CAT DETECTIVES IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA: DIARY OF A SNOOPY CAT (THE INCA CAT DETECTIVE SERIES Book 8)

Shortly after returning from their adventures in Sri Lanka, Inca and her company of animal sleuths take off for South Korea because their human has been selected as a judge in a cooking competition. While they are there, their host reveals that his sister and her cat have moved to North Korea. The Inca and Company Detective Agency is on the case, vowing to help the sister and her cat return home, but will they be able to do it safely with the turmoil between North and South Korea? Can they also stop their mom's nemesis from sabotaging the debut of her new cheese?

R.F. Kristi's Cat Detectives in the Korean Peninsula picks up shortly after Serendipity Mystery. The series follows Siberian cat Inca, a self-described snoopy cat. In this particular installment, she jets off to South Korea with her family. Inca and her siblings quickly make friends with the local animals and decide to help reunite their family.

I always enjoy reading this series, and this installment is no different. However, it does touch on some serious issues that many children may not be aware of—namely, the political climate in Korea. It is important to discuss topics with children in order to enhance their understanding of the world, and Kristi accomplishes this task in a way understandable to younger readers. She does not go into depth or specify the tensions between the two parts of the country, but she does introduce this conflict in a respectful manner and shows how the two parts must work together, regardless of differences.

The title leads the reader to believe that there is a mystery to solve; while there is a small one, the suspect is obvious, and it does not take away from the main story. However, it shows that detectives are not only mystery solvers, but they are also problem solvers. The mystery itself does not take long to solve, but it does allow minor characters to bask in the spotlight for a moment.

I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to younger readers and animal lovers, regardless of whether or not they have read the previous books. Even though there is a brief reference to events earlier in the series, the details do not spoil the enjoyment.