Cat-Eyed Trouble

When I first read about the character of Wesley Farrell, I was prepared not to like him. A man that would hide his African blood didn't sit well with me. But as I got into the book and his character, I found myself drawn to this enigmatic character. What a sourpuss reviewer bernpage is. What a shame to be an avid reader and not enjoy half of what he reads. Anyway back to my review. This book has suspense, romance, and Louisiana flavor. I loved the French names associated with Louisiana's rich French history. The women were beautiful, strong, and shrewd; the men handsome, r smooth and oozing with southern charm and masculinity. Israel Digget is my kind of guy as well as Wes. I will definitely add Robert Skinner's books to my shopping cart. I'm getting ready to order Blood Red, Skin Deep!

This was a fun book! An exciting, intriguing story, great characters, and - all-important for nit-pickers like myself, all the little background details rang true. He got the clothes, the cars, the music, the streets, the guns, the talk, the atmosphere.... right. Excellent. After wading through so many dreadful 'period' novels where the hero 'clicks off the safety catch on his revolver', talks in 1990s jive, and stumbles through the book doing stupid things and surviving on dumb luck and the benevelence of the author (for this latter, that Robichaux buffoon of James Lee Burke's novels comes to mind - what a pathetic doofus!) - here I find a gem. Set in 1938 New Orleans, it brings that time and place to life as it unfolds the twisty-turny storyline, throws the various characters into (often-violent) conflict, and rips and roars along in juggernaut fashion. As usual for me, I found this book at our local library - where, almost invariably they will stock one book from a series but never the first one, so now I'll have to track down SKIN DEEP, BLOOD RED. And anything else (fiction or non-fiction) that Robert Skinner has written. One review said he was a librarian at Xavier University in New Orleans. Hmmm.... well, his painstaking research, delight in detail, and above all - love of the 'noir' genre - shines through in this terrific book. I read a lot of books - I devoured CAT-EYED TROUBLE in less than a day (greedy!) - and confess also to being a student of history (with degrees in it - gasp!) and a technical nit-picker. I *love* to pounce on author's technical errors (if they are egregious!) as well as lame plots, inconsistent characterization or - most of all - incompetent protagonists (like Robichaux) muddling through yet another bad book. But, when I find one of the rare good ones, I am enthused. And CAT-EYED TROUBLE is one of the very very best. I loved it. You probably will, too. Three thumbs up! :-)

In 1938 New Orleans, Wesley Farrell, who is half Caucasian, passes himself as being white so that he can own and run a local nightclub. Wesley's mother was a Creole of Color, who raised him by herself. His father turns out to be a white police officer, Captain Frank Casey. Though cautious towards each other, Wesley and Frank have gained respect for one another, especially after working together on a previous investigation (see SKIN DEEP, BLOOD RED). Ex-cop Israel Dagget, a former member of the Negro Squad, has just been released from Angola Prison after being framed for killing dealer Junior Obregon five years ago. Dagget wants to prove his innocence and turns to Wesley and Frank for help. However, the trio have a tough opponent, who will kill to keep the status quo. The second novel in the Farrell mysteries is a terrific tale that brings to life The Big Easy during the Depression. The story line of CAT-EYED TROUBLE is dark and gloomy while the characters feel genuine. Robert E. Skinner takes the readers on a magic carpet ride to 1930's New Orleans that is pure fun. Harriet Klausne