Three Bengal Kittens by Philipp Schott: Book Review

Three Bengal Kittens is the fourth book in the Dr. Bannerman Vet Mystery series by Canadian author Philipp Schott. Expected to be released on April 14, 2026, it takes readers back into the world of Peter Bannerman, a small-town veterinarian living in Manitoba, Canada. Peter’s brother, Sam, calls him to ask for advice about caring for three kittens he had recently acquired. Next thing Peter knows, he’s in the middle of a murder investigation, trying to clear his brother’s name and find a missing kitten.

I want to thank ECW Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Three Bengal Kittens. However, all opinions expressed here are solely mine.

Synopsis from Goodreads

In the fourth book in the series, Dr. Peter Bannerman’s brother Sam takes in three Bengal kittens after the previous owner, his neighbor in a Winnipeg north end apartment building, is found dead. The death was originally thought to be due to accidental autoerotic asphyxiation, but after investigation, Sam is arrested and charged with his neighbor’s murder.

Sam suffers from several mental health conditions, but Peter refuses to believe that he is capable of killing someone, so he sets out to prove his innocence. Sam, however, is more concerned about one of the kittens who has gone missing. With the help of his talented sniffer dog, Pippin, Peter tries to find the kitten, as well as evidence that someone else murdered the neighbor.

Peter talks to the other people in Sam’s building, and several appear to be plausible alternative killers. However, by that time, Sam, still in custody, begins to rave about ghosts being the real murderers and insists Peter investigate that. Despite not believing in ghosts (not in the slightest), he has a terrifying experience while spending the night in Sam’s apartment.

The situation rapidly spirals, putting Peter and Pippin in peril and ultimately revealing a story of revenge served cold from decades ago and continents away.

My Opinions

I was excited to learn that a fourth book in the Dr. Bannerman series was being released, as I have enjoyed the first three. My introduction to the series was quite by accident, as I was scrolling through my library looking for a quick mystery to read. And of course, I want to support as many Canadian authors as I can. The first book, Fifty-Four Pigs, was quickly read, followed by the second, Six Ostriches. Upon learning of Three Bengal Kittens, I made sure to read the third book in the series, Eleven Huskies.

In the case of most mystery series, I would say you could read them in any order, with little to no issues. In many ways, this holds for this series, but I would still recommend reading them in order. This is to better understand the quirks and relationships among the assorted characters.

Peter is an interesting character, especially the more time you spend with him. He has certain mannerisms that may bother readers if they jump into the series midway through. Why do I say that? Well, because Peter is autistic. This is something that Schott does not shy away from discussing. Peter knows his mannerisms may bother others, but after a while, he doesn’t care. Nor should he; why should he have to adapt to fit other people’s ideals?

There are also discussions of mental health issues, as Sam has psychotic episodes. While these may not always be handled in the best ways, they are openly discussed. Unfortunately, they were also used as a way to look at Sam as a main suspect in the murder. Sadly, it’s also used to make him act in ways he might not normally.

Overall, my favorite character in the series has been Pippen. He is a champion scent dog. Who knew there were competitions for such things? Pippen is essentially Peter’s best friend and an almost constant companion throughout everything that happens.

One thing I will say about this book, and the series in general, is that it’s not a typical cozy mystery. There’s not much to make you laugh or smile while trying to solve the crime. These are more slice-of-life books in which the local vet finds himself in unfortunate situations.

That said, I feel that everyone who enjoys reading mysteries should give this series a read. The books are all under 300 pages, and are not as heavy as many other mysteries and thrillers.

Are you looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.