3 out of 4 stars
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Serendipity Mystery by R.F. Kristi is Book #7 in the Diary of a Snoopy Cat children’s series. Inca is a Siberian kitty who runs a detective agency in London. Her team includes her kitty siblings, two dogs, and one very smart hamster. While on vacation with Inca’s human mom in Sri Lanka, the detectives get involved with the case of an ancient sword and other valuable objects stolen from a local museum. Two thieves posed as policemen and committed the robbery after first handcuffing the security guard in the basement.
I enjoyed this light mystery which features a likable main character and eclectic cast of sidekicks. In this installment, two Sri Lanka locals are on hand to assist Inca’s team – a young elephant named Meena and a turtle named Rani. Children will easily be able to follow the clues sprinkled through the story, such as a security photo showing a scar on the neck of one of the thieves. The writing is easy to understand, with the exception of a few sophisticated words (e.g. - gaggle, agitated, oust, and ambled).
The plot often goes off track with sightseeing jaunts, encounters with local animals, etc. There is a long section where Inca gets lost in the forest and encounters a leopard and her two cubs; this part feels unnecessary and drags the story a bit. One scene involving a python seems scary for children, but the story is light-hearted otherwise. After a while, I became impatient for the “bones” of the mystery to move along in a more cohesive manner.
There are nice touches that showcase the country’s customs and sights. For example, it is explained that Meena’s mother, Mama Elephant, has the important job of carrying wedding couples on her back on the way to their respective wedding ceremonies. The detectives also have fun visiting a green tea plantation.
The illustrations are cute, but they are few and far between. Also, the pictures sometimes don’t relate well to the plot details and are just a depiction of a particular character or two that is being discussed – for example, Meena the baby elephant and her mother. In some cases, the illustrations are relatively small and feel like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the story.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is an entertaining read with well-defined characters. However, the mystery moves forward in fits and starts. I would recommend the book for children ages 5-9. Older kids would likely be interested in more mature stories. As it is a long chapter book, it is more suitable as a read-aloud to the younger set, with a chapter or two at a time.
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Serendipity Mystery
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