The grilled cheese caper
Jason Platt is an experienced illustrator who has written previous graphic novels. His humor and light touch show up in this mystery that includes multiple references to the classics of detective history.
Purrlock, a short yellow cat with a white collar and blue tie, is hungry. Marlowe, his partner, is a tall brown dog with a white belly and a calmer foil in Purrlock’s wilder moments – like when he accuses his arch-nemesis, Meowiearty, of stealing all their food! Their argument is postponed when they set off for the grilled cheese festival, but when it turns out all the grilled cheese has been stolen, it’s time to investigate!
Accompanied by Purrlock’s grumbling stomach, they interview suspects including, at Purrlock’s insistence, the rich and snobbish tiger Meowiearty. Finally, they gather all their suspects together for a dramatic confrontation and the true culprit is revealed! Readers who pay close attention to the clues will be able to solve the mystery alongside the two detectives and maybe they’ll even enjoy ending the story with a tasty grilled cheese sandwich – or at least skimming the homage to classic mysteries Platt includes at the end.
Platt’s cartoon style is distinctive, but not so much that he doesn’t adapt it to each new book. He pairs sharp angles with elongated caricatures of faces and lots of fast-moving action. Purrlock and Marlowe are contrasts not only in personality but also in image, with Purrlock drawn as two round balls and Marlowe a rectangular head on a long, oval body. Marlowe is constantly rolling his eyes and looking exasperated at Purrlock’s hunger-fueled obsession with Meowiearty, who is humorously portrayed as tiger in a luxurious purple suit and monocle (a true sign of evil!). His annoyed sniffs at the pair show that he’s not necessarily a nice feline, but also (probably) not truly a villain – and certainly not the sandwich thief. Purrlock’s revelation of his past sporting career marks him as not the brightest sardine in the can, but he’s definitely enthusiastic, bouncing along at Marlowe’s side and always ready with new ideas, whether it’s about suspects or what to have for dinner.
Platt has a knack of creating titles that fit perfectly into the “if you liked that popular series, you’ll like this” mold with his previous series, Middle School Misadventures being a great read-alike for Diary of a Wimpy Kid and this latest series a great choice for Investigators fans. There are, unfortunately, very few characters coded as female, which is disappointing – there are at least a few female sleuths in the classic detective genre. On the positive side, there’s a subtle message about not making assumptions and thinking critically. Overall, this is a light, funny read that elementary age readers will enjoy.
Paw & Order Vol. 1: The Grilled Cheese Caper
By Jason Platt
NBM Papercutz, 2025
ISBN: 9781545819944
Company Age Rating: Ages 6-10
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11)
