DONNY, MARY GRACE AND THE DOGNAPPERS
From the A Grandma Gang Mystery series, volume 2
by Stephen PepeCatherine Anna Pepe
Two young siblings, their grandmother, and her pals put their heads together to track down pet kidnappers in Pepe’s middle-grade series mystery.
Fifth grader Mary Grace and her little brother, Donny, who has Down syndrome, live on a ranch with their doting grandparents while their parents are away. They love coming home each day to the happy greetings of cockapoo Krug and collie puppy Kansas. So it’s an understandable shock when a quick trip to the grocery store ends with the dogs going missing. Grandma Cathy spots a coat hanger near her car, suggesting that someone broke into the vehicle and took Krug and Kansas away. As it turns out, there have been several reports of “dognappings” in the area. Later, she a receives a call in during which the abductors promise to let the pooches go if they receive a ransom of $200. However, clever Mary Grace is determined to unmask the culprits. She gathers clues with Donny and the Grandma Gang, which consists of Cathy and her two longtime friends La Shana Jackson and Elizabeth Blythe, who’ve previously helped the Santa Barbara County sheriff’s office close cases. They all comb the scene of the dognapping, talk to several possible witnesses, and check out such local spots as the animal shelter. They also meet kindhearted, accommodating folk along the way who join them in unraveling the mystery. The gang’s cop pal, Deputy Juan, has too heavy of a workload to lend assistance, so it’s up to the amateur detectives to get Krug, Kansas, and other kidnapped dogs home safely.
Pepe’s short novel is consistently pleasant and good-natured in tone. Donny, for example, displays a cheeriness that’s infectious; he often hugs people, even those he’s just met, and he has no doubt whatsoever that they’ll all reunite with their four-legged family members. Although the Grandma Gang and other characters do their parts, Mary Grace proves herself a true bloodhound, sniffing out potential evidence, considering the dognappers’ possible motives beyond cash and the logistics of feeding and caring for abducted pets. The author painstakingly details new and returning characters without slowing down the brisk narrative. Standouts among the players include Papa Steve, who shares his grandson Donny’s bright outlook, and Elizabeth of the Grandma Gang, who teaches and practices karate. Even the dogs have notably contrasting personalities; fiercely loyal Krug is much older than Kansas, who enthusiastically greets people with dog kisses.The mystery will certainly appeal to young readers; there’s no question as to how Mary Grace reaches each deduction or how she digs up clues, including particulars on the dognappers and the vehicle they’re driving. However, the investigation make this a diverting whodunit for readers of all ages. This lighthearted story is consistently encouraging; Cathy and her fellow adults never fail to compliment Mary Grace and Donny for their contributions and ideas. There’s also a general acceptance that the people snatching the dogs are treating them as any good dog lover would.A clever, endearing cast headlines this pleasantly modest, entertaining detective story.