Some genuinely funny bits in this kids' mystery centered on Sam the Cat Detective. These books have elements of screwball comedy and film noir in them; pretty neat for kids.
A sample:
Picture two cats walking down the sidewalk, one of them having been drugged:
Buster said, 'Walk.'
It seemed like an interesting, funny idea. I started walking. Walking was nice. It was something like dancing, without the music. I started humming.
Buster said, 'Man, you are just so out of it. Lucky I stayed.'
'For which I thank you,' I said, 'from my bottom.'
He looked at me sideways.
I said, 'From my heart. From the heart of my bottom. Is that how it goes?'
He looked at me sharply. 'I'm walking you home.' ( )