The Case of the Cursed Dodo

This is a review for The Case of the Cursed Dodo, The Endangered Files #1 by Jake G. Panda.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 4 stars, I liked it a lot.

Jake G. Panda is a hard nosed old fashioned Detective.  Oh and he is also a panda bear.  Jake is the resident detective for The Last Resort hotel for endangered animal, where the hotel guests are all endangered animals hiding from extinction.

Jake is searching for his missing friend known as "The Professor."  Along the way he makes new friends and runs into old enemies.  The Professor found an old suitcase in the desert and everyone wants to get their hands on it.  Jake has to sort out all of the clues to find the rightful owner and protect him and the case from the bad guys and goons. The solution to this book is not as clear cut as it seems in the beginning, there are several twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end!

I liked this book quite a lot.  It is a unique new take on an old style of storytelling.  The story is told in the style of old detective movies.  There are screen cues in the story and it uses some turns of phrase that aren't common anymore.  There are several changes in perspective but with the screen cues it is very easy to tell whose perspective the story is being told from.  The story telling style makes this book stand out.

I like that all of the characters are animals.  It added a cute element to the old fashioned detective story.  The animals all have their own personalities, motivations and unique voices.

This book is intended for middle grade readers.  This book would be a great tie in for discussions on endangered animals, extinct animals and wildlife conservation.  Nearly all of the characters in this book are endangered animals.  I recommend this book to every parent with a child who likes mysteries and detective stories. I look forward to seeing more of Jake G. Panda's adventures.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.