Cattery Row: A Theda Krakow Mystery

Tough times have hit Theda Krakow, a freelance journalist. She had a blowup with Tim, an editor of The Boston Morning Mail, which means she isn't writing for them any more. Plus she's not sure about her relationship with Bill, a Boston homicide detective. Her friends are having their own problems. Rose has received a blackmail phone call. She doesn't have the money they asked for. If she doesn't pay, they will kill her cats. Violet has had some sick kittens stolen from her shelter. Theda gets hired to write a follow up about 4 women. Her friend Rose is one of those women. When Theda goes to interview her, she finds Rose murdered. She figures the blackmailer killed her. The police figure she was involved in the string of robberies of purebred cats. To muddy the waters even more, her ex-boyfriend returns. Should Theda get back with him or work on her relationship with Bill? Can Theda figure out who the killer is and what is really going on without using up her one life? I really enjoy Theda. She's such a fun character. I love the Boston setting as well. I like this series with cats. The author really knows cats. That comes through in the way she has them interact with the humans. Yet, she doesn't feel a need to make them "talk." I felt this was even better than her debut novel in this series. I can't wait for the next one to be published. I highly recommend this book.

Misplaced loyalties, misbegotten relationships, and murder all groove to a heavy underground beat in this fascinating look at the Boston music scene. Simon writes lovingly and well about cats, but the greatest character in her books is Boston and its famous rock-n-roll clubs. I loved the interesting and authentic backdrop which was worth the price of the book alone. Layered on top, though, is a tightly plotted murder mystery that cleverly dispatches a couple of old-wives cat tales.

Freelance journalist Theda Krakow is having a rough time of it lately. The reporter, who has had many of her articles published by the Boston Morning Mail, had a major blow up with her editor Tim and walks out in a tiff, which leads to her current financial crisis. She wonders whether her relationship with Bill, a Boston homicide detective, should go to the next level; finally she is further confused when her former ex-boyfriend comes back to Boston wanting to see her. Her friends aren't doing much better. Her cattery pal Rose is being blackmailed for $20,000 which she insists she does not have but must pay otherwise they will kill her cats. Another pal Violet has had some sick cats stolen from her shelter. When Theda goes to interview Rose for a story she finds the woman murdered and believes the blackmailer committed the crime while the police think she was killed because of her involvement in stealing purebred cats. Theda investigates not realizing she may need as many lives as the cats possess. CATTERY ROW is much more than just a great mystery; it is a story of a woman's life. Through her eyes the audience will adore the quirky and culturally rich Cambridge protagonist who deals with failure responsibly while also enjoying her relationships with her lover and her friends, all with distinct differing and distinct personalities. The whodunit is fantastic as Clea Simon brings her heart and soul into CATTERY ROW. Harriet Klausner

Prize-winning Simon's second novel in the Theda Krakow series (after the wonderful The Feline Mystique)is really witty and totally engaging. This time, journalist Theda (who is a great heroine, by the way) is investigating someone who is stealing show cats--and there's murder afoot, too. Set in Boston, where Simon lives, the whole book is so spot on in detail, so atmospheric, that it makes me homesick for the town. And of course, all the cat details make me wish I weren't allergic so I could have two, or six. This is a fabulously written mystery and a really smart series.

Theda Krakow's life gets hairier (or furrier) in the second installment of Clea Simon's excellent series. Once again there is a murder to be solved and cats in distress to be rescued. But this time we get drawn further into Theda's world of nightclubs, freelance writing and rock'n'roll-- a colorful and inviting place that we don't see in enough mysteries. New Englanders will recognize some of Theda's favorite haunts, but the colorful characters should appeal to everyone. Simon's knack for plotting has also taken a few leaps since "Mew Is For Murder"; and Theda is lucky to escape with her skin more than once. There's also a bit of romance between the lines. Very crafty and highly enjoyable.