Gr 2--4--In this latest installment in the series set in ancient Egypt, lovably spoiled Pharaoh's cat Ra is once again persuaded to solve a whodunit with pals Khepri the scarab and common cat Miu. Ra is visiting the village of Set Ma'at so artisans can work on his extravagant tomb. Then a robbery is discovered nearby. Turmoil intensifies when Ra's chaperone, a shifty vizier, sends a look-alike back to the Pharaoh's palace in Ra's place. The large print, simple sentence structure, and fun, stylized illustrations suggest that this is the type of early middle grade book most often read by second and third graders. However, the authentic ancient Egyptian nomenclature and complex character relationships will make this a challenging read for the target audience. This book would be best enjoyed either with considerable adult guidance or by seven- to nine-year-olds with advanced decoding skills and an interest in the historical setting. This could be a great classroom read-aloud to supplement a related unit. VERDICT A charming and intellectually stimulating piece of anthropomorphic historical fiction, which may struggle to find its reader in the typical member of its target age group.--Mallory Weber, Convent of the Sacred Heart, NY

The Pharaoh's pampered cat loves his snacks, his naps, and many other royal privileges.Ra the Mighty is also lazy, vain, and entirely self-centered. He once solved a mystery and is exceedingly proud to have done so, considering himself a Great Detective (Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective, 2018). But he has no burning desire to become involved in a case now, especially if it would interfere with those naps and snacks. But a Great Mystery is thrust upon him when he travels to Thebes to be measured for his place in Pharaoh's planned tomb. The tomb of Pharaoh's ancestorand of Ra's own forebearhas been robbed. Reluctantly, Ra and his more-eager cohorts, Miu the kitchen cat and Khepri the scarab beetle, narrow their list of suspects and discover clues amid daring deeds and dastardly betrayals. To add insult to injury, Ra is mistaken for an ordinary cat when the evil Vizier sends a substitute to Pharaoh, and he must make do with ordinary food and a great deal of dirt and discomfort, complaining all the way. Of course innocents are saved, guilty ones are punished, and the Great Detectives triumph. Greenfield keeps the action fast-paced, seamlessly weaving in much information about ancient Egypt, and the interactions among the distinctive and delightful characters are hilarious. Horne's elongated and exaggerated black-and-white illustrations add to the fun.May Ra the Mighty (and friends) solve many more ancient mysteries. (glossary of names, note, author's note) (Historical fantasy/mystery. 7-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Spoiled, snack-obsessed feline Ra returns to solve another mystery at the behest of his steadfast companion Khepri (a scarab) and cat friend Miu. The trio successfully thwarted a jewel thief in Ra the Mighty: Cat Detective (2018), and while Khepri and Miu are eager to dig up a new case, Ra would rather indulge in his pampered life as Pharaoh's cat. Yet, things get personal when tomb robbers in the Valley of the Kings take the gold sarcophagus of one of Ra's royal relatives, along with the chamber's cache of valuables. Already on site having his portrait painted for his own tomb, Ra agrees to look for the perpetrator and goes undercover when an impostor cat returns to Pharaoh's palace in his stead. As usual, Ra's investigations are governed by his gut, both in terms of food and feeling, and it's Khepri's measured logic that leads them to balance their suspicions with proof. Engaging and funny, this comically illustrated mystery mixes ancient Egyptian history with clues and twists to create a satisfying whodunit.--Julia Smith Copyright 2019 Booklist