Thunderpaws and the Tower of London by Ben Housden

My name is Teufel, and I wasn't prepared for my move to the Tower of London, the most haunted place in the world. I'm slowly realizing the birds and mice are different around here, and I've met some strange ghosts. They don't seem to understand how special I am, but I'll be sure to remind them constantly. It's not like I'm some silly human! The ghosts say trouble is coming, and I'm the only cat that can save England. I'm sure to become famous if I can only figure out who to trust and what I'm supposed to do.

What worked:

The highlight of the book is Teufel’s personality. He’s a church cat and just wants to hunt and kill mice and birds. He’s snooty and independent like most cats, but it’s fun reading his thoughts. He’s slow to adapt to life in the Tower of London, seeing as he’s surrounded by ghosts from England’s history and he’s attacked by ravens all over the grounds. Throughout it all, he maintains his cocky disposition full of snarky comments. Phrases unique to the English culture make some conversations tricky to understand, but they’re always colorful and enjoyable.

The book shares information regarding England’s long history. The Tower of London is an infamous penitentiary and the imprisoned home and execution site for many of England’s past rulers and personalities. King Richard, Queen Anne, Sir Walter Raleigh, and other English ghosts are characters in the story, and British folklore has an important impact on the events. The Tower is protected by ravens, and magical lions will be summoned when Big Ben’s bells toll thirteen times.

Once the overall conflict is sorted out, the second half of the book is quite entertaining. Evil ghouls are on the verge of escaping, and Teufel is coerced into helping this happen. He thinks he’s outsmarted his foes, but things don’t go as planned. He’s forced into unexpected alliances and teams up with a “traitor”. The conflict has a countdown, so the suspense grows as that moment draws near.

What didn’t work as well:

Unraveling the main conflict of the plot takes more effort than many books. Teufel is frequently told by ghosts and ghostly creatures that there’s a prophecy implying he’s the cat that will save the world. On the other hand, another group of ghosts tells him most of the things he’s heard are lies, and he should help them with their plot. Readers are left in the middle trying to figure out what’s really going on, but that’s what makes the story engaging.

The final verdict:

An eerie clash of ghosts in one of England’s oldest landmarks. The early parts of the book are a bit confusing, as the direction of the plot is unclear. There’s certainly a problem, but defining it and knowing which characters to believe is tricky. Overall, the build-up to the climax is exciting, and the resolution elevates Teufel to new levels.