Ramon Fellini the Cat Dog Detective
Author: Guilherme Karsten
Illustrator: Guilherme Karsten
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
11 February 2025
44 pages
Ryan’s Review of the Writing
A quiet night. A sudden crash. A beloved pet fish lying helpless outside its shattered bowl. Who’s responsible for this crime? Enter Ramon Fellini, self-proclaimed dog detective—who, let’s be honest, looks an awful lot like a cat. But he insists he’s a “Master of Disguise,” and with his impeccable costume (his words), he’s on the case.
From the jump, Karsten sets up a wonderfully absurd premise: a detective who’s clearly not what he claims to be, conducting an investigation that makes less and less sense the longer it goes on. The narrator—a well-meaning but gullible child—takes everything Fellini says at face value, while readers can see the truth hiding in plain sight. That contrast between what’s said and what’s actually happening is where the humor really shines.
The dialogue is quick and punchy, giving Fellini the dramatic flair of a hardboiled detective…if that detective was deeply self-serving and hilariously bad at his job. His interrogation technique? Mostly asking whether there are any other fish in the house. His crime scene investigation? A lot of suspicious sniffing. His big revelation? Well, let’s just say it’s not one the narrator sees coming, even if the rest of us do.
Karsten’s text is simple but sharp, relying on repetition, wordplay, and well-timed reveals to land the jokes. Younger kids will enjoy the silliness of Fellini’s disguise and antics, while older readers will catch the slyer humor—the way he keeps almost admitting his guilt, the ridiculousness of his “expert” detective work, and the deadpan way the narrator takes it all in. It’s a book that rewards close attention, since so much of the story is in what’s not being said.
The ending? Let’s just say it’s darkly funny in the best way. The narrator still believes Fellini is a top-notch detective, while everyone else (including the reader) knows better. It’s a satisfying, if slightly twisted, conclusion to a mystery that was never really a mystery at all.
If you’re a fan of Jon Klassen’s Hat books—where characters insist on their own version of events despite evidence to the contrary—this one might hit the same sweet spot.
If there’s one small place where the book doesn’t quite stick the landing, it’s that the story leans more on humor than tension. While kids will love spotting Fellini’s obvious deception, the “mystery” itself is played for laughs rather than building any real suspense. A touch more intrigue before the big reveal could have made the payoff even sharper.
Ramon Fellini the Dog Detective is an offbeat take on the detective genre, perfect for young readers who enjoy a bit of irony and a lot of laughs. It’s the kind of book where kids will shout “Wait a minute!” long before the narrator catches on, and that’s exactly what makes it fun.
4.25 out of 5 trench coats 🕵️🕵️🕵️🕵️
Bonnie’s Review of the Illustrations
Guilherme Karsten’s illustrations in film noir style is just enough to evoke mystery and drama without being utterly terrifying for young readers.
**Spoiler alert: this is a story about a murderer who cleverly covers his tracks with some smooth talking.**
The cover art introduces long shadows, which are used throughout to build tension and direct your eye toward particular clues. I especially enjoy the use of patterns throughout which bring texture and quirkiness to the scenes. The spread featuring Ramon’s adorable evidence board is a good example of how shadows can bring depth to an otherwise flat (2‑D) illustration style. The limited color palette works well, incorporating enough darkness to set the mood, but leaving a few pops of color to exaggerate clues and the sweet naïveté of the child character.
One criticism of the art is that there are two onomatopoeia pieces of type in the beginning and I would have liked to see more consistency in the type treatment there. Also, there isn’t any more of this throughout the book and I think the story could have benefited from a few more sounds called out. Perhaps a “slurp” as Ramon licks the pitcher containing our goldfish victim, or a “rattle, rattle” as Ramon peers through the horizontal blinds.
Ramon’s gestures throughout are perfectly composed, emphasizing his confidence and mischievous personality. The goldfish is also quite expressive, and I am grateful that we were spared seeing his ultimate demise. The excitement of the neighborhood cats was just enough to confirm the goldfish’s fate. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book and think it would be a fun read for a less sensitive child.
4.75 out of 5 cat whiskers 🐱🐱🐱🐱
Bonnie Kelso has always been a fan of dogs, cats and fish. Her upcoming release Dexter the Stand-Up Dog is available for pre-order now. It is the inspiring true story of the internet celebrity canine who taught himself how to walk upright after losing a leg in an accident. Co-written by Kentee Pasek, Dexter’s owner, you can see the real Dexter on Instagram @DexterDogOuray.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Bonnie’s past experience in art spans a spectrum, from abstract painting on canvas to museum-quality exhibit design. She has worked with clients such as the Smithsonian, National Geographic, and NASA.
She lives in Las Vegas with her partner, two sons, a Boston Terrier, and an unruly cat. To learn more about Bonnie’s work, please visit www.BonnieKelso.com.
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