The Burglar originates in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. John Mattingly and his wife, Madge, live in a quiet suburban neighborhood. Their home is burglarized, and the only witnesses are the family dog, Max, and the cat, Penny. Ironically, much of the story is told from the pets’ point of view. While the home’s security cameras catch a portion of the burglary, Max has the job of somehow identifying the crook. Look for two bumbling police officers, Peachtree and Gordon, who are comical throughout the adventure. The chase begins in Kentucky and leads authorities to the Smoky Mountains and through the swamps of Central Florida. Lots of questions need to be answered:

Why did the Burglar break into the home in the Queen City? Will they catch him alive? What will happen if he gets away? What will happen to the policewoman who was kidnapped? Through a burglary and a kidnapping, the story displays two strange relationships - one between humans and their pets and the other between a burglar and a police hostage named Mattie. As the authorities chase them, the Burglar and Mattie discover they have common threads–and they are quite surprised at what they discover about themselves.

This short book is a thrilling nail-biter from start to finish! The story is entertaining for kids since it has short chapters and an easy plot. Appropriate for ages 13 and up.

Author's Facebook Page: facebook.com/jeffross99.