Season 8 of "The Beastly Detective"

The main character of this book is a cat-woman, strong and independent, a brilliant, beautiful loner and a true detective.

Police caracal Karalina is investigating a counterfeiting case; she will have to stand up to the authorities, journalists, and public opinion, and on top of that, sacrifice her personal life—for while she is prowling under the scorching sun of the Far Sparse Woods, a hopelessly love-struck Badgercat waits for her in the Far Forest in vain, holding a bouquet of autumn leaves in his paws...

The anthropomorphic animals in Anna Starobinets's work do not turn into cute little creatures like those in a fairy tale—oh no! The setting and customs here are quite different—wild, untamed... The characters retain the characteristic traits of their wild counterparts: they gnaw, howl, hiss, stink, steal, reproduce, mark their territory, and devour what they are supposed to devour—in short, they are real animals, save for the fact that they have the gift of speech. Or wait... Is this really a story about animals? Well, children will, of course, say that yes, it is about animals, but this book has many layers, so adult readers will not remain indifferent to the author’s keen observation and wit. "You mustn't rattle the herd. The herd must be happy," "A thief belongs on a branch!", "A cat pets a cat in the abdominal region," "Police brutality!"—gems like these are generously scattered throughout the text; true connoisseurs—lovers of detective fiction, satire, and wordplay—will appreciate them.

This is already the eighth book in the series, and the quality hasn't just been maintained; it continues to grow. Once again, an intricate plot worthy of a Netflix series unfolds, with a multitude of suspects, false leads, and an unpredictable conclusion. The characters are complex and well-rounded, they develop, and the division into good and bad is absent. The language is beautiful, the humor is magnificent, and the author's imagination is breathtaking.

"A Dark Past. The Palm Diary of a Police Caracal" by Anna Starobinets is a cool book for thoughtful readers from age 8 and up... it reads perfectly at 40—proven!