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Pet Detective Mysteries #1

Kassy O'Roarke, Cub Reporter

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Twelve-year-old Kassy O’Roarke wants to win the Thompson prize at her school newspaper. Her pesky little brother Percy and his key-stealing ferret try to help . . . and that’s when the trouble begins.

Apollo the cougar cub goes missing from their family’s petting zoo. Kassy puts her detective skills to the test to find him before Animal Control does. Can Kassy outsmart the dogcatcher and rescue Apollo before being grounded for life?

Join Kassy’s fun-filled adventure cracking riddles, detecting clues, solving a whole zoo of animal trouble, and learning it’s not what you have, but what you give that matters.

“A purely enjoyable adventure filled with memorable characters, an endearing protagonist, and a lot of heart.” —The U.S. Review of Books


“Strong sense of middle-school humor.”
—BlueInk Review

“A juicy middle grade mystery in which a young investigator learns that it’s okay to be vulnerable.”
—Foreword Reviews

“[Will] entertain both animal and mystery lovers of all ages. Most highly recommended!”
—Reader’s Favorite Reviews

240 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2019

17 people are currently reading
1426 people want to read

About the author

Kelly Oliver

63 books423 followers
Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of four mysteries series:
Jessica James Mysteries (contemporary suspense), Pet Detective Mysteries (middle grade), Fiona Figg Mysteries (historical cozies), and The Detection Club Mysteries (traditional).

When she’s not writing mysteries, Kelly is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

Kelly lives in Nashville with three very demanding felines.

To learn more about Kelly and her books, please visit her website at www.kellyoliverbooks.com.



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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Grady.
Author 51 books1,820 followers
January 3, 2020
‘Kassy O’Roarke, Cub reporter, is going places’

Tennessee author Kelly Oliver earned her degrees from Gonzaga University and Northwestern University and is a Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University. She has published numerous articles on such important issues as the refugee crisis, reproductive technologies, campus rape, women and the media, the environment, and animals. Her published books include the highly awarded adult fiction series, the Jessica James Mystery series, an historical mystery series debuted with ‘Miss Lemon’s Mysterious Assignment at Styles,’ and now she enters the children’s literature arena with KASSY O’ROARKE, CUB REPORTER - volume one of her projected Pet Detective Series. She lives in Nashville.

Writing for the age range 8 to 12 years is a challenge: keeping a story propelling while utilizing language to which youngsters can not only relate, but also learn is a trait Kelly has already mastered. She offers this fine Pet Detective mystery in the voice of the title character Kassy and maintains the prose in communication levels that involve and inspire the reader.

An example of this gift is shared here: ‘The last bell rings. I rush out of class, dash down the hall, and skid to a stop in front of the newspaper rack. I grab the new issues of the school paper. The Cub Reporter is hot off the press. My palms are damp, and I’m panting just a bit. Knowing my article is somewhere in these pages makes my skin tingle all over. I squeeze through the crowded hallway and pop out the front door of the school building, I want to be alone when I see my name in print for the first time.’ In that passage Kelly transports the adult reader to that time in our lives when (age 8-12) everything in the world was a possible mystery worth probing. For middle school readers, a new identifiable heroine is born! For adults – welcome to an invitation to those younger days when the world was fresh and inviting.

Filled with finely created characters, both human and animal, this brisk little novel is a spellbinder, one that is bound to gather a very strong audience committed to the series. This first installment is well summarized by the author – ‘Twelve-year-old Kassy O’Roarke wants to win the Thompson prize at her school newspaper. Her pesky little brother Percy and his key-stealing ferret try to help . . . and that’s when the trouble begins. Apollo the cougar cub goes missing from their family’s petting zoo. Kassy puts her detective skills to the test to find him before Animal Control does. Can Kassy outsmart the dogcatcher and rescue Apollo before being grounded for life?’

Accompanied by some illustrative highlights that make Kassy’s world visual, Kelly’s writing gifts prove equally as fine for children’s books as for her forays into adult fiction and articles. Very highly recommended.
Profile Image for Sydney.
72 reviews4 followers
November 2, 2019
Thank you so much to Kelly Oliver and Book Trib for an advanced copy of Kassy O’Roarke: Cub Reporter! I was sent this copy in exchanged for an honest review and all thoughts and feelings are my own.

For someone who really loved Nancy Drew mysteries, I absolutely loved this story. The characters were so enjoyable and real. Kassy is dealing with her parents getting divorced and all the emotions that come with that. While also trying to find her place at school and at home. I loved that Kelly Oliver dove into the discussion about how children deal with change in the family.

Another thing I absolutely loved was Kassy’s mom runs a petting zoo with all these different animals like a monkey, camel, and of course the star of our mystery; Apollo the cougar cub! Having all these different animals including Freddie the ferret definitely added to my enjoyment of this book and you get invested in the overall well-being of these sweet animals and this sweet family.

If you or someone you know loves reading middle grade about mysteries and animals, then this is definitely the book for you!
Profile Image for Kelsqi.
32 reviews3 followers
January 25, 2020
While there were cute features of this book, I just didn't like how much Kassy distrusts her parents. The adults in her life never give her any reason to doubt them and yet she runs in fear and puts herself in danger whenever they approach. If a child behaved this way in real life we'd worry abuse, but somehow it's just because she wants to go on adventures? She also lies. A lot. To pretty much everyone.
Profile Image for Christina Marie Reads.
446 reviews20 followers
November 21, 2019
This was an adorable start to the middle grade Pet Detective Mysteries! I, along with my 9 and 11 year old daughters enjoyed this book immensely! There were several parts that made us giggle. It is an easy, fun, and fast paced read for the middle grade reader or the young at heart!
Profile Image for Doug Jacobs.
40 reviews
September 1, 2024
Kassy O’Roarke – Cub Reporter is the first in a series of Kassy O’Roarke stories. These are aimed at a middle-grade audience. Kassandra “Kassy” O’Roarke is a middle schooler who has dreams of being an ace investigative reporter. She and her younger brother Perseus “Percy” live with their recently divorced mother who is a veterinarian, and they all run a small petting zoo made up of exotic animals that have come to land at the vet’s office in a Nashville suburb. Their father lives in the city with his fiancé and her daughter.

When the cougar cub Apollo disappears from the petting zoo, Kassy, sets out to find it before it is found by Pinkerton Killjoy the animal control officer. Along the way, Kassy broadens her circle of friends; and learns some important lessons.

I liked this story very much. Some aspects were excellent, like how Kassy becomes closer friends with her classmate Butler and his family. Her excellent self-talk to help her calm her anxiety issues, and deal with difficult situations, and her bravery and inventiveness, when plans go awry.

My one complaint is that Kassy ends up trapped on three different occasions, and while she does have good ideas about extricating herself, in each of these events she needs to be rescued by others. It would have been gratifying to see her escape successfully by using her wits at least one of these times. I feel that the fact that she needs to be rescued every time undermines the importance of her ability to figure things out.

That one nit aside, I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the fun character names, Kassy’s inventive way of creating euphemisms for swear words, and the realistic concerns and fears of a pre-teen whose world has been torn apart.
Profile Image for BookTrib.com .
1,984 reviews167 followers
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December 6, 2019
What a shame author Kelly Oliver never grew up. Anyone who has read Oliver’s delightful Kassy O’Roarke, Cub Reporter (Beaver’s Pond Press) knows her adult mind is locked inside the head of a clever 12-year-old girl with all the trimmings.

Angst. Intellect. Imagination. Humor. Vulnerability. It’s all there. Oliver, a college philosophy professor in real life, has wrapped Kassy’s persona around a wonderful story for middle-graders who will easily relate to the characters, situations and emotions — embracing some and cringing at others.

Take, for example, the school’s “Miss Everything,” Kelly Finkelman, popular, a goody-two-shoes, perfect Barbie doll hair, cheerleader and, as it happens, a top investigative reporter for the school paper, The Cub Reporter. She is introduced to us as a policeman comes to thank her for writing a story that helped apprehend a local vandal.

Kassy feels “invisible,” insignificant in the presence of Kelly. But that spurs her on. She vows to write the investigative story of the year for the school newspaper and win the prestigious Thompson Award for Journalism. “If I win, everyone will know I exist,” she says, thinking specifically of her dad, who has moved out and on, and who she pines to draw back.

A case to investigate quickly surfaces. Kassy’s mom is an animal lover, working at the vet clinic and opening a petting zoo in their barn with rescue animals. The cougar cub Apollo has suddenly gone missing.

The rest of the review: https://booktrib.com/2019/12/searchin...
Profile Image for Lois (thecarrotstories).
157 reviews32 followers
November 24, 2019
A very enjoyable children book with lots of adventure. And being a fan of detective stories, this new series looks really promising. Combining it with journalism and a mini Doctor Doolittle, it was most interesting! The story was really cute with these new, young detectives searching for their lost cougar cub.

I honestly enjoyed the plot and characters. And I think my childlike self would really have fun reading this series. It was easy to get into the story and it was a light and relaxing read. Two thumbs up.

The only drawback for me was the repetitive explanations. But I guess that could be a trait for this kind of genre for kids.

Overall, it was a good read and I found it very refreshing. All thanks to Meryl Moss Media for reaching out to me and offering an ARC of Kassy O’Roarke’s new book to read.
Profile Image for Chase.
Author 10 books7 followers
December 8, 2019
This is a lovely middle grade book with just the right amount of mystery.

Kassy O'Roarke really wants to earn top prize for her school newspaper. She just needs a story, a really good juicy story. So when Apollo the cougar cub from her family's petting zoo goes missing it seems like she's got her scoop. Now if only she could figure out who had the motivation to "catnap" her cougar....

Aided and perhaps hindered by her pesky brother Percy and trying to stay one step of Animal Control, there is never a dull moment in this book. I know my 8 year old is going to love listening to this one. Told from Kassy's point of view it is super easy to remember what it was like to be 12 and want something really badly.
Profile Image for Amber Eats Books.
909 reviews71 followers
November 21, 2020
This is a wonderfully written book that is very action packed! It was fun to follow Kassy and Crispy as they tried to figure out what happened to their cougar cub, Apollo. I love how some sensitive topics such as divorce were covered in such a great way from Kassy’s perspective. I really enjoyed how the mystery progressed. It reminded me of a younger, modern Nancy Drew mystery. I fell like this would work best for ages 7-10. Overall, I thought this was a great read that would be perfect for any young animal lover or aspiring detective.

Thank you to DartFrog Books for providing me with a copy for review.
Profile Image for Aleta.
96 reviews
July 8, 2021
This book is great! I read it aloud to my 9-year-old niece during a 5-day visit. We read 3 chapters each night, and then the entire 2nd half on my last day. The main character is smart and savvy, and her family members are excellent side characters. The petting zoo backdrop provided great fodder for fun animal-related scenes. The riddles and puns were tons of fun and gave us something to recap with her dad each day. And the writing was just wonderfully modern and silly - a perfect combo. My niece's new catchphrase is "Biscuits & Gravy"! I hope my brother doesn't get too annoyed. Can't wait for my next visit to read #2 in the series.
Profile Image for Mx.Lucey.
349 reviews
December 15, 2021
This book is super cute and fun! Not as predictable as I thought ; like I thought I figured out what happened to the lion cub&I was WAY off then once the characters(and I)figured it out for real shit got changed again!! So many twists and turns!! Loved every second! I laughed&cried&gasped with the characters. I loved the riddles&the alliteration as a writting tool. I loved the relatablity of having divorced parents and a step-sister. Truly a great book to help kids who are going through a lot of changes at home. I HIGHLY recommend.
Profile Image for Rachel P. ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ 「eternal.chapters」.
58 reviews20 followers
November 16, 2019
Thank you to the author, Kelly Oliver, and Booktrib for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3.5/5

Overall, I think it is a really fun, enjoyable and quick read that is perfect for younger audiences who are a fan of mystery. There are many things I enjoyed about this book but I also have some areas in the book which I feel can be improved.

For my full in-depth review, check out my blog post which will be out on 18/11/2019.
Profile Image for Mererid Evanna.
272 reviews5 followers
January 5, 2020
This is a lively family/animal/mild mystery story narrated by 12-year-old Kassy, who is a dogged investigator but somehow manages to miss the wood for the trees. It is all described very vividly. There is a daring chaotic rescue scene and everything turns out okay, although not exactly as Kassy hoped. The family situation is uncomfortable, with divorce having affected all of them, so that was a bit upsetting. The interesting characters make the Pet Detective series worth looking out for.
Profile Image for Kevin.
802 reviews20 followers
January 19, 2020
A cute mystery involving Kassandra (Kassy) O'Roarke and her search for a lion cub missing from the family petting zoo and her quest for an article that will help her win a coveted prize for writing on the school newspaper.

Though I believe the solution to the mystery of the missing cub is fairly obvious early on, the best part of this book is in the relationship between Kassy, her younger brother, her mom, and her friends. I will gladly return for the next book.

Recommended.

I received an ARC from the author; however, all opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Aimee.
257 reviews2 followers
April 24, 2020
I liked the book. I also liked the pictures in the book. I would give this book 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Carolyn Fitzpatrick.
890 reviews33 followers
March 10, 2022
My daughter and I agree that we will not be continuing with this series for our nightly read-alouds. Kassy O'Roarke is an aspiring journalist who needs a major scoop for her school paper so that she can win the local kid journalist competition. Kassy is a bit bizarre in ways that make it difficult to connect with her. She wears an fishing vest overloaded with her spy gear all the time. And she constantly uses made-up swears that are more strange than cute: Catfish and gravy! Holy hot rod! Brussels Sprouts! I skipped over these.

Kassy's nemesis is "Agent Pinkerton Killjoy," his actual name, who is a stereotypical evil dog catcher. He is fat, balding, with bad breath, and is determined to close down the petting zoo that Kassy's veterinarian mom runs. Meanwhile he also keeps trying to get Kassy's mom to date him, because I guess they almost went out in high school and then Kassy's mom married her dad instead? It is a weird plot point on top of the unnecessary vilification of animal control services. The plot centers on a baby cougar cub disappearing from the petting zoo and Kassy racing Agent Killjoy to find it first, because somehow him finding it will give him more power to close down the petting zoo than he already had when Kassy's mom reported the cub missing?

Kassy's parents are divorced, and she keeps expecting her dad to come home even though he is living with his new girlfriend and her daughter. When Kassy's dad left, her mom had a nervous breakdown. Throughout the book Kassy is tied up in knots over this, sure that if anything stresses out her mom she will have another panic attack and have to be hospitalized. Kassy's thoughts are constantly dwelling on how it will be HER FAULT if her mom has a bad reaction to bad news. At no point in the book does anyone tell Kassy that it is not her job to help her mom manage her emotions. At the very very end there is an offhanded comment about "you know the divorce was nobody's fault, right?" but it isn't an actual conversation and they don't mention the mom's mental health at all. Kids reading this book could easily be made to feel like Kassy - that is they make even one mistake it could destroy their parents and it would be all their fault.

The plot was terribly predictable. My daughter was rolling her eyes and yelling at the main character by halfway through. There is also some indications of romance that my daughter didn't appreciate. (Kassy starts off hating a boy at school, but when he helps investigate the cub's disappearance she starts feeling butterflies in her stomach when she looks at him.) My recommendation is to skip this series.
Profile Image for Jessica Fitzpatrick.
835 reviews13 followers
November 14, 2019
Thank you to @booktrib for the ARC of this book. These opinions are of my own. •
@kellyoliverbook wrote the cutest mystery book that integrates family, animals and loyalty all into one book. Kassy is a real girl that all middle school (and upper elementary) girls will relate to. Also, LOVE the cute illustrations throughout the book 😍

Kassy O’Roark is a modern day Nancy Drew. Her mother owns a petting zoo and one of the animals, Apollo, a cute cougar cub, goes missing. Kassy uses her top notch detective skills to find Apollo before animal control does. Kassy is determined to find Apollo before animal control because if animal control finds Apollo first, the petting zoo will be forced to close. Kassy follows different riddles to hopefully find Apollo in a race against time. •
I love Kassy. She, just like me and so many others, is an over thinker. She is so relatable in so many way. Her parents are in the middle of a divorce but throughout the novel, she puts family first and worries about her mom making this a novel a lot of students would be able to relate to. The themes of loyalty and friendship are strong throughout the book making this the perfect middle grade novel.

Overall, I adore this book and can not wait for it to come out on November 19 to purchase it for my students. They are going to love it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 #kassyoroarke #petdetective #middlegrademystery #middlegradebook #igreads #bookreview #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookstagrammer #bookrecommendations
Profile Image for Sunny.
234 reviews4 followers
November 17, 2019
What a fun mystery.

Kassy wants to be a reporter, and she wants to start by covering a scoop for the school newspaper that's so good she'll win an award.

That evening, during her little brother's birthday party, it is discovered that their cougar cub has gone missing. This may be Kassy's best chance for an amazing story, but there are real world consequences. If they cannot find the cub, Apollo, their petting zoo will be shut down.

What follows is a wild investigation filled with riddles that lead Kassy on a wild goose chase and clues that just aren't adding up. Along the way Kassy gets help from her brother; his flatulent ferret, Freddy; Butler, a boy from school; Butler's older brother Oliver; and Rotten Ronnie, the spoiled step-sibling.

Can they find Apollo before Animal Control does and save the petting zoo? Listen to the audiobook to find out.

This is definitely a fun Middle Grade story.
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