Cat Detective

By A. B. Greenfield, A. B. Greenfield, Sarah Horne (Illustrator)

Part of the Ra the Mighty series

A royal cat and beetle sidekick hunt a thief in ancient Egypt.

5.3/7 Bookroo expert·4.0/5 Goodreads · 827 ratings

240 pages· 28,792 words· Est. 4 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In ancient Egypt, Ra, a pampered palace cat, and Khepri, a diligent dung beetle, embark on a comedic quest to solve a jewelry theft. With a young servant girl wrongly accused, Khepri urges Ra to embrace his inner detective. As they unravel the mystery, Ra discovers the thrill of justice, earning the title 'Protector of the Weak.' Can this unlikely duo clear the girl's name and catch the real thief? Dive into a world of humor and history with this mismatched pair on their first adventure.

From the publisher

An egotistical royal cat and his dung beetle sidekick track a jewelry thief in this hilarious new series set in ancient Egypt. Nominated for an Edgar Award! Can a lazy cat and a dung-obsessed beetle really crack a mystery? Ra relishes his role as the Pharaoh’s beloved–and spoiled–cat. So when an amulet goes missing from the palace, Ra plans to keep enjoying his snacks and nap in the sun. But Ra’s friend Khepri, a wise and industrious scarab beetle, insists on investigating in order to save the young servant girl who has been framed for the crime. Once Ra gets going, he decides that being a Great Detective isn’t so bad; in fact, he doesn’t mind being hailed as “Protector of the Weak and Defender of Justice.” The comically mismatched duo is on the case! Wacky illustrations with fun historical details bring these oddball characters to life. Includes a glossary, pronunciation guide, and detailed author’s note. “An ingenious mystery full of entertaining details for fans of ancient Egypt.”–Paula Harrison, author of the Rescue Princesses series

At a glance

Format
Pages: 240
Words: 28,792
Reading age: 7–10
Audience: Juvenile Reader
Lexile: 590L

Themes & topics

Books about ancient civilizations Books about solving crimes Books about Ancient Egypt Books about mystery and detective work Books about bugs and insects

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Potty Humor

This book contains a supporting character, a scarab beetle, who talks about dung multiple times throughout the book.

After the last page

Talk about it together

This crime-solving story has a great twist when finding the culprit. Who did you expect to be the thief, and why?

Ra's best friend, Khepri, is a wise scarab beetle who encourages Ra to help solve the crime. Do you have someone who has encouraged you in your life, and did you appreciate it?

What readers & critics say