Cattery Row: 2 (Theda Krakow Series, 2) - Softcover

..."another fun and well-crafted mystery that is entertaining enough to appeal even to readers for whom cats hold little charm....It's clear that Simon has a real love for, and understanding of, contemporary music, and that knowledge adds a unique flavor to her books that makes them stand out from the rest of the clowder of cat mysteries." -- David J. Montgomery, Boston Globe (September 4, 2006) ...another fun and well-crafted mystery that is entertaining enough to appeal even to readers for whom cats hold little charm....It's clear that Simon has a real love for, and understanding of, contemporary music, and that knowledge adds a unique flavor to her books that makes them stand out from the rest of the clowder of cat mysteries. -- David J. Montgomery, Boston Globe (September 4, 2006) "In Simon's satisfying second kitty cozy (after 2005's Mew Is for Murder ), spunky Boston journalist Theda Krakow and her feline friend, Musetta, are plunged into a crazy quilt of cat-related crime. In recent months, eight catteries near Beantown have been broken into, and expensive show cats stolen. Theda is puzzled over these thefts-without documents of their lineage, the cats are practically worthless, so why would anyone steal them? Then, one of Theda's friends, eccentric cat-breeder Rose Keller, lets on that she's received some threatening phone calls. A few days later, Rose turns up dead. Meanwhile, a blues singer called Cool tells Theda that she's being blackmailed. Someone has evidence that Cool has been drinking and using prescription drugs. With its well-developed cast of characters and a multilayered plot, this feline mystery is the cat's meow." -Publishers Weekly Someone is stealing the show cats of Boston. And Theda Krakow, freelance journalist and cat lover, wants to know why. Cattery Row is Clea Simon's second entry in the series, and it finds Theda caught up in murder and extortion, as well as the cat thefts. The mystery's a winner, but the real appeal of Simon's work is Theda herself -- torn between two lovers, trying to make her freelance career work, balancing her eccentric friends, trying to stay active in the rock-club scene. Cat-themed mysteries are often classified as "cozies," but "Cattery Row" is, if not hard-boiled, nowhere near cute -- except, of course, for the cats. Simon writes with grit, and in Theda, she has created a flawed and sometimesinfuriating protagonist, one readers will want to see for many more lives. -- Jay Strafford, Richmond Times-Dispatch (10/29/2006) In Simon's satisfying second kitty cozy (after 2005's Mew Is for Murder), spunky Boston journalist Theda Krakow and her feline friend, Musetta, are plunged into a crazy quilt of cat-related crime. In recent months, eight catteries near Beantown have been broken into, and expensive show cats stolen. Theda is puzzled over these theftswithout documents of their lineage, the cats are practically worthless, so why would anyone steal them? Then, one of Theda's friends, eccentric cat-breeder Rose Keller, lets on that she's received some threatening phone calls. A few days later, Rose turns up dead. Meanwhile, a blues singer called Cool tells Theda that she's being blackmailed. Someone has evidence that Cool has been drinking and using prescription drugs. (This is the weakest strand in the plotwould a celebrity musician shell out big bucks to keep a little pill-popping secret?) With its well-developed cast of characters and a multilayered plot, this feline mystery is the cat's meow. --Publishers Weekly "With its well-developed cast of characters and a multilayered plot, this feline mystery is the cat's meow." --Publishers Weekly "A well done example of the traditional (or cozy") mystery, Cattery Row is a pleasant and diverting book. Simon clearly has talent, and it will be interesting to watch how her writing develops" --Boston Globe "The mystery's a winner, but the real appeal of Simon's work is Theda herself ...Cat-themed mysteries are often classified as "cozies," but Cattery Row is, if not hard-boiled, nowhere near cute -- except, of course, for the cats. Simon writes with grit, and in Theda, she has created a flawed and sometimes infuriating protagonist, one readers will want to see for many more lives." -- Jay Strafford, Richmond Times-Dispatch (10/29/2006) "With its well-developed cast of characters and a multilayered plot, this feline mystery is the cat's meow." --Publishers Weekly "A well done example of the traditional (or cozy") mystery, "Cattery Row" is a pleasant and diverting book. Simon clearly has talent, and it will be interesting to watch how her writing develops" --"Boston Globe" "The mystery's a winner, but the real appeal of Simon's work is Theda herself ...Cat-themed mysteries are often classified as "cozies," but "Cattery Row" is, if not hard-boiled, nowhere near cute -- except, of course, for the cats. Simon writes with grit, and in Theda, she has created a flawed and sometimes infuriating protagonist, one readers will want to see for many more lives." -- Jay Strafford, "Richmond"" Times-Dispatch "(10/29/2006) "This was an interesting story, with an amateur, sleuth that is somewhat more believable than many.. Theda Kraow is a freelance writer which, of course gives her the opportunity to ask questions and poke around. At the moment, , things aren't going too well, jobs are scarce. When a magazine asks her to go back and touch bases with four memorable women featured in an earlier published article, she jumps at the chance. Not only is it work, but two of the women are friends of hers. One, an older woman who raises cats and is a judge at cat shows, acts very strange when Theda calls her. When they meet, it is almost a cloak and dagger affair, and the journalist learns that the woman has been receiving threatening phone calls. Another, an old rocker friend of hers, Cool, seems to be avoiding Theda, letting her manager run interference. When Theda is inexplicably attacked, everyone assumes she startled a burglar, but she is not so certain. This doubt becomes stronger when one of the four women she is to interview is murdered. There is a lot going on in this book. Theda herself is an interesting personality: a hard-playing, rock-loving, somewhat wild soul with an even wilder assortment of friends and a cop boyfriend who is as straight as they come. These off the wall characters add an element of interest and diversity to the story. Add in an exboyfriend who appears on the scene, the odd relationship with her current boyfriend, and her true love-her cat-and you have the basis for a good story. A well constructed plot adds to the mix and helps tie the various situations together. Although cats feature in this story, they neither solve crimes nor speak, so if you are not into that you donot have to worry. Cat lover or not, this story should please." --Mystery News Cattery RowBy Clea Simon Poisoned Pen, 238 pp., $24.95 Let's be upfront about something: This is a mystery about cats. There's a big picture of a cat on the jacket, the story's protagonist is a cat lover, and a series of catnappings features prominently in the plot. Books like this tend to get a bad rap, and sometimes that reputation is justified. But Clea Simon, a Globe contributor, is doing her part to turn that around, with another fun and well-crafted mystery that is entertaining enough to appeal even to readers for whom cats hold little charm. Series character Theda Krakow, who made her first appearance in last year's Mew Is for Murder," is a struggling freelance writer trying to make a living in Cambridge and barely scraping by. She's got good connections in the local music scene and a sharp eye for spotting the latest trends, but she's burned so many bridges that it's difficult for her to find work. When an offer to write a cheesy profile of several women of the new millennium" comes along, Krakow holds her nose and takes the job. At least the article features a couple of her old friends, including a local musician who's made it big, and a cat breeder who's well known on the show circuit. Krakow is in the middle of her story when one of the women is murdered. Naturally, she is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. Books like this are, by necessity, built around fantastic premises. Do freelance journalists investigate murders? Of course not. Even so, Simon does a deft job of making Krakow's sleuthing plausible, if not quite realistic. Also worth noting, and this is to the author's credit, it is the journalist and not the cats who actually solves the crime . The plot of Cattery Row" unfolds rather simply, but that doesn't stop it from being fun to read. The cat scenes do tend to get old quickly. How much purring, cuddling, and petting does a murder mystery really need? Of course, that is the hook of the series, and Simon sticks to it. But the real heart of the book is in the music. It is when the author takes the story into the nightclubs and starts to describe the rhythms and artistry of the performances that the book really comes alive. It's clear that Simon has a real love for, and understanding of, contemporary music, and that knowledge adds a unique flavor to her books that makes them stand out from the rest of the clowder of cat mysteries. A well done example of the traditional (or cozy") mystery, Cattery Row" is a pleasant and diverting book. Simon clearly has talent, and it will be interesting to watch how her writing develops, hopefully as she expands into new areas. While feline crime novels are fine, the restrictions of the subgenre are too limiting for an author of her abilities. David J. Montgomery is the editor of Mystery Ink (www.mysteryinkonline.com ). Clea Simon will read from Cattery Row" Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. CATTERY ROW CLEA SIMON Poisoned Pen Press August, 2006 ISBN: 1-59058-306-X Cover ImageIn Clea Simon's second novel, CATTERY ROW, freelance writer Theda Krakow covers the underground club scene in the Boston area. Theda's column requires hitting the club scene frequently to follow the latest bands in the area. Her purple haired friend, Violet, is leader of the hard core punk rock music group The Violet Haze Experience. Theda and Violet solve the mystery of a cat breeder friend's murder and break up a ring of kitten and cat thieves. Theda has many interesting and complicated relationships with human beings, both men and women; however, her most solid and uncomplicated relationship is with her "tuxedo" cat, Musetta. Written in the first person, CATTERY ROW is fun to read and will have a special appeal to all cat lovers. Theda talks to her cat throughout this interesting mystery. People who love cats will enjoy CATTERY ROW with special insight. Cat lovers will absolutely love this book. Put this one on your gift list for all your cat loving friends. - Maureen Bouffard, "I Love a Mystery Newsletter"

Freelancer Theda Krakow is thrilled when she lands an assignment to write a piece on a gifted musician. She loves listening to bands-particularly her friend Violet's brand of riot grrrl punk. But her joy turns to outrage when feline-friendly Theda learns that someone is stealing show cats. Whether running Boston's streets or hanging out in her Cambridge neighborhood, Theda knows her city-and its music scene-well. So when a kindly cat breeder is implicated in the show cat thefts, Theda must put that knowledge to work to find the culprit before it is too late. Praise for Cattery Row... "With the well-developed cast of characters and a multi-layered plot, this feline mystery is the cat's meow." -Publishers Weekly "Cattery Row is a pleasant and diverting book. Simon clearly has talent." -Boston Globe "Cat lover or not, this story should please." -Mystery News Clea Simon is the author of the Theda Krakow (Probable Claws) and Dulcie Schwartz (Grey Matters) mystery series, as well as three nonfiction books. A recovering journalist, she lives in Massachusetts. www.cleasimon.com