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Max the Detective Cat #1
Max the Detective Cat: The Disappearing Diva
Max, chief mouse-hunter at the Theatre Royal, is up to his whiskers in his first mystery! Max is a pampered cat, used to the finer things in life, until a fun mouse chase goes badly wrong and he finds himself scruffy and alone and hiding out at the Theatre Royal. It's here that Max takes on his first case as a detective cat, when he notices that famous singer Madame Emerald is acting strangely. Why is her maid so terrified? And what kind of singer doesn't like to sing in public? Soon Max is trapped in a complicated web of crime, dashing round dancers' legs and over the rooftops of London in a race to catch a clever thief...
155 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2018
14 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Todd Taylor
14 books22 followersSarah is a children's writer from Mid Wales. Her debut book, Arthur and Me, was published by Firefly Press in October 2014. She adores puzzles, codes and mysteries and is the author of the Max the Detective Cat series and the Alice Éclair : Spy Extraordinaire series, both published by Nosy Crow.
When not writing she can be found singing opera round mid Wales.
When not writing she can be found singing opera round mid Wales.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 9, 2024
A darling book with delightful cat and human characters! I love how Max is still a cat (not really able to "talk human talk" but finds ways to communicate and follow the mysteries anyway). I read this out of order (started with book two) and I felt this mystery wasn't quite as surprising or detailed as the second book, and that some of the reveals were over explained. But I still totally appreciated the very PG nature of the book and a great introduction to non-scary mysteries for younger readers.
October 5, 2019
It’s been a good while since I read a children’s book and possibly equally as long since I read one where the main character was an animal. But I have to admit, I was looking forward to meeting Max as I was intrigued how a feline would solve a case – was this a talking cat or what?
So our cute Max is kicked out by his aristocratic house for a little bit of mischief and finds himself in a London theatre…. Enter stage left Madame Emerald but Max despite his privileged start in life smells a rat…. who is this woman?? This diva is definitely someone Max needs to keep an eye on and so did I! Max is a gorgeous character, the author has created a unique plush feline finding his feet in the world. One of my friends had a Persian who would slink around her house so Max became that soft silky Persian cat!
I loved the illustrations through out the story, the little paw prints at the end of chapters and the pictures of Max learning to fend for himself in London.
There is very much a cozy crime feel to the book which you’d expect from the intended audience. Given the amount of crime fiction I read, I could see where the story was kind of heading but for the younger audience, the clues are there for them to piece together. I will be passing the book on to a friend of mine who has two daughters of the right sort of age to read. I personally think most children would enjoy this fun feline detective series.
So our cute Max is kicked out by his aristocratic house for a little bit of mischief and finds himself in a London theatre…. Enter stage left Madame Emerald but Max despite his privileged start in life smells a rat…. who is this woman?? This diva is definitely someone Max needs to keep an eye on and so did I! Max is a gorgeous character, the author has created a unique plush feline finding his feet in the world. One of my friends had a Persian who would slink around her house so Max became that soft silky Persian cat!
I loved the illustrations through out the story, the little paw prints at the end of chapters and the pictures of Max learning to fend for himself in London.
There is very much a cozy crime feel to the book which you’d expect from the intended audience. Given the amount of crime fiction I read, I could see where the story was kind of heading but for the younger audience, the clues are there for them to piece together. I will be passing the book on to a friend of mine who has two daughters of the right sort of age to read. I personally think most children would enjoy this fun feline detective series.
March 2, 2018
There's been a spate of detective in the world of children's books over the last few years. There hasn't, however, been a detective with four legs and a white tail. This is Max the Detective Cat who lives in the Theatre Royal and solves mysteries. There's bold, and then there's making your lead protagonist somebody who can't communicate with humans bold. I'm pleased to say that, for the most part, Sarah Todd Taylor pulls it off.
There's a little bit of scene setting at the start to get Max into position, as it were, and once that's achieved, this book races off and merrily does its thing. And it does race. It's sparingly put together in some nicely accessible chapters that are beautifully illustrated by Nicola Kinnear. I'd have welcome a tiny bit of variety with the images that open each chapter; there's a mouse running across the stage and they are beautifully rendered but represent a bit of a lost opportunity with the storytelling (what would happen, for example, if the mouse's position changed slightly as the book went on?). But I do also acknowledge that I am greedy with books like this because when they're this enjoyable, you want more. Always.
I was a little concerned at how the resolution might be handled with the whole, you know, cats not being able to communicate intricate details of mysteries to humans thing, but it's surprisingly convincing. I have to give Taylor a lot of credit in making this work, and making it work so plausibly. Her language is clean and direct, with a few very nice moments of character development for Max. There's more to come from this series and I really do look forward to reading them.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
There's a little bit of scene setting at the start to get Max into position, as it were, and once that's achieved, this book races off and merrily does its thing. And it does race. It's sparingly put together in some nicely accessible chapters that are beautifully illustrated by Nicola Kinnear. I'd have welcome a tiny bit of variety with the images that open each chapter; there's a mouse running across the stage and they are beautifully rendered but represent a bit of a lost opportunity with the storytelling (what would happen, for example, if the mouse's position changed slightly as the book went on?). But I do also acknowledge that I am greedy with books like this because when they're this enjoyable, you want more. Always.
I was a little concerned at how the resolution might be handled with the whole, you know, cats not being able to communicate intricate details of mysteries to humans thing, but it's surprisingly convincing. I have to give Taylor a lot of credit in making this work, and making it work so plausibly. Her language is clean and direct, with a few very nice moments of character development for Max. There's more to come from this series and I really do look forward to reading them.
My thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
August 23, 2023
This book is so cute with a light thriller feels. I enjoyed every page of it. I love reading middle grade books. They are always light, easy to read, and enjoyable! Every cat lover is going to enjoy this book.
March 15, 2018
Not usually a cat person, but the feline investigators in this mystery have won me over! Gorgeous cover & beautifully illustrated as well.
August 12, 2019
I spent yesterday evening relaxing on the living room couch, sipping green tea, listening to one of my favourite jazz playlists of Spotify and reading a book about a cat detective. That's what I call "time well-spent".
It's the second feline mystery I've read this summer and it's definitely the superior one. The cat actually acts like a cat (for most part - it's a book for kids after all) and the story is simple but fun. Hopefully the second book is just as adorable.
It's the second feline mystery I've read this summer and it's definitely the superior one. The cat actually acts like a cat (for most part - it's a book for kids after all) and the story is simple but fun. Hopefully the second book is just as adorable.
July 30, 2023
The Max the Detective Cat series is such a breath of fresh air! My oldest is ready to move on to more complex mysteries than most chapter book series offer but not quite ready for the more intense peril, murders, angst etc. that tend to pepper many middle grade mysteries (at least, the ones I've come across here in the US). We have "hopped the pond" (virtually -- thank you, Blackwells) to expand our search and found some winners there. Sarah Todd Taylor's books deliver exactly what we wanted! (Also love her Alice Elcair series -- reviews to come!) I absolutely love that the Max books don't dummy down in the slightest when it comes to writing style, plot and character development, while still delivering a fairly gentle mystery and an engaging feline hero that helps bridge the gap between chapter books and fare for more mature readers. Great decision that Max is not a magic "talking cat" (as one might tend to expect from books for the elementary crowd) as this makes it more appealing to slightly older readers. We know what he is thinking, and he communicates expressively with the humans, but only with typical cat behaviors and sounds. He does "talk" with other cats and certainly does more than a real house cat would be able to do in terms of "sleuthing" but it's never so over-the-top that it's not at least somewhat believable that a cat could do those things. I love the setting with early 1900s England and France, the theater aspects (the author has an opera and theater background and it shows) and it feels delightfully British in tone. All three are solid stories. The Disappearing Diva has a fabulous theater atmosphere that this thespian bookworm especially loved. The Phantom Portrait takes place at Halloween and I think it would be a real treat for readers who want something a little spooky and atmospheric for that time of year but nothing too creepy. The Catnip Case might be a little troubling for youngsters sensitive to animal peril, but it was nice to see more cats than in the previous books (and even some female felines for a change) and, as you would expect in a book for this target audience, all ends well. My son gives them all between 4.5 and 5 stars and said he especially enjoys the characterization and pacing. We wish there were more books in the series but it appears the author has moved on to other series so we look forward to whatever she writes next.
May 27, 2020
A book that is full of warmth, charm and plenty of hugs (even if some of them are rather lumpy). Meet Maximilian - mollycoddled moggie and soon to be up to his whiskers in crime!
Pampered puss Maximilian is used to a life of splendour at Arlington Grove, spending his days sitting on velvet cushions, eating salmon souffle out of silver dishes and being fussed “at least six times a day,” by Countess Arlington.
Following a calamitous mouse chase, Max finds himself on the gritty and grimy streets of London and seeks refuge at the Theatre Royal where he is able to put his mouse-catching talents to good use. When world renowned singer Madame Emerald arrives at the theatre and starts acting strangely, Max senses something is wrong - it is not a mouse that he smells this time, this time he smells a rat! Calling on all his cat skills - cunning, curiosity, and a big dose of newly discovered courage - Max is determined to solve the mystery of Madame Emerald. Why is her assistant petrified? Why does she only sing when she is locked in her room? And why are her cuddles so lumpy?
It isn’t long before clean-cut Max finds himself in a world of crime and deception, leaping (tentatively) over London rooftops and eating a lot of sardines.
Max the Detective Cat is a thoroughly enjoyable read full of messages about bravery, family and belonging. I really liked that although Max has only ever lived a life of riches and has always been waited on he is able to adapt to his new situation and through his resourcefulness he demonstrates to the reader that their future is not defined by their past.
This is the first in a series of books by real life actress, Sarah Todd Taylor. She has performed in numerous theatre productions and her love for all things theatrical shine through in this entertaining read. I always love a book that has illustrations that complement the text and Nicola Kinnear’s sketches get Max-imum marks. The read is ideally suited for readers who are new to chapter books and the regular drawings are delightful and help make the read not feel text heavy.
A book that cat lovers, amateur dramatists and wanna-be sleuths will all enjoy reading. Children (and grown-ups) will love trying to untangle the clues and solve the mystery alongside Max. Purr-fect reading for 7+.
Pampered puss Maximilian is used to a life of splendour at Arlington Grove, spending his days sitting on velvet cushions, eating salmon souffle out of silver dishes and being fussed “at least six times a day,” by Countess Arlington.
Following a calamitous mouse chase, Max finds himself on the gritty and grimy streets of London and seeks refuge at the Theatre Royal where he is able to put his mouse-catching talents to good use. When world renowned singer Madame Emerald arrives at the theatre and starts acting strangely, Max senses something is wrong - it is not a mouse that he smells this time, this time he smells a rat! Calling on all his cat skills - cunning, curiosity, and a big dose of newly discovered courage - Max is determined to solve the mystery of Madame Emerald. Why is her assistant petrified? Why does she only sing when she is locked in her room? And why are her cuddles so lumpy?
It isn’t long before clean-cut Max finds himself in a world of crime and deception, leaping (tentatively) over London rooftops and eating a lot of sardines.
Max the Detective Cat is a thoroughly enjoyable read full of messages about bravery, family and belonging. I really liked that although Max has only ever lived a life of riches and has always been waited on he is able to adapt to his new situation and through his resourcefulness he demonstrates to the reader that their future is not defined by their past.
This is the first in a series of books by real life actress, Sarah Todd Taylor. She has performed in numerous theatre productions and her love for all things theatrical shine through in this entertaining read. I always love a book that has illustrations that complement the text and Nicola Kinnear’s sketches get Max-imum marks. The read is ideally suited for readers who are new to chapter books and the regular drawings are delightful and help make the read not feel text heavy.
A book that cat lovers, amateur dramatists and wanna-be sleuths will all enjoy reading. Children (and grown-ups) will love trying to untangle the clues and solve the mystery alongside Max. Purr-fect reading for 7+.
April 22, 2018
A cracking little mystery told through the eyes of a gorgeous cat who's rather come down in the world. Lucky enough to find himself a job as Theatre Mouser, he stumbles across a jewel thief and saves the day. Nicely written and ideal for Y3+ - fans of Maxwell Mutt will appreciate Max the Cat just as much.
February 12, 2019
Max loses his status as a pampered cat and finds himself with a new job in a theatre. But when a famous diva appears, she is not what she seems and it is down to Max to solve the mystery...
Loved this tale of a detective cat. Will be recommending this to many children in school.
Loved this tale of a detective cat. Will be recommending this to many children in school.
January 9, 2018
Watch out for the book review coming to a blog near you. (Soooon!) www.mrripleysenchantedbooks.com
March 4, 2018
Fluffy detective fun!
April 2, 2018
A great little caper! Fun detective mystery foiled by a brave theatre cat!
November 12, 2018
It was beautiful ,it was good,
November 27, 2018
This was such an entertaining, adorable and quick read!
I really enjoyed reading it :)
I really enjoyed reading it :)
July 18, 2020
Aweome
April 22, 2019
This gorgeous little illustrated mystery story is a love letter to the Theatre and kindness and is a great story to encourage young readers who love a good mystery but are looking for something more difficult than early readers but not quite as demanding as middle grade.
Max is extra special because he is within a human world, this is a great thing for children’s literature because like children can feel adults don’t pay them attention, and that they don’t fully understand what’s going on this can equally be extrapolated to animals like our protagonist cat.
It may be a children’s book standard to write books with animal protagonist but it is actually a powerful and plot driven choice by casting our hero as a cat as it offers the innocence and confusion without patronising children who are often far more observant and understanding than we give them credit for. So Max’s naivety and gentle stumbling and working through his discoveries are naturalistic but also allow the engaged child reader to feel clever and ahead of the plot and so encourage Max on saying ‘think about this Max!!’
This is genuinely a tightly and effectively written story with heartbreak and peril and Max rising to the challenge, it’s a lovely metaphor for not allowing circumstances to dictate your behaviour nor your future, there’s little but powerful lessons that children can learn from this pampered pet.
Max is extra special because he is within a human world, this is a great thing for children’s literature because like children can feel adults don’t pay them attention, and that they don’t fully understand what’s going on this can equally be extrapolated to animals like our protagonist cat.
It may be a children’s book standard to write books with animal protagonist but it is actually a powerful and plot driven choice by casting our hero as a cat as it offers the innocence and confusion without patronising children who are often far more observant and understanding than we give them credit for. So Max’s naivety and gentle stumbling and working through his discoveries are naturalistic but also allow the engaged child reader to feel clever and ahead of the plot and so encourage Max on saying ‘think about this Max!!’
This is genuinely a tightly and effectively written story with heartbreak and peril and Max rising to the challenge, it’s a lovely metaphor for not allowing circumstances to dictate your behaviour nor your future, there’s little but powerful lessons that children can learn from this pampered pet.
January 10, 2022
Book 1. The Disappearing Diva
The plot.
Max is a much pampered, and some may say, pompous fluffy white cat who has spent his days in the lap of luxury. Sat on velvet cushions, he enjoyed the very best salmon souffle off silver dishes. He was pampered at least six times a day by his beloved Countess Arlington. Sounds just my sort of life!
Things really couldn't be nicer for a London cat in the company of the highest of high society. Oh, but they could be worse, far, far worse, as he soon finds out.
After a mishap with a spider and a potted plant, large amounts of dirty pawprints around the townhouse, he ended up in the kitchens. There he discovered some mice and caused such chaos he ended up covered in cooking fat. After that, Max finds he's no longer in favour. In fact, much to his confusion, he's no longer in the house at all. Suddenly he is in a cat basket and destined to be dumped in the river!
Unhappy with the strange and smelly surroundings, Max busts out of his basket and heads off into the night. Of course, Max isn't at all what you'd call streetwise. And London is not a hospitable place. It is also smelly to the extreme if you are a cat that was used to pot-puri! Hungry and scared of the street-cats the maids said would make mincemeat out of him, Max takes refuge under a bridge.
He hears a voice from the gloom, which turns out not to be trouble but Oscar, a one-eyed and ragged eared black cat. But he is kind and generous to Max, who is clearly not from that part of town.
Now, Max thinks he's seen lots from his cossetted life and window-side view. But Oscar shows him otherwise by taking him on a trip across London's rooftops. The two soon end up sitting beside the glass dome roof of the Theatre Royal. It is home, Oscar says, of the finest ballet, music, and acting in the world.
Now, it is at this point that the adventure really starts. Max ends up in the theatre itself and, after some first-class mousing, gets accepted and —
Of course, if I told you much more, where would the fun be, right? Suffice to say, this story is really engaging and fun. There is a lovely array of characters that will grow on us in the following two books.
There is a mystery to unfold involving stolen gems, a lumpy and seemingly dreadful actress and soprano named Madamme Emerald, and a rescue in a seedy part of London. Follow the clues or just enjoy the ride as Max and Oscar set out to save the day.
Unlike my stories, Max and Oscar cannot converse with humans. This makes for some fun bits of meowing dialogue and breathtaking action from our two protagonists.
The writer and publishers have a real winner here and no mistake.
The plot.
Max is a much pampered, and some may say, pompous fluffy white cat who has spent his days in the lap of luxury. Sat on velvet cushions, he enjoyed the very best salmon souffle off silver dishes. He was pampered at least six times a day by his beloved Countess Arlington. Sounds just my sort of life!
Things really couldn't be nicer for a London cat in the company of the highest of high society. Oh, but they could be worse, far, far worse, as he soon finds out.
After a mishap with a spider and a potted plant, large amounts of dirty pawprints around the townhouse, he ended up in the kitchens. There he discovered some mice and caused such chaos he ended up covered in cooking fat. After that, Max finds he's no longer in favour. In fact, much to his confusion, he's no longer in the house at all. Suddenly he is in a cat basket and destined to be dumped in the river!
Unhappy with the strange and smelly surroundings, Max busts out of his basket and heads off into the night. Of course, Max isn't at all what you'd call streetwise. And London is not a hospitable place. It is also smelly to the extreme if you are a cat that was used to pot-puri! Hungry and scared of the street-cats the maids said would make mincemeat out of him, Max takes refuge under a bridge.
He hears a voice from the gloom, which turns out not to be trouble but Oscar, a one-eyed and ragged eared black cat. But he is kind and generous to Max, who is clearly not from that part of town.
Now, Max thinks he's seen lots from his cossetted life and window-side view. But Oscar shows him otherwise by taking him on a trip across London's rooftops. The two soon end up sitting beside the glass dome roof of the Theatre Royal. It is home, Oscar says, of the finest ballet, music, and acting in the world.
Now, it is at this point that the adventure really starts. Max ends up in the theatre itself and, after some first-class mousing, gets accepted and —
Of course, if I told you much more, where would the fun be, right? Suffice to say, this story is really engaging and fun. There is a lovely array of characters that will grow on us in the following two books.
There is a mystery to unfold involving stolen gems, a lumpy and seemingly dreadful actress and soprano named Madamme Emerald, and a rescue in a seedy part of London. Follow the clues or just enjoy the ride as Max and Oscar set out to save the day.
Unlike my stories, Max and Oscar cannot converse with humans. This makes for some fun bits of meowing dialogue and breathtaking action from our two protagonists.
The writer and publishers have a real winner here and no mistake.
August 13, 2024
This was my 6 year old daughter’s pick. It was in the 5-8 section at Waterstones, but imo it’s definitely on the upper end of that - there was a lot of pretty niche vocabulary and the plot was a little complicated for that age group. That said, my daughter really enjoyed it and insisted that she wanted to keep reading even when I gave her the option to abandon, and I think it did pick up in the latter half. I won’t be encouraging her to check out the other books in the series, though.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews