My thanks to BooksGoSocial for a review copy of this book via NetGalley.

Last year I had read and absolutely loved the delightful Diary of a Buddhist Cat (2021). Freddie (who also narrates the story) is a three-year-old black and white tom who’s adopted by humans John and Mary. He is a friendly, sweet fellow who also happens to be a Buddhist, having read a book on Buddhism at the home of his first owner (yes, he can read). This means he thanks his food before he eats it and treats the trees and shrubs he climbs with respect and is also friendly to every creature around him, soon befriending various crows, squirrels and even a hamster, and having several adventures. He is also a voracious reader, not only reading the books John and Mary have at home but also visits the library where (by book 2) he is a welcome guest. The other cat that John and Mary adopted (just a little before Freddie), Gemma is his polar opposite. Having had her kittens taken away from her, she is full of hate for humans (viewing them as fascist jackboots—Freddie unfamiliar with the latter word and unable to find it in the dictionary remains ever on the watch for jackfruit as a result), and spiteful and unfriendly, besides also being a little plump. Over the book though the two become good friends and one gets a hint as to a possible further link but it remains unconfirmed.

Our Cats in Amsterdam (2022) continues Freddie and Gemma’s adventures, but this time taking them far beyond their neighbourhood—to the Netherlands in fact. Freddie’s fame has spread far and wide and everyone now knows that he can deal with and help other animals much better than anyone else can. Some new crows arrive to visit him one day recruiting him (and Gemma) to travel to the Netherlands where they will help with tracking down smugglers and traffickers—diamonds, drugs, human trafficking, you name it. All is to be done in the ten days John and Mary will be travelling to the Maldives. Their cat sitter is in with their animal friends and will not only escort them part of the way but will ensure that no one notices they’re away.

After being handed over to a friendly ‘handler’, Miep in Brussels (‘where hard green vegetables that are difficult to chew come from’), they make it to Amsterdam and new comfortable living quarters. Now each morning, the local crow gives them the day’s mission—usually following a suspect and gathering information, and with them are local birds and squirrels who take active part. Gemma also uses these missions to do her bit for various causes (I won’t say how). As Freddie is well known, however, a group of assassin dogs are soon on his tail, and he and Gemma must deal with them as well as they navigate the city of Amsterdam and try to tackle various villains.

Our Cats in Amsterdam was once again a charming and wonderful read (I will admit though that it took me reading nearly 15 per cent of the book before I ‘got’ the title: a reference to a novel by a certain classic spy story writer, I’m sure you can guess which). From the more everyday simple adventures of the first book, this one broadens the plane a lot taking Freddie and Gemma (and us) into real-life spy work. I loved how the animals and humans seem to coordinate things and communicate (many of the details are hazy but one doesn’t mind) even though there’s no anthropomorphism involved (a few extraordinary talents yes, like Freddie and Gemma’s ability to read). Freddie maintains his Buddhist habit of seeing each day as ‘today’: just the present without counting or naming them, but what I love most about his character is how despite being so well read and knowing so much, he also has that very believable naiveite when it comes to some things. The more worldly-wise Gemma has mellowed down tremendously by now and the two work wonderfully as a team (she might still look down on squirrels though).

I enjoyed watching how they follow each of the suspects they are assigned to and work with the other animals to secure the information needed. There are vague connections that emerge between these different criminals but largely it remains a collection of missions. Here I felt, the book would have read better if all these missions wove into a single mystery which would have made it far stronger plot-wise. (I hope if this spy/crime fighter path continues in future books, this is something that happens). The other fun element of the missions were how the assassins end up being tackled. I liked that while there is danger involved, it never really gets too worrying, and in fact both Freddie and Gemma (in one case helped by a new ‘friend’) manage to confront even the more menacing ones.

Since all of their missions unfold in Amsterdam, we also get to see a lot of the city. From a trip there long long ago, some of this was familiar, the rest not as much but it was nice to get to tour the city with them including the wonderful Night Watch on their visit to the Rijksmuseum.

Freddie and Gemma may be travelling in this one, but that doesn’t interfere with their love of reading. If anything, the opposite for like all us readers they need lots more reading material when travelling and the agents in Amsterdam make sure they have it. While Freddie includes some lighter books in his list (The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency among them), Gemma is focused for much of the trip on the stoics who help her keep her temper in control. As a result, we get insights into plenty of lovely reads (with a few spoilers) including some with relevant contemporary themes like climate change. Freddie also shares with us his opinion on favourite and also not very well-liked authors (among the latter, Dorothy Sayers), for instance,

Joseph Conrad loved adjectives and descriptions the way Virginia Woolf loved adverbs and semi-colons. These descriptions make every scene like a large detailed painting which takes a long time to picture. Joseph had obviously swallowed a Thesaurus at an early age as he repeats adjectives that mean the same thing or are similar.

Hope that gave you a bit of a laugh, but there are also some nuggets of wisdom like:

Knowledge it good, but it should never control you and … run your life and govern your actions.

So like the previous book this was a charming, funny and delightful read which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I am looking forward to their next set of adventures very much indeed.

4.5 stars

I must unabashedly admit, that prior to this book - Our Cats In Amsterdam, I was not familiar with the work of Julian Worker. This book is the sequel to The Diary of a Buddhist Cat. Now me being a cat lover and owner, I pounced (pretty much like a cat) at the prospect of reviewing this book, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Our Cats in Amsterdam follows the adventures of Freddie and Gemma in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. Recruited to carry out undercover tasks from spying on the mafia, diamond smugglers, and human traffickers, the protagonists get the better of their opponents with their wit and humor, and a bit of help along the way from crows, squirrels and even a dog. So yes, it’s quite a rollicking party, as they work together to save two priceless Van Gogh paintings.

The book fits appropriately into the Humor & Satire genre. Julian Worker draws on some stoic philosophy and compels me to draw at least some parallels to the legendary Animal Farm by Orwell. This is a book that does not reveal its secrets merely by its title or cover. The language is simple, easy to understand, yet effective in delivering its payload. Overall, a jolly good ride through the city of Amsterdam that is brough alive by fine story-telling and well-construed characters, as they weave their way through their dangerous operations that is sure to keep the reader glued till the end.

Shaune B. Ryder

Freddie and Gemma have been recruited by a special group for a covert mission in order to dismantle a gang of diamond dealers in Amsterdam, so, taking advantage of their human parents' vacations, they travel undercover to that city, where they will live a series of interesting adventures.
Gemma and Freddie's growth continues in this book, in which Gemma takes great strides down the path of stoicism.
I would like to know if Freddie finds his mother and Gemma finds her kittens, but that would be a topic for other adventures. An excellent story that will make the reader spend hours of fun!
I thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story. The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

This book was not for me. I don't know if that's because I didn't read the first book or if the story had too many far fetched ideas. While I am familiar with reading books that have animal heroes, this one was over the top. I think if there had been one story line that was followed/developed I may have enjoyed the book more. Every day the cats went out, they managed to catch at least one bad guy, despite being discovered and "assassin dogs" looking for them. Again, it just wasn't for me. The descriptions of the various places in Amsterdam mentioned in this book sound great.

So glad I got this book to read! I now want to find the first in the series so my grandson and I can read it also! Freddie and Gem ma's adventures are exciting and fun. Very vivid pictures come to mind of Amsterdam. We now would love to see the historical places that we've read about. Great read! Thanks#netgally and #Booksgosocial for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I almost did not finish this book. It seemed a bit heavy pawed and preachy at the beginning and it lacked the heart and the humour of the previous book. I stuck with it until the kitties arrived in Amsterdam and I am glad I did. It seemed to lighten and brighten up. The interactions between Freddie and Gemma with their human hostess, Miep and all the various animals and birds that helped guide them made it well worth the wait. Yes, it does have some serious issues but a book like this requires a deft touch and not a steam roller.

Freddie’s fame has travelled to the continent and he and Gemma are asked to help identify and detain some very dastardly humans. They are very good but Freddie is identified by the bad guys and their is a canine hit squad out to stop him. Freddie, with his usual innocence and charm, is able to disarm the assassins and save them and the day- many, many times. While he is busy doing that, Gemma is making sure the proceeds of crime are being spent charitably and sets off a wave of generosity. That was the deft touch I mentioned. Get your point across but do it gently.

I read through to the end and thought it well worth my time. Plod through the first bit and you will be rewarded in the end. Four purrs and two paws up.

A delightful book, quite some adventures for Freddie and Gemma in my birth town Amsterdam! It was funny to read their comments on lots of historical places and I especially had to laugh at Gemma and her financial shenanigans.

Personally, I think this one was even better than the first book in this series and I'm hoping there will be more.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.