Eileen O’Kelly is a female gumshoe in Boston at the turn of the century. She’s also a cat as are most the of the characters in the book. As the only female private eye in Boston and having just opened her agency that year, work is a little thin on the ground. But mysteries both large and small find her, and Eileen does her best to solve them, sometimes finding more than a few surprises along the way.
This beginning chapter book is perfect for kids who are just starting to read chapter books, but there’s also enough there that it’s enjoyable for adults too. It would be a great read aloud as well. Eileen is a very fun narrator, and it’s very easy to get drawn into her world. The mysteries are all pretty episodic with Eileen being the main connective tissues, and they are also pretty engaging if slightly predictable at times. But while an adult might predict what happens in them, a kid probably won’t unless they’re a really big mystery buff.
The illustrations are fantastic and really add to the atmosphere. The costumes especially are great. I also really enjoyed the slow burn romance that’s a minor subplot. Overall this is a really fun read that I think kids would enjoy, especially if they like animals or mysteries. It makes for a great bridge book from beginning readers to chapter books and has the potential to be a really fun read aloud book. Four out of five stars.
CBR 16 Sweet Books – Cozy