J.J., a retired search and rescue dog, has one job and one job only...that's to maintain law and order in the seedy world of the chicken coop! (He especially keeps an eye on those little chicks!) The mystery begins when a shady possum starts to show up around the coop and J.J. fears the chicks are in serious danger. While the mystery continues, Lillian (Diamond Lil), a beautiful dog with an equally beautiful southern accent, moves in next door and offers to help. J.J. starts informing Lil about what is going on, but even with Lil’s help, J.J. is no closer to catching that no good possum. J.J. is determined to solve the mystery, but little does he know, there are bigger problems a brewin’! Will J.J. finally bring the possum to justice? Will the chicks survive? Is Diamond Lil as good a friend as she seems? Do you like books that are unpredictable? If so, pick this one up and you’ll surely enjoy the big twist at the end!I would recommend this book to 3rd graders who love funny mystery books. I would also recommend this book to parents who have kiddos who love to listen to funny chapter books-this book will even make the adults chuckle! Animal & Mystery lovers will also enjoy this read. Kids who like the Buddy Files series by Dori Hillestad Butler would enjoy this book due to the fact that this is another mystery with a dog as the main character. Fans of "Guinea Dog" by Patrick Jennings would probably also pick it up. Fantastic! The second book in the J.J. Tully series by Doreen Cronin lives up to the promise of the first installment (THE TROUBLE WITH CHICKENS)and, in my opinion, goes beyond it! I read this one with my 8 and 9 year old as a bedtime story (like the first one) and we ALL loved it! The somewhat tongue-in-cheek film noir-ish tone of J.J. and the resident villain Vince the Funnel are a blast to read aloud, not to mention the hilariously funny & sweet additions of the 4 chicks and their mother, Moosh.This story introduces Lillian (or, Diamond Lil, as Vince refers to her), a Samoyed who claims to be the next door neighbor's new pet. Inconsistencies in her story and her behavior cause J.J. (the retired search-and-rescue dog of the series title)to be alternately confused and suspicious. Add in a dangerous and elusive possum and you have the makings of a dynamite mystery.This series is perfect for young readers who are ready for more complicated plots and character development. It's a great independent or read-aloud choice for 1st through 3rd graders!
What do You think about Opossum Unter Verdacht (2013)?
Good for boys! Written like an old detective story. Pretty funny, and a quick read.
—vasty
Excellent second book about former search and rescue dog, J.J. Tully.
—Kathy
