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The Kitten Files #1
The Case of the Tabloid Tattler
"I'm Mia.
I know how to write.
Why's that a big deal?
Because... I'm a cat."
Someone is telling the tabloids about Ms. Thornblood's every move. Is it the housekeeper? the cook? the maid? the handyman? The detective hired to solve the case isn't sure. Things are looking pretty hopeless until Mia, his talented cat, offers to spend a week at Ms. Thornblood's as a spy.
With time running out, and an embarrassing secret about to be revealed, will Mia be able to save the day—and solve her first case?
I know how to write.
Why's that a big deal?
Because... I'm a cat."
Someone is telling the tabloids about Ms. Thornblood's every move. Is it the housekeeper? the cook? the maid? the handyman? The detective hired to solve the case isn't sure. Things are looking pretty hopeless until Mia, his talented cat, offers to spend a week at Ms. Thornblood's as a spy.
With time running out, and an embarrassing secret about to be revealed, will Mia be able to save the day—and solve her first case?
76 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick
30books197followersPerry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick lives in an undisclosed location outside of Phoenix where she and her husband chase their four little boys and an escape-artist dog. They don't chase their cats, however, because cats hate that. She is the author of "The Kitten Files" mysteries, "The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott" spy series, and multiple short stories.
In addition to her writing, Perry enjoys graphic design, playing a number of musical instruments, and watching movies that make her laugh.
Find her books, newsletter, and free stories at .
Perry's fantastical alter-ego is Denver Evans, author of the Shallows trilogy.
In addition to her writing, Perry enjoys graphic design, playing a number of musical instruments, and watching movies that make her laugh.
Find her books, newsletter, and free stories at .
Perry's fantastical alter-ego is Denver Evans, author of the Shallows trilogy.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 50 reviews
February 20, 2017
This book was so adorable! It is from the perspective of Mia, cat turned detective's assistant. I am not an animal person, and I am not really fond of books written from an animal's perspective, but this was BEYOND adorable! I loved it so much! It is written for middle graders, but I still found it enjoyable. It was too short for me, and I finished it in a half hour. Still, it was worth the $.99 kindle purchase. Definitely check this out! Read it aloud to your kids!
October 21, 2018
Wow! A story written by a cat...literally? As a general rule I don't like stories about animals, I especially don't like stories supposedly told from the animal's POV, and I definitely don't like stories where said animal can speak (or, in this case, write) like humans. But this book proved to be the exception I never expected to find! It was not only hilariously funny, but gave a deep and, I should think, accurate insight on what a cat would do and say and think if she was trying to solve a mystery for her owner. I could easily imagine her strolling about the house, curling up in a chair somewhere and pretending to go to sleep, while all the time keeping her ears wide oped for anything that might give her a clue! I loved it! A really great children's story! I can't believe I'm saying this about an animal story, but I would really like to read more of the Kitten Files series!
December 30, 2024
Nrtc
4 stars. Oh my word. . . this little book is so clever. I enjoyed every single chapter. Mia was just so funny, especially with her sarcasm—the whole cat-POV was awesome. The mystery was well-done, even if it was very short. Definitely 100% recommended well-written mystery. (Oh, and be sure to read the author’s bio! *wink, wink*).
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Keith set me in a cardboard box and put it in the back seat of his car. I’d never been in a car before, but I knew cats were supposed to hate riding in them.
“So I did.
“It wasn’t that hard, really.�
4 stars. Oh my word. . . this little book is so clever. I enjoyed every single chapter. Mia was just so funny, especially with her sarcasm—the whole cat-POV was awesome. The mystery was well-done, even if it was very short. Definitely 100% recommended well-written mystery. (Oh, and be sure to read the author’s bio! *wink, wink*).
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “Keith set me in a cardboard box and put it in the back seat of his car. I’d never been in a car before, but I knew cats were supposed to hate riding in them.
“So I did.
“It wasn’t that hard, really.�
August 3, 2018
Oh, this was super cute!
Somehow even after reading the description, I somehow missed the fact that this book was about a cat who can actually write--as in, not just tell her story, but actually communicate with humans. That threw me a bit at first, but throw in a bit of generic lab-experiment-on-animal-intelligence backstory, and I sat back to enjoy the ride.
And what a fun ride! Mia's actions and reactions were so realistically cat-like, even when she was working her hardest at investigating, that I grinned through the whole book. Just as good were her opinions on some of the things the humans around her did! The mystery was light and fun, which is just my speed. I'll definitely want to continue this series.
4.5 stars
Somehow even after reading the description, I somehow missed the fact that this book was about a cat who can actually write--as in, not just tell her story, but actually communicate with humans. That threw me a bit at first, but throw in a bit of generic lab-experiment-on-animal-intelligence backstory, and I sat back to enjoy the ride.
And what a fun ride! Mia's actions and reactions were so realistically cat-like, even when she was working her hardest at investigating, that I grinned through the whole book. Just as good were her opinions on some of the things the humans around her did! The mystery was light and fun, which is just my speed. I'll definitely want to continue this series.
4.5 stars
September 7, 2019
“A brilliant tale that can be enjoyed by young and old alike.�
I was asked if I could read a story by Perry to check for any errors missed in the editing process. I agreed and thought it would be a sweet little story. I was not expecting to love it so much.
True, this book may be written for a younger audience than me (I am 23) but it is such a clever, well told tale that I am sure both young and old will enjoy it. I laughed my way through the story at the humor and sheer brilliance of this story. Did I mention I thought it was brilliant? Well it was.
I really felt as if I was reading something a cat wrote. The tone, the actions, everything about it felt very cat like. Our family has two cats and I could imagine them easily thinking and writing like this. The personality was so perfect.
They mystery was surprisingly well done for a short children’s story. It was clean and not scary in the least. It had some twists, turns and a conclusion that was…brilliant.
I highly recommend this story for all ages for who enjoy humor, clean fiction, and need a well written short story.
I was asked if I could read a story by Perry to check for any errors missed in the editing process. I agreed and thought it would be a sweet little story. I was not expecting to love it so much.
True, this book may be written for a younger audience than me (I am 23) but it is such a clever, well told tale that I am sure both young and old will enjoy it. I laughed my way through the story at the humor and sheer brilliance of this story. Did I mention I thought it was brilliant? Well it was.
I really felt as if I was reading something a cat wrote. The tone, the actions, everything about it felt very cat like. Our family has two cats and I could imagine them easily thinking and writing like this. The personality was so perfect.
They mystery was surprisingly well done for a short children’s story. It was clean and not scary in the least. It had some twists, turns and a conclusion that was…brilliant.
I highly recommend this story for all ages for who enjoy humor, clean fiction, and need a well written short story.
July 27, 2023
Short and fun
I also recommend by this author:
I'm almost a month late in finally reviewing this so my thoughts are not fresh, and this will unfortunately be on the short side.
I read this while I was trying to come out of a reading slump, and it helped. I thoroughly enjoyed solving the mystery through Mia's POV. It was an all-around good time and a relaxing read. I will absolutely continue the series and I recommend it if you enjoy cozy mysteries and talented cats.
I also recommend by this author:
I'm almost a month late in finally reviewing this so my thoughts are not fresh, and this will unfortunately be on the short side.
I read this while I was trying to come out of a reading slump, and it helped. I thoroughly enjoyed solving the mystery through Mia's POV. It was an all-around good time and a relaxing read. I will absolutely continue the series and I recommend it if you enjoy cozy mysteries and talented cats.
May 15, 2017
As personal challenge, I have decided that the majority of the books I read in 2017 are either ones recommended to me by my friends, or books my friends have rate 5 stars.
‘The Case of the Tabloid Tattler� was given a 5 star rating by my friends, Kate Willis, Paul Willis, Sarah Grace and Jason McIntire - so I decided to check it out.
There have been so many books written on this subject, but Elizabeth Perry stands out from the crowd with her fresh and humorous writing. This book was engaging, funny and utterly charming. I’m not sure I will ever look at a cat the same way again. A wonderful and adorable read!
‘The Case of the Tabloid Tattler� was given a 5 star rating by my friends, Kate Willis, Paul Willis, Sarah Grace and Jason McIntire - so I decided to check it out.
There have been so many books written on this subject, but Elizabeth Perry stands out from the crowd with her fresh and humorous writing. This book was engaging, funny and utterly charming. I’m not sure I will ever look at a cat the same way again. A wonderful and adorable read!
December 10, 2018
This book was so fun!! I will definitely read the second one soon! ;)
Mia was hilarious! I loved the whole 'Kitten' thing. XD
4.5 stars! :D
Mia was hilarious! I loved the whole 'Kitten' thing. XD
4.5 stars! :D
November 8, 2021
THAT FIRST CHAPTER!! Keith's reaction, guys! 😂 I was laughing so hard! Glad Keith has a "spy" to help him solve his cases now. (And btw, he's way better at naming cats than I am...) Ms. Thornblood was nice. (Though her surname is admittedly a bit... um, odd?) Her first name, though, - Claire! You can imagine how delighted I was! And Mia is such a clever kitten. (Oops! Excuse me, Mia! I didn't mean it that way. Lol!)
Basically this book was absolutely delightful to read, and I'm super looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Basically this book was absolutely delightful to read, and I'm super looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
December 12, 2019
Okay, it took me a really long time to actually read this. I'm just not a cat person and I wasn't sure about an entire book being about an impersonated animal.
But I enjoyed the author's other series (The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott) so much and it promised to be a short light-hearted read, so I finally gave it a try after seeing all the praising reviews.
Thankfully, it was was it needed at the time. It was fun and easy to focus on for my tired, sick brain. Seeing all the human interactions from a cat's perspective put a nice spin on things and I feel like I would have laughed if I knew cats better... I'm just not that familiar with them. :)
But I enjoyed the author's other series (The Accidental Cases of Emily Abbott) so much and it promised to be a short light-hearted read, so I finally gave it a try after seeing all the praising reviews.
Thankfully, it was was it needed at the time. It was fun and easy to focus on for my tired, sick brain. Seeing all the human interactions from a cat's perspective put a nice spin on things and I feel like I would have laughed if I knew cats better... I'm just not that familiar with them. :)
February 1, 2016
I just read this again on a night when I was too tired for anything supremely profound. It's pretty much what it says on the tin: A cute, short story about a cat that can write. You kind of have to know something about cats to really appreciate it, but even as a non-cat-owner, I felt like I had enough background to get the jokes. Kirkpatrick is a clever writer as well as a great editor and cover designer. Now if only The Case Of The Missing Hero would go on sale....
January 13, 2018
Adored this! Review to come...
August 7, 2018
This story was AWESOME!!!! I loved how Mia was a different twist on a talking animal. She could write instead of talk. That was so awesome! The myserty was interesting, funny, and exciting! Mia was the perfect POV. I want to see more of her!! <3333
February 28, 2020
Super cute book! Mia, a cat, is the narrator, but don’t worry � it’s not an animal story. Mia makes the best observations. Here is an example: “Then he pinched his own arm. Ouch. Not sure what that was supposed to mean.� 😊
This is actually a book for children, but it can totally be enjoyed by anyone!
5 starts from 5
This is actually a book for children, but it can totally be enjoyed by anyone!
5 starts from 5
September 18, 2023
This is an extremely funny book with adorable main character. I loved Mia, who could have been my cat, if my cat could write. =D I can't wait to buy my own copy of this!
2022: This is an adorable story. Definitely would be a good read-aloud to younger kids.
2022: This is an adorable story. Definitely would be a good read-aloud to younger kids.
January 27, 2018
This was a clever mystery. Just an adorable cat that picks her owner who happens to be a private detective.They team up to solve the problem of someone leaking gossip to the tabloids. Very enjoyable. There are more to come. What fun!
July 31, 2022
This was a short, cute book (I read it in just two short sittings). A talking (through writing) cat was just ever so much fun! And that cat attitude that Mia had! I loved it! This is definitely one I'd like to read to my younger siblings and can easily see them loving!
October 20, 2014
Short and sweet mystery. Love the writer's voice - a cat who can write, retelling her first adventure, helping her detective owner, Keith, solve a mystery for one of his clients.
March 2, 2017
I needed something cute and lite to read this evening so I re-read this. It's so cute, it never fails to make me laugh.
December 6, 2019
Ah, this was great!
I love deep mysteries usually, but this was a really fun cute spy story!
This is the story of a very smart cat (I believe she is still a kitten) who goes to spy for her detective owner in a large house where one of the hired help is finding out Miss Thornblood's secrets and spilling them to the newspapers.
Mia does a beautiful job for being a cat, and the culprit is caught at the end because of her!
I hope to read the next book in the Kitten Files soon.😍😄
I love deep mysteries usually, but this was a really fun cute spy story!
This is the story of a very smart cat (I believe she is still a kitten) who goes to spy for her detective owner in a large house where one of the hired help is finding out Miss Thornblood's secrets and spilling them to the newspapers.
Mia does a beautiful job for being a cat, and the culprit is caught at the end because of her!
I hope to read the next book in the Kitten Files soon.😍😄
June 11, 2014
Keith was rambling again. And his theory was so boring a mere yawn couldn’t express my feelings well enough. I was getting up to go hide under the bed when he said, “I just don’t know, Kitten. What do you think, huh?�
It was that silly way he’d been talking to me ever since I’d shown up on his doorstep three weeks ago. He’d been telling me every detail of every case, every hunch he had, not actually expecting me to reply. “He’s lucky I’m not a spy,� I told myself, “or from the press!�
Spy. Now there was a good idea.
Keith is a detective with a problem. He is supposed to be finding the person on Ms. Thornblood’s staff who is leaking information to the tabloids. Nothing he has tried has worked. Then, to his shock and surprise, his new cat comes up with an idea. And writes down the idea!
Recommended Reading Age:
The Case of the Tabloid Tattler is perfect for anyone ages 8 and up. Most kids under 8 would probably be bored and not understand most of it or I would say it is perfect for all ages.
The Writing
This book is very well written and well worth the 30-60 minutes it takes to read. The characters are quirky, believable, and you either love ‘em or you don’t like ‘em at all. Or you feel sorry for them. It depends on the character, obviously.
Overview
Overall, there is nothing in The Case of the Tabloid Tattler that I had an issue with. There were a few typos, but since I was reading an advanced copy that hadn’t been through a final edit, that was to be expected. I highly recommend this book to anybody who enjoys mysteries, cats, detectives, or reading.
It was that silly way he’d been talking to me ever since I’d shown up on his doorstep three weeks ago. He’d been telling me every detail of every case, every hunch he had, not actually expecting me to reply. “He’s lucky I’m not a spy,� I told myself, “or from the press!�
Spy. Now there was a good idea.
Keith is a detective with a problem. He is supposed to be finding the person on Ms. Thornblood’s staff who is leaking information to the tabloids. Nothing he has tried has worked. Then, to his shock and surprise, his new cat comes up with an idea. And writes down the idea!
Recommended Reading Age:
The Case of the Tabloid Tattler is perfect for anyone ages 8 and up. Most kids under 8 would probably be bored and not understand most of it or I would say it is perfect for all ages.
The Writing
This book is very well written and well worth the 30-60 minutes it takes to read. The characters are quirky, believable, and you either love ‘em or you don’t like ‘em at all. Or you feel sorry for them. It depends on the character, obviously.
Overview
Overall, there is nothing in The Case of the Tabloid Tattler that I had an issue with. There were a few typos, but since I was reading an advanced copy that hadn’t been through a final edit, that was to be expected. I highly recommend this book to anybody who enjoys mysteries, cats, detectives, or reading.
January 13, 2018
I just knew I was going to like this when I marked it to-read! And I did! It was so good!!
The whole cat-writing-thing just cracked me up!!!! Ridiculous, but hilarious! ;)
I didn't figure out who the culprit was until the end, but I was suspicious of everyone ... just like Mia!
Anyway, I loved it! Can't wait to be able to read the second book maybe soon! :)
Side note: This is the tenth book I've read this year, so an extra star for that!
The whole cat-writing-thing just cracked me up!!!! Ridiculous, but hilarious! ;)
I didn't figure out who the culprit was until the end, but I was suspicious of everyone ... just like Mia!
Anyway, I loved it! Can't wait to be able to read the second book maybe soon! :)
Side note: This is the tenth book I've read this year, so an extra star for that!
January 17, 2022
A mystery seen through the eyes of a cat! It’s such a clever idea and honestly so hilarious! Mia’s narration and POV are witty and humorous, and her relation to Keith is adorable. An easy read and targeted towards younger readers, but I don’t mind admitting that as an adult, I loved it. :)
May 26, 2020
So, um, I was super unsure about beginning this series. I mean seriously, books about an escaped lab cat who can both read AND write? I'm not an animal person, and I'm DEFINITELY not someone who likes to see animals talk, think, and act like real people.
Yet, this book pleasantly surprised me. Like all the other stories I've read by Mrs. Kirkpatrick, I was captured from the first line and enthralled all the way through to the conclusion. I love the author's writing style, the humor she includes in her works, and, of course, the clean, wholesome reading material she provides.
"The Case of the Tabloid Tattler" was soooo funny and sweet, perfect for readers of any age! I look forward to reading more "Kitten Files" books!
Yet, this book pleasantly surprised me. Like all the other stories I've read by Mrs. Kirkpatrick, I was captured from the first line and enthralled all the way through to the conclusion. I love the author's writing style, the humor she includes in her works, and, of course, the clean, wholesome reading material she provides.
"The Case of the Tabloid Tattler" was soooo funny and sweet, perfect for readers of any age! I look forward to reading more "Kitten Files" books!
June 7, 2015
Kitten has a startling secret and an important request. She knows how to write and would like a real name to replace 'Kitten.' Keith, the detective who took her in, takes an understandable several minutes to accept this dumbfounding fact about his adopted cat. After he recovers, he dubs her Mia. Soon, Mia has made herself a member of Keith's detective team, assigning herself the roll of undercover spy. Someone is leaking private information to tabloids. It's either the housekeeper, cook, maid, or maintenance man. Mia has her suspicious, but she doesn't have long to prove them.
This is an adorable book for young readers who enjoy series like The Boxcar Children and The Pony Pals.
This is an adorable book for young readers who enjoy series like The Boxcar Children and The Pony Pals.
January 27, 2019
3 Stars
Mia was forced to become a lab rat. (okay, a lab cat) The scientists were experimenting on how to create smarter animals. After Mia's escape she watch's Keith's house to see if he could be trust worthy. After staying with him for awhile, and discovering he's a detective, Mia decides to let him know about her extraordinary ability.
This isn't an in-depth "who done it", but it's definitely a cute, sweet, snack of a story. No sex and no colorful language.
Mia was forced to become a lab rat. (okay, a lab cat) The scientists were experimenting on how to create smarter animals. After Mia's escape she watch's Keith's house to see if he could be trust worthy. After staying with him for awhile, and discovering he's a detective, Mia decides to let him know about her extraordinary ability.
This isn't an in-depth "who done it", but it's definitely a cute, sweet, snack of a story. No sex and no colorful language.
March 23, 2015
This is a purrfect, original story about a detective named Keith and a very special cat who adopts him and becomes his assistant. A must-read for anyone (not just children) who loves a good mystery, cats, and writers. *wink*
I can't wait to read the next story!
I can't wait to read the next story!
July 14, 2021
Ms. Thornblood hires a detective, Keith, to find out who's been sharing her business with the tabloids. To help solve the case, Keith agrees to let his new housemate, Mia, spy for him. It just so happens that Mia is Keith's cat—a cat that can read and write in The Case of the Tabloid Tattler by author Perry Elisabeth Kirkpatrick.
I was pleased to make the acquaintance of this literate feline in the prequel to The Kitten Files series, and now I've enjoyed Mia's voice again in Book One. She's so blunt and no-nonsense that it's pretty hilarious at times. But even with the special ability scientists have given her, Mia hasn't become too people-y. She's interesting because she's still very much a cat, using what she's got to spy on a batch of suspects.
While this is technically a children's mystery, a general audience can find this clever read quite entertaining. And with my being a dog person, it's no small matter for me to say I'm a fan of Mia. Keith and Ms. Thornblood are pretty tops too!
I'm looking forward to checking out Mia's next case.
I was pleased to make the acquaintance of this literate feline in the prequel to The Kitten Files series, and now I've enjoyed Mia's voice again in Book One. She's so blunt and no-nonsense that it's pretty hilarious at times. But even with the special ability scientists have given her, Mia hasn't become too people-y. She's interesting because she's still very much a cat, using what she's got to spy on a batch of suspects.
While this is technically a children's mystery, a general audience can find this clever read quite entertaining. And with my being a dog person, it's no small matter for me to say I'm a fan of Mia. Keith and Ms. Thornblood are pretty tops too!
I'm looking forward to checking out Mia's next case.
June 2, 2024
Hilarious concept. Super clean, great for older kids.
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