Customer Reviews

Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit: A Midnight Louie Mystery (Midnight Louie Mysteries)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I returned home from a recent trip to Memphis, where we toured Graceland, to find "Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit" in the mail awaiting my arrival. The coincidence was amazing. Finished reading it last night and think it is one of the best books I have ever read. The author's thought process gets deeper with each book and her exploration of the never-ending Elvis mystique casts an accurate eye on the sociology of the 50's and 60's and the perception of those times having been so innocent. Having been a teenager in the 1950's, I could also totally relate to the Electra character. The author's use of words gets cleverer and funnier with each book. As with any "whodunit," you have to keep reading to find out who was the perp, but you finish the book with sadness because there will be no more show-stoppers on each page. Thank you, Carole, so much for Temple and Louie and Chatter and all the rest of them!

Carole Nelson Douglas' Temple Barr and Midnight Louie investigate the ups and downs of glamor and glitz when they meet Elvis?, Elvis's ghost? and a company of Elvis impersonators. I think my favorite parts were those that involved Matt and his enigmatic guest on his new call-in radio show. I found the conclusion to this particular subplot satisfying enough to put a Cheshire Cat smile on my face. Louie's snake charming techniques for interviewing anacondas worked like a--er--charm--for me. Eschewing her usual series characters' entanglements and troubles, Douglas focuses in this book on having her protagonists and even one of the antagonists pull together to solve a mystery with their usual panache, and more importantly to seek resolution for the troubled soul of the charismatic entertainer. I never liked Elvis in his heyday but I must say, after reading this book, I feel much more kindly toward him now. I also LOVED the Fontana Bros. as Full Spectrum Elvis impersonators. The only problem with this book for me is that it seems to have been too short because I keep wanting to read some more and wondering what the people are doing NOW. I'd love it if Elvis's ghost turned up now and again in later books, just to give the little lady (Carmen Molina) a hand now and then.

It was inevitable. Who better than one legend to delve into the mystery of another legend?

Thus, it is only fiting when the ghost of Elvis is spotted lurking about the Crystal Phoenix construction site that Midnight Louie himself take up the case of the mysterious apparition.

It is surely no coincidence that a super new casino dedicated to the King is celebrating its opening with an Elvis impersonator contest. As a wild assortment of Elvi congregate in rehearsal, it becomes clear that someone is out to rig the competition with malice aforethought, including murder.

Miss Temple Barr, pet human of Midnight Louie, is no slouch in the sleuth department either. Determined to protect the daughter of a friend participating in the pageant, she brings in the big guns -- nine Fontana brothers all dressed as the King! Meanwhile, her friend Matt, a former priest turned radio talk show host, is fielding calls purportedly from Elvis himself, sparking a bevy of newspaper headlines and much heated debate.

Just what is going on? Only the anaconda knows who... And only Midnight Louie can find out why!

Integrating the extraordinary power of the Elvis phenomenon into a cleverly conceived mystery, Ms. Douglas takes her artistry to a higher level as she views past and present through this uniquely American prism. The end result is as haunting in its intensity as the legend himself.

Romantic Times, 4 1/2-star Gold

M. Helfer

Although the premise is fascinating - is Elvis alive and appearing at a competion for Elvis impersonators in Las Vegas? I found the execution of this installment somewhat dull. This was due mainly to the absence of the usual supporting cast for most of the book. Where is Temple's nemisis - Molina? And half the fun (Okay, more than half) of these books comes from the ongoing romantic triangle between Temple, Max and Matt. This has been diminished in recent installments by having Temple return to her former flame, the Mysterious Max, but it was totally absent from this book. Max is missing in action for most of the story and Matt is around only to serve as a call-in radio sounding board for the possibly living King of Rock and Roll. I also was disappointed that this installment did nothing to explore the growing relationship between Matt and Carmen Molina. Even Midnight Louise, Louie's daughter and favorite sparring partner, is suprisingly absent for most of the novel. Interesting in parts, but not the best effort in the series.

Very Disappointing. So different from the previous books in this series. Way too much Elvis trivia not enough of the cast of characters I have grown to love. The only reason I made it to the end of this book was the hope that the next one will be better and I will need to know what went before. My advise... borrow it from the library. But don't give up on the series yet.

Well, the title pretty much says it all, but remembering that you are in Vegas, Baby - Elvis just had to make an appearance in Louis' stories sooner or later. And I'm not going to ruin a purr-fectly good read for my friends by telling you any more then I already have. Weather you love cats, Vegas, or Elvis, there is something here for everybody. Read and enjoy the ride.

PS - Get the whole series, much more fun that way.

The construction crew remodeling the Las Vegas' CrystalPhoenix Hotel refuse to continue their work because they believe theplace is haunted. Temple persuades the workers to return to the job because the ghost is only Elvis.

Merle begs Temple to watch out for her daughter Quincy who is playing the part of Priscilla Presley at the Kingdome Hotel and Casino Elvis impersonation contest. The place is a shrine to Elvis. Many of the worshippers feel Priscilla is Judas and so Quincy receives some threatening experiences. Temple agrees to act as a bodyguard. However, with Louie at her side, Temple soon finds herself competing and cooperating with the FBI as two homicides occur.

CAT IN A JEWELED JUMPSUIT is an excellent addition to the Midnight Louie tales. There is a vein of mysticism running throughout the story line that leaves readers wondering if Elvis is on the scene. The fascinating mystery is augmented by the glimpse inside the Elvis cult. However, the irascible Midnight Louie steals the show (as usual), leaving even a living, ghostly, or is it an impersonator Elvis to know that even the great one cannot compete with a feline animal star.

enjoyed the book, but it was so wordy and loaded with trivia that I found myself skimming and skipping a lot just to get to the plot.

I have read all the books in the Midnite Louie series, and this one was definitely my least favorite. Maybe because I was never an Elvis fan, but I just didn't find all the Elvis trivia and impersonator stuff interesting. Like several other readers, finishing the book was a chore, not really a pleasure like usual. I hope the next book gets back on track.

The author substituted Elvis trivia for character development and made EVERY major character spout said trivia at the drop of a hat. Maybe having one avid fan pop in with some tidbits now and again would have been bearable, but this felt almost like a lecture with a few murders thrown in. The lack of susbtance shows.