Customer Reviews

The Maltese Kitten (Sam the Cat Mysteries, No. 3)

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If you loved the classics like "Maltese Falcon" and would like your kids to enjoy them as well, Linda Spencer's Sam, the Cat Detective novels are the best way to get them to loving mysteries. Sam, a grey alley cat with a heart of gold, is a private detective. Okay, sometimes his logic is fuzzy--he is a cat, after all. And his 'bank account' has an odor---he takes payment in fish. But, Sam always gets his man whether it be human or feline--and sometimes his woman, too.

In this book, Sam is approached by Brighid (Miss Wonderful) to help her find her lost kitten. She's of course, a beautiful liar. Sam discovers the kitten is a valuable Maltese from a line of cats dating back to the 1500's and the plot just gets thicker from there.

Even for adults, this is an enjoyable read and a quick one at just 133 pages. I highly recommend Sam and hope to see another novel by Stewart soon!

Sam, a detective who happens to be a cat ("I was on a Missing Persian case," is how the caper begins) finds he's tangled up in a tale about an extravagant missing kitten. The characters (cats) are all wonderfully well-drawn and parody the cast of The Maltese Falcon: Brigid, the temptress; Wilmer, the stooge; Jean-Clawed (who takes the role of Peter Lorre's Joel Cairo) plus hilarious new additions-- a sly Hungarian "pawist" and a cat named Dr. Laura who believes she's a licensed shrink. And though, without question, the book is written for kids, it pays them the true compliment of never talking down to them, or letting them down either. My own two absolutely hung on the tale-- or should I say tail?

We first read Sam The Cat, Detective, the first book in a series of which The Malese Kitten is the latest intallment. Linda Stewart's hero, a four-legged Sam Spade who lives in a bookstore and takes on the tough cases for fellow felines in trouble, is a really nifty creation appealing to the kids and to the parents and grandparents who like to read to them aloud. The books are funny, suspenseful, not scary and always witty and fast-moving.
When we saw the cool cover of The Maltese Kitten, we picked it up before we even realized it was another winner by Stewart. This time, Sam chases after a missing kitten around Greenwich Village alleys and some posh NY pads assisted by a love-struck cat named Spike and a hard-nosed house detective cat whose seen it all, knows the score, enjoys intrigue with his catnip and ultimately opts for the good guys. If you find yourself comparing this book to a certain bird, i.e. a Maltese Falcon, you're right, since both Sam The Cat and Stewart like to Hammet up. If you want to give your kittens a fun read and have a romp yourself, check out this latest Sam escapade.

I have to admit I bought the Maltese Kitten because I loved the cover, but then I enjoyed it so much that I bought the two previous books of this series. Linda Stewart is funny and uses language wonderfully. Sam, the cat detective, has a wickedly accurate eye as he analyses the passing scene.
All three books are a lot of fun.

Ok, so I judged a book by it's cover but it paid off. This I got it for my niece, who likes all things "Cat", and was leafing through it to make sure there was nothing between the covers unfit for youngsters, and found myself getting sucked in. The Maltese Kitten is agile and smart, with a good sprite. I am sure my niece will love it and I don't think she'll notice the crease I left in the spine. Good book.

There are 3 books in the Sam the Cat Mysteries. Each one is a must-read. Clean plot excellent for children, equally eye-popping for adults. Beautifully written with witty humor and dialogue based on characters famous from the big screen. These will stay in my permament library.

Great book for any cat lover

author of "Hobo Finds A Home"