School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-Katarina, better known as Kat Wolfe, and her veterinarian mom are happy to move from busy London to a new practice on England's Jurassic coast. The town of Bluebell Bay seems idyllic: their provided home comes complete with a genuine wildcat named Tiny and the veterinary office is filled with friendly, albeit demanding pet owners. Needing money for a new laptop, Kat begins a pet-sitting service. When the owner of her first client, an action film-loving parrot named Bailey, appears to have gone missing, Kat resolves to get to the bottom of the situation. While most of the adults in town, including the local constable, think there's nothing amiss, Kat finds a kindred spirit in another of her clients. Harper Lamb, an American girl whose father is a visiting professor, is laid up with two broken legs. Her lack of mobility has not slowed her quick mind and tech-savvy fingers, both of which help Kat immensely. The story barrels along at high speed with just the right amounts of suspense and humor. The complex plot is populated with eccentric and entertaining characters, both human and animal, including Kat's mysterious grandfather, a feisty retired librarian, and a skittish racehorse. The Briticisms are easily understood through context. St. John's (The White Giraffe) love and knowledge of animals is strongly evident. VERDICT An intriguing story with an emphasis on research and technology. Mystery and animal lovers will not be disappointed.-Sara-Jo Lupo Sites, George F. Johnson Memorial Library, Endicott, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Animal-loving Kat moves with her veterinarian mum to England's Jurassic Coast and starts a pet-sitting business. When a parrot owner (and her first paying client) vanishes, Kat teams up with Harper, a new American friend with two broken legs, to solve the case. The Jurassic Coast setting provides an interesting backdrop to this colorful mystery, and Kat and Harper make a humorous (and capable) detective duo. (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
An animal lover discovers threats, disappearances, and international espionage after moving from London to the Dorset coast.Twelve-year-old Kat Wolfe, a white girl, doesn't mind moving to a little seaside village for her mum's new job. She hasn't reckoned on finding intrigue, but as soon as she starts up a petsitting agency, she's drawn into a worrying mystery. Ramon, a friendly Paraguayan ornithologist, asks Kat to watch Bailey, the multilingual parrot, while he's out of the country. Kat's in awe of Ramon's house, a "futuristic fortress" chock-full of high-tech gadgets, until she discovers evidence of foul play. The village policeman, Sgt. Singh, thinks Kat's talking nonsense. If it weren't for her new friends (elderly Edith Chalmers and her golden retriever, 13-year-old, biracial Cuban-American Harper Lamb and her racehorse), she'd be stuck. Retired librarian Edith and hacker Harper uncover evidence of a Cold War mystery. There are false identities, secret codes, sleeper agents, the CIA, MI5, and a dangerous horse ride over storm-lashed moors. "You'll never get away with this," Kat tells the villain, and she's right, of course. Their little Dorset village is realistically diverse despite some awkwardness (Kat practices a fake Chinese martial art called "the Way of the Mongoose"), and the crystal-clear girls-do-computers message is welcome.Enough unresolved questions remain for a sequel to this fun, silly spy adventure. (Thriller. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Kat Wolfe loves animals. She's grown up around them, and has a special way with them. Her mother, who's a great veterinarian, isn't so great with money she is known for not charging patients, which irks other members of her practice to no end. After a home-burglary attempt goes awry, Kat and her mom move to the beautiful Jurassic Coast seaside. While Kat adjusts to her new life and attempts to get her pet-sitting business off the ground, she starts experiencing strange coincidences. Something seriously strange is going on in this seemingly idyllic town, as a pet owner vanishes, a mysterious package arrives, and there even seems to be an assassination plot brewing. But Kat, and her new friend Harper, who is currently recovering from two broken legs, are up for the sleuthing challenge. In Kat, readers will find a British Nancy Drew, with plenty of animal sidekicks. A fun global look at seaside inhabitants, animal science, and the power of persistence.--Jessica Anne Bratt Copyright 2018 Booklist