YMMV / Sam the Cat: Detective

• Ensemble Dark Horse:
  • The former circus cats, the Flying Fangs, only appear in the second half of the first book, but their energetic nature, rapport, and fighting skills make them some of Sam's most entertaining allies.
  • James Blond only appears in The Big Catnap, but fans enjoy his haughty yet helpful attitude and surprising moments of bravery and toughness.
• Like You Would Really Do It: Since the series is written so that elementary school kids can enjoy it just as much as older readers, it's not too surprising that the only apparent murder victim in the series is Faking the Dead, even if he isn't that likable of a person.
• They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character:
  • Sinister fence Cheater and his pet Scratch are still at large at the end of the first book and Sam has reasons to bear a grudge against them but they never show up as sequel antagonists.
  • The Flying Fangs form circus cats are well-liked sidekicks but never appear in the sequels.
• The Woobie:
  • Struggling actor John "Casey" Jones from The Big Catnap is easy to feel sorry for once it is revealed he isn't deliberately trying to hold Sandy for ransom. Prior to the book, his sister cheated him out of his inheritance (which he wanted to use to make a movie) to buy a beach house, his relationship with his fiancée is in jeopardy, and he can't keep his cat in his new apartment after moving out of hers.
  • Ted Parker (alias J.J. Symington) is a well-meaning man who just wants to help worthy causes and have a relationship with Zelda but gets framed for murder and turned into a pariah until Sam clears his name.