Category: Children Publisher: Cathy Swormstedt, The James River Writing Company
Pages: 65
Copyright: June 23, 2013
In Queen Victoria's London, Boggles, a bloodhound "sleuth," and his friend Sir Bertram Boneyard, search for a champion Pomeranian who is dog-napped hours before a pet performance competition.
Boggles is a bloodhound with an excellent sense of smell. Along with his devoted human, Private Inquiry Agent Sir Bertram Boneyard, Boggles becomes involved in a mystery that has rattled London society: “It was a dark day indeed when Lady Pomeroy’s Pomeranian went missing.”
Queen Victoria herself has demanded that the unflappable duo sniff out the identity of the dastardly dognapper and rescue Miss Pansy. The champion Pomeranian is considered the favorite in the Annual Pet Performance competition , which is only hours away! There’s no time to lose -- will Boggles and Sir Bertram be successful in saving the purloined Pomeranian?
Excerpt
For his part, Boggles was an intelligent bloodhound with an excellent sense of smell. He soon became a great help to his friend and rescuer in his work as a private inquiry agent. Sir Bertram was often brought into cases involving animals because he had a unique gift: He understood dog-speak, cat-speak and a certain amount of horse-speak. He also understood parrot-squawk unless the bird spoke in complex languages such as Urdu or Swahili, which hardly anyone could follow.
On the day of Pansy’s disappearance, the Queen’s message was delivered to Sir Bertram just before the noon hour when he was looking forward to his usual soup and sandwich. Frowning, he scanned the contents rapidly. “I’m afraid we haven’t time for lunch,” he told his companion who was wide awake now. “Lady Pomeroy’s prize Pomeranian has been dognapped. Her Majesty requests that we initiate a search—”
Boggles interrupted with a few angry huffs.
“Yes, and bring the dognapper to justice!” his friend agreed, tucking the Queen’s note into his suit pocket.
Professional Reviews
Charming Story!
My grandkids loved this little book and frankly, I did, too, because you're never too old to enjoy a good story. Readers are brought into the plot quickly. There's suspense but no violence, and youngsters are treated to an imaginative "who-dunit." It's a fun, well-written, Holmes-Watson type of yarn that will appeal to mystery fans and dog lovers -- and most kids like both! The author infused a little humor and a little history - very nice. I hope there will be future "Boggles" books.
