Pepper Masalah and the Temple of Cats

Pepper Masalah lives with Zamir and his family on an olive farm in Australia. Zam’s grandmother is from the old country, Kashmir, and she brought with her an ancient carpet. She is the only one who believes the carpet can fly and will try to find its previous master in Kashmir.

It hasn’t flown for hundreds of years, so it is shaky at first and can’t find its bearings. Thus, it lands in many countries on the way to Kashmir where Pepper Masalah, the cat, and Zamir have dangerous but exciting adventures.

In the second book, Pepper Masalah and the Temple of Cats, the flying carpet lands in the River Nile in Ancient Egypt. They have a clash with a crocodile, and the carpet floats away on the Nile. Pepper and Zam are taken to a temple full of cats by a girl called Tabir. Pepper is in danger again as she is so special, people want to make her into a mummy.

Pepper tries her best to escape, and Zam manages to climb the wall of the temple to help her. Sebu, the temple attendant, wants the carpet and Pepper for himself. Pepper wants to save the cats and herd them to the granaries where there is a plague of mice.

Readers who loved the magic and playfulness of the Tashi series will also love Pepper and her friend Zamir. The concept has broad appeal: mystery, adventure, travel, exotica, and three very memorable characters: Pepper Masalah, Zamir, and the Flying Carpet.