Ingrid King
Homer the blind cat, beloved for almost two decades since the publication of Homer's Odyssey, is back with this first in a cozy mystery series featuring Homer and his feline cohorts Scarlett and Vashti and their human companion Rachel Baum, owner of the Title Waves bookstore in Coacoochee, a small town just up the road from South Beach, Florida. When some of Coacoocheeâs citizens turn up dead, Rachel begins investigating, unaware that Homer and his friends are already on the job.
Iâve read a number of mysteries over the years featuring cats who solve or help solve mysteries. Most are fun to read, although some are a bit too cutesy for my taste. Gwenâs masterful plotting, combined with her trademark descriptive writing style infused with humor, make You Only Live Nine Lives a unique contribution to the genre.
Set in 1998, populated with an immensely likeable cast of characters, both human and feline, including a tortie named Samkhat who lives in the alley behind Title Wave Books, with the backdrop of a charming small coastal town, this book will keep you turning the pages.
But what really sets this book apart from others in this genre is Gwenâs writing style. âRachel watched palm trees bend and sway against the gunmetal sky, their fronds thrashing like the tails of angry catsâ is just one example of how she uses words to paint pictures and set the scene.
Beautiful writing, a well thought out plot, and cats â what more do you need in a book? This is a thoroughly enjoyable and fun read, and a lovely escape from reality to a simpler time. I had a hard time putting this book down, and I hope it will only be the first of many in a delightful series.
Imported From: Amazon