Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Postman Always Brings Mice | 2004 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
| 2 | To Scratch a Thief | 2004 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
| 3 | You Only Have Nine Lives | 2005 | Jennifer L. Holm | Buy |
The Stink Files is a three-book children’s mystery series by Jennifer L. Holm featuring a cat spy who solves cases using his powerful nose. The titles — The Postman Always Brings Mice, To Scratch a Thief, and You Only Have Nine Lives — parody classic spy and mystery tropes with feline humor.
Each title riffs on a famous movie or phrase. The Postman Always Brings Mice plays on The Postman Always Rings Twice, To Scratch a Thief borrows from To Catch a Thief, and You Only Have Nine Lives nods to the James Bond film You Only Live Twice. The wordplay gives adult readers something to appreciate alongside the kid-friendly plots.
Holm is better known for her Newbery Honor book Our Only May Amelia and the Babymouse graphic novel series. The Stink Files shows a lighter, more comedic side of her work. The books were published in 2004-2005 and are aimed at elementary-age readers.