Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Cat in a Kiwi Con : A Midnight Louie Mystery by Carole Nelson Douglas ISBN: 0-8125-8425-2 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 15 April, 2001 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.5 (6 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: A cat copes with a convention
Comment: In a neighbourhood copious with cats, it was inevitable that someone would confront me with this series. Douglas' twist of a cat acting as a major character [although not the primary one as the "Midnight Louie [sic] Mystery" on the dust jacket implies] is handled with finesse. The cat is observant, independent and adaptable. Thankfully, "Louie" isn't over-anthropomorphised. While instrumental, he isn't the primary sleuth you might expect. Instead, Douglas uses her feline character to air some causes she's concerned about - in this case the threatened extinction of Kiwis [the birds, not the European "pakeha"] in New Zealand. On the other hand, she plops some invective into the narrative against selected targets, of which more later.
There are some murders to keep the plot within the "mystery" genre, some of which are leftovers from previous books. These tend to be added to keep your interest. Will they be solved here or go on to further revival later in the series? There is the usual rivalry of "cops" versus "private" sleuths, although none of the "private" characters are in the business. Instead, one is a "public relations whiz", one a magician and one a former priest. Douglas takes these three on a merry mazurka of personal relationships. Only one of these characters seems to have a clear view of the assigned role. Douglas has fun with her creations, but character development isn't her forte. Even the repartee doesn't achieve the "clever" level that some mystery writers attain. Perhaps this is Douglas' way of imparting realism.
The author's real strength is in descriptive prose. She shines at that. In this book there are many opportunities to show her stuff as it takes place around a "sci-fi" convention. Although she correctly disparages the term "sci-fi", she seems unaware of Harlan Ellison's long-standing suggestion "SF" be rendered "Speculative Fiction". Her knowledge of television and film SF is ample. Characters relocated from their fictional realm into the convention's arena with aplomb. Writers clash, roles are depicted and characterisations dissected. For unexplained reasons, Douglas lashes out at Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine character from Star Trek: Voyager. The reason for her calumny seems focussed on the physical, which seems out of place in a "feminist" writer. The repetition of her scurrility against this one character becomes boring, especially when she transfers it to one of her minor characters.
Usually, in such a series reading the first volume is mandatory, but that constraint doesn't seem to apply, here. So much of this tale is interwoven with past events, one has the feeling reading the others would be repetitious. This book, one of the latest, is a good introduction to Douglas. The plot line is convoluted enough to satisfy the most demanding mystery buff. The SF/fantasy environment allows Douglas to bring in "weird" characters who impinge but lightly on the story. It's good beach/cottage reading material, but of limited scope and less interest. The whole series would be a chore, unless you have an extended holiday. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Rating: 3
Summary: I love ya Louie
Comment: I love Louie, but this book was something of a disappointment. Mrs. Douglas kept us on the outside the whole time so it was hard to really get into the book. I have to admit though I was rolling on the ground at her depiction of a preteen girl. No preteen girl I have ever known is scared of a simple amusement ride and would hold her escort's hand. Mrs. Douglas hit so wide of the mark that she not only missed the barn she ended up 2 states over. Otherwise, an enjoyable if not particularly engrossing read.
Rating: 3
Summary: Good but enough of the Science Fiction references
Comment: The book started off alright but quickly became dragged down. There was not enough of Louie and too many Buffy references. This is a mystery/comedy novel. To many plot lines that need to be connected and finished. Unfortunately if you are a big fan, which I am, you will need to read this book to catch up on the many different trains of thought Temple/Max/Matt/Molina/Louie have before reading "...Leopard Spot".
 |
Title: Cat in an Indigo Mood : A Midnight Louie Mystery by Carole Nelson Douglas ISBN: 0812561872 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 15 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Cat in a Midnight Choir : A Midnight Louie Mystery by Carole Nelson Douglas ISBN: 0812570219 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 18 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Cat in a Golden Garland : A Midnight Louie Mystery by Carole Nelson Douglas ISBN: 0812530365 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 15 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Cat in a Flamingo Fedora : A Midnight Louie Mystery by Carole Nelson Douglas ISBN: 0812565355 Publisher: Forge Pub. Date: 15 April, 1998 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
 |
Title: Cat on a Hyacinth Hunt : A Midnight Louie Mystery by Carole Nelson Douglas ISBN: 0812561864 Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub. Date: 15 April, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
