lastblossom reviewed Canine Detective Chris, Vol. 1 by Stephen Paul (Canine Detective Chris, #1)
A fun middle grade (or younger?) mystery that will appeal to fans of very cute dogs.
Me in my last review: "I don't really care for light novels." Me today: "I'm going to read this light novel." I've already mentioned that light novels don't usually do it for me because I like major plot points to happen sooner, and light novels tend to take a little more time for setup. This is also the case with Canine Detective Chris, but it didn't really bother me this time around. The opening mystery has just enough intrigue and danger to keep the stakes high, and I enjoyed getting to know the cast throughout. Hinata is an incredibly likable protagonist, smart, earnest, and hard-working, with enough childlike wonder to feel like a genuine kid. His friend Mayuka is a ball of energy who propels the story forward where Hinata might be hesitant. Together, they work as a great pair. But of course it's Chris the shiba inu who makes …
Me in my last review: "I don't really care for light novels." Me today: "I'm going to read this light novel." I've already mentioned that light novels don't usually do it for me because I like major plot points to happen sooner, and light novels tend to take a little more time for setup. This is also the case with Canine Detective Chris, but it didn't really bother me this time around. The opening mystery has just enough intrigue and danger to keep the stakes high, and I enjoyed getting to know the cast throughout. Hinata is an incredibly likable protagonist, smart, earnest, and hard-working, with enough childlike wonder to feel like a genuine kid. His friend Mayuka is a ball of energy who propels the story forward where Hinata might be hesitant. Together, they work as a great pair. But of course it's Chris the shiba inu who makes the story sparkle. He's cute, sympathetic, and looks absolutely adorable in every one of the illustrations scattered throughout. Dog fans will be very pleased by this.
Translation is very straightforward with few flourishes, at a reading level somewhere between chapter books and middle grade. Kids who love mysteries, dogs, and adventure will probably find a lot to like.
Thanks to NetGalley and Yen Press for an advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!