WILLIAM HEADS TO HOLLYWOOD

A dapper dandy of the feline variety solves a crime in the land of the stars.

Things have been altogether too easy for William, international cat of mystery, since he recovered that stolen French painting in his last adventure (William and the Missing Masterpiece, 2015). Little wonder that when he receives word that the statues for the Golden Cuckoo Awards have been stolen, he hops on the next plane bound for Hollywood. There he joins the lovely Audrey Mieowski and sets about solving the case. All the glitz and glamour of a bygone era come to the fore as William and his new friend track down clues and ultimately collar the jealous criminal behind it all. Hancocks’ signature style of pencil and gouache is at its best when rendering the golden age of the City of Angels, with its roadsters, kick lines, and elegant soirees. Kids will enjoy the easy mystery, though for all the visual pleasures, there are decidedly fewer in-jokes for adults to enjoy here than there were in William’s last caper.

The cat’s out of the bag, and it’s no mystery that plenty of readers will enjoy this book.