First there is the omen: A relentless rain stops suddenly at 3:00 am and Chester shows Harold and Howie a cat carrier, open and waiting, by the front door. Chester, who has been reading avidly about the paranormal, predicts that they will soon be traveling someplace, and chances are they are not going to like it. Indeed they are not, as the very next day, with the sun shining bright and clear, … and clear, the Monroes finally leave for their vacation, dropping Chester, Harold, and Howie off at the scene of some previous harrowing experiences — Chateau Bow-Wow, the boarding kennel that Chester so aptly had dubbed “Howliday Inn.”
And this visit promises to be no less harrowing than the last one. The three are greeted by a whole new group of temporary residents. There’s Hamlet, the Great Dane, whose sadness grows deeper with his certainty that his beloved master Archie will never return to pick him up. And Bob and Linda, a pair of yuppie puppies from fashionable Upper Centerville who have been left at Chateau Bow-Wow with a more than adequate supply of gourmet treats, also seem to have been left with a more than adequate supply of worries. Then there are Felony and Miss Demeanor, sinister sisters in crime who pride themselves as cat burglars, and The Weasel who tries almost too hard to make a good impression.
Chester is certain that nothing bodes well and he is right. Unexplained voices, buried bones, a collar with the name Rosebud on it, and a secret code all make for a paranormal experience that none of the guests at Chateau Bow-Wow will ever forget.
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Return to Howliday Inn, James Howe, 1992
My favorite quote: “‘My fate is a mirror in which to see / One will look in and end like me.’”
Notable characters: Harold, our narrator; Chester (also known here as Cute Whiskers, his friend; Howie, their young companion; Felony and Miss Demeanor, two cat burglars; Bob and Linda, boarders at Chateau Bow-Wow; Hamlet, a forlorn Great Dane
Most memorable scene: Harold and company at the nursing home
Greatest strengths: Its heart. This one has it in spades
Standout achievements: The storyline switches gears at about the midway point, going from a paranormal murder-mystery to a heartfelt tale about humans and their pets — and it really works
Fun Facts: This installment features a return appearance from Georgette, a feathery-voiced poodle from the book 2, Howliday Inn
Other media: N/A
What it taught me: This is the first book in the series that I didn’t read until I was an adult — and what it taught me was that my adult self loves Harold, Chester, and the gang just as much as my kid self did
How it inspired me: It makes me want to be a better cat-daddy lest my own feline children go the way of Felony and Miss Demeanor, burgling innocent people for better food
Additional thoughts: All the animals in this story — regardless of their species — working together to achieve the same goal is a lesson in unity that feels very appropriate right now
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
After the crazy first stay at Chateau BowWow, or as Chester so eloquently put it, Howliday Inn, the memories have long stayed with Harold and Chester. But when the Monroes go on another vacation, the pets return to the boarding house, and they are in for an even wilder time. With young Howie returning for the first time since his birth, there is even more chaos than before.
Harold, Chester, and Howie enter the scene to find a whole new cast of pets, from the typical dogs and cats to a parrot and even a weasel. There they meet a bunch of unique, fun characters, and they realize they’re in for quite the stay. But things take a spooky turn when some bones and an old collar are dug up, and the spirit of a dead dog speaks from a corner of the compound. Chester believes foul play was involved, and he drags the rest of the gang into yet another investigation. But can all of the pets make it out alive, or will the secret of Chateau BowWow destroy them all?
This was a great mystery, and I loved the new group of characters. They were each unique and fun to read about, and their interactions were so funny. Returning to Chateau BowWow was spooky and exciting, and the ending of the book was heartwarming. There is no doubt that Harold, Chester, and Howie will always remember this chilling stay at Howliday Inn.
If you enjoyed the rest of the series, particularly the first trip to the boarding house for pets, this Is a great book to read. Like the second book, there is little mention of Bunnicula, but Harold and Chester are quite the characters, and in this mystery, they have little Howie, who enjoys puns and all kinds of wordplay and who adds a great deal of character to the story. This charming addition to the Bunnicula lore fleshes out Harold, Chester, and Howie, and will make you laugh and cry at everything that happens.