a well-deserved comedown for nasty nemesis Mrs. Hates Dogs on Six. Mottram's rich, if rare, spots and vignettes feature creatures as aglow with character as the racially diverse human cast. Another wild caper for this winning animal ensemble. (Mystery. 8-12)
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