Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This novel truly brings life to reading again!. I am a avid reader, and boy was I amazed! I love the characters and it makes me feel like I am sitting right next to Dr. Smithfield and Mr. Blackthorne in their tea room sharing jokes and sipping on espresso. It is my favorite book right now and What I like about it best is that IT DOESN'T TREAT YOU LIKE AN IDIOT! I applaude Mr. Emerson and await the next book anxiously.

Set in late nineteenth century San Francisco, The Case of the Cat with the Missing Ear, from the very first page captured my attention and held it throughout. Mr. Emerson has written an intelligent and thoroughly gripping and rather humorous mystery with a cast of curious canine (and feline) characters. Samuel Blackthorn, a clever, cunning, and courageous Yorkie dogdetective, makes many friends and deals with canines a zillion times larger than himself -- which, after all, is to be expected in a town populated by pooches of every description. The imagery, such as the vivid description of the fog rolling down into the city at twilight, is truly fascinating! Wit and whimsey abound in this Sherlock Holmesian narrative, which I highly recommend to readers both young and old. I can hardly wait for the next adventure in the series! A very good read, indeed!

As I opened the book and read the first few pages, I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down until I had finshed the entire story! Mr. Emerson does an exceptional job of bringing story, location, and most importantly characters to life right in front of your eyes! This is a book to be enjoyed by readers of any age, and I anxiously await Mr. Emerson's next literary offering. A well earned 5 stars!!!

I loved Scott Emerson's first 2 books, Magic Boots & Under the Stars & the Moon and now he's done it again, this time for older children. The Case of the Cat with the Missing Ear is wonderfully written with cleverly descriptive characters and locales! The turn of the century San Francisco is alive with Holmesian dogs & cats that make the mystery even more enchanting. My son and I both enjoyed this chapter book and can't wait for the next in the series!

I have a couple of issues about this book which prevent me from giving it an altogether hearty endorsement. First, it seems the casino-owner knows about the shanghaing before anyone tells him that's what happened. Next, the ending isn't as tidy as I would like. The criminal is still at large, even though his career as a politician is ruined, and he was not proven to be the murderer. Still, it was a lovely book with a Sherlock Holmes flavor. I agree with the others who claim that it doesn't patronize kids. When are we going to see sequels?