The Secret Life of Pets meets Spy School as furry friends come out of retirement to do some secret spy work sure to inspire “chuckles aplenty” (Kirkus Reviews) in this hilarious companion to The Great Pet Heist and The Great Ghost Hoax.

Big plans are afoot! Butterbean is going to become a therapist (unless maybe she means a therapy dog?). The white cat is going to do a commercial for caviar-flavored pet treats. And Wallace is moving into a great new apartment. But these plans don’t include a group of rowdy raccoons taking over the loading dock and throwing the building into turmoil.

Now residents from the whole building are coming to the Strathmore Seven for help—from Second Floor Biscuit, a Yorkie with an unfortunate haircut who faces eviction for barking at the intruders, to the loading dock rats, who are feeling intimidated and upset. And even worse, Madison gets blamed for the vandalism! It’s up to Butterbean and the rest of the pets to stop the raccoons and restore their friend’s reputation—before it’s too late.

About The Author

Photograph by Sonya Sones

Emily Ecton

Emily Ecton is the author of The Great Pet Heist series as well as a number of middle grade books published under the names Emily Ecton and Emily Fairlie. She is also a former writer and producer for Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, the Peabody Award–winning comedy news quiz on NPR. She lives in Virginia, with Howdy, a dog who dreams of someday going to a supermarket. Visit her at EmilyEcton.com.

About The Illustrator

David Mottram

Dave Mottram is an illustrator living in Ohio who worked as a graphic designer for many years, which led him to pursue his passion for illustration. He paints traditionally and digitally with color and layers and line. He loves tacos, animals, tikis, and nerding out over art supplies. Visit him at DaveMottram.com.

Product Details

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (April 11, 2023)
Length: 240 pages
ISBN13: 9781665919074
Ages: 8 - 12
Lexile ® 510L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

Raves and Reviews

“A series of break-ins gives the Strathmore apartment building’s animal detectives an exciting new mystery to solve. . . The nonstop action and droll exchanges offer chuckles aplenty on the way to a tidy resolution made all the more satisfactory by a hilarious viral video and a well-deserved comedown for nasty nemesis Mrs. Hates Dogs on Six. Mottram’s rich, if rare, spots and vignettes feature creatures as aglow with character as the racially diverse human cast. Another wild caper for this winning animal ensemble.”

– Kirkus Reviews