The Case of the Cat with the Missing Ear: From the notebooks of Edward R. Smithfield, D.V.M. (Adventures of Samuel Blackthorne) [Hardcover]

Scott Emerson (Author), Viv Mullett (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Adventures of Samuel Blackthorne

"And if I'm not mistaken," said Blackthorne, peering into the microscope, "we can narrow down our list of Mr. Kirkpatrick's visitors to a dalmatian, a Sussex spaniel, a poodle, a weimaraner..." -- Blackthorne looked up from the microscope -- "and an orange-haired cat."

Samuel Blackthorne, a Yorkshire terrier, is a master of observation and a genius of deductive reasoning who earns his living by unraveling mysteries and solving crimes.

When Molly Kirkpatrick, a sleek greyhound, comes to Blackthorne for help in finding her missing brother Patrick, a quiet accountant, it seems like a simple enough case. But the trail leads Blackthorne and his colleague, Smithfield, to the docks, the dog track, casinos, and all kinds of roguish characters. They are caught up in an increasingly convoluted web of deceit that involves the highest-ranking officials in the city -- and a mysterious, possibly deadly, cat with just one ear.

In this witty mystery Scott Emerson recounts the amazing adventures of Mr. Samuel Blackthorne, as revealed in the notebooks of Dr. Edward R. Smithfield.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-7--Yorkshire terrier Samuel Blackthorne is a consulting detective in late-19th-century San Francisco. He is accompanied by Smithfield, his friend and chronicler. When a young greyhound asks for their help in finding her missing brother a seemingly staid accountant, the canine duo takes on the case, which involves murder, kidnapping, and extortion, and meet Big Bill Powell, one of the most powerful dogs in town. Blackthorne, like his human inspiration, employs the science of deduction to get to the bottom of a case. While readers may not be able to anticipate the twists and turns of the mystery, they will enjoy following them. The plot moves quickly, with equal parts of humor and suspense. The characters are not merely shades of Holmes and Watson, but are interesting and colorful in their own right. Mullett's black-and-white drawings help bring the characters to life. Blackthorne and Smithfield's adventures will leave mystery fans howling for more.--Heather Dieffenbach, Lexington Public Library, KY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-7. This takeoff on the Sherlock Holmes series is an odd amalgam. Set in San Francisco, it features a mostly canine cast that includes the narrator, Dr. Edward Smithfield, who shares rooms with the tiny terrier, Samuel Blackthorne. Charming cover art featuring Blackthorne with his magnifying glass will draw children in, and the pencil illustrations inside make the book appear very childlike. But the story, well written though it is, deals with crooked politicians and crime gangs, subjects that will probably bore the third- and fourth-graders who will pick up the book thinking it's for them. So true in tone is this to the Sherlock Holmes stories, one tends to forget the characters are dogs--until one of them picks up something with a paw. Since this is "Book One," let's hope that the story and the format will move closer together in subsequent volumes. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689858612
• ISBN-13: 978-0689858611
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,051,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful mystery is intended for young adult readers, September 15, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Case of the Cat with the Missing Ear: From the notebooks of Edward R. Smithfield, D.V.M. (Adventures of Samuel Blackthorne) (Hardcover)

This delightful mystery is intended for young adult readers but is reviewed here for its ability to interest all age groups. Take a Yorkshire terrier investigator who is a master of deductive reasoning ala Sherlock Holmes, add some animals who come to him for help, and throw in a complex tale of deceit which involves high-ranking city officials and you have Adventures Of Samuel Blackthorne, a satisfyingly different and witty mystery.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about good friends !!!, September 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Case of the Cat with the Missing Ear: From the notebooks of Edward R. Smithfield, D.V.M. (Adventures of Samuel Blackthorne) (Hardcover)

Samuel Blackthorne's world is as warm and interesting as the wonderful friends he meets. The atmosphere in this book makes you taste the coffee... excuse me "the expresso" and smell the wet streets down by the docks. This book is for everyone that loves a good time no matter what their age. I can't wait for the next one.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, October 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Case of the Cat with the Missing Ear: From the notebooks of Edward R. Smithfield, D.V.M. (Adventures of Samuel Blackthorne) (Hardcover)

The best book I've read in the last few years. There aren't many books between the reading level of Harry Potter and To Kill a Mockingbird. This is it. It's funny but doesn't treat kids like they aren't as smart as adults. This is a book for kids who love to read but have run out of good books. Although it says ages 8-12, I'm 40 and I loved it. Dog lovers of all ages will love it too.