The Cat Who Wasn't a Dog [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Marion Babson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2, 2003

Cecile Savoy demands that her co-Thespian friends accompany her to the taxidermist, where she is perpetuating the body of her ancient Pekinese, "that revolting little floor mop she was so attached to," according to Trixie. Finding the shop owner dead on the floor of his office was the first shock, finding the shop suddenly enveloped in flames was the next. But the final blow to Dame Cecile was discovering that instead of rescuing the remains of the expired Fleur de Lys, Trixie snatched up a very much alive Japanese bobtail cat named Cho Cho San.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A cozy where the amateur sleuths do virtually no sleuthing and the identity of the killer is painfully obvious? Yes, but it goes down as smoothly as a spoonful of rice pudding. Genre veteran Babson can't be bothered much with investigatory details, but she has a sure hand at drawing-room farce, British style. Four aging actresses convene in Brighton, where two of the four are set to star in a revival of Arsenic and Old Lace. Disaster beckons, however, when the death of Dame Cecile Savoy's "revolting floor mop" of a Pekinese sends the star into a near-breakdown. It only gets worse when the quartet find themselves implicated in the murders of a taxidermist and a missing housekeeper. Of course, there's a cat involved, too, a Japanese bobtail called Cho-Cho-San who knows more than she's letting on, and there's even some recipes, courtesy of the daughter of one of the actresses, who is writing a cookbook for actors on the road. Utterly silly and utterly entertaining. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Outstanding Praise For Marian Babson And Her Mysteries

To Catch A Cat
"This charmer may be the pick of the litter."--Booklist

"Babson weaves her separate threads into a tight plot...a swift and sure climax leads to a clever and satisfying resolution."--Publishers Weekly

"A quick, suspenseful story."--Mystery News

"Robin's sudden, urgent bonding with Leif Eriksson provides a clever, wholly apt vehicle for the usual in-cat-uation."-Kirkus Reviews

"An eminently delightful book...deft and enjoyable."--HandHeld Crime

"Babson has a pleasantly light touch despite the subject matter. The reader becomes interested in the characters as the story dashes to a dramatic end with surprises along the way." -San Jose Mercury News

The Company Of Cats
"[A] slinky felineextravaganza."-Publishers Weekly

"Her portrayal of the kindhearted, martini-swigging Annabel is a winner...as are the descriptions of various feline characters."-Booklist

"What can a reviewer say about Marian Babson? If you haven't read at least one of her books, you have definitely missed the boat. She is consistently witty."-Mystery News

"Marian Babson's name on a mystery is a guarantee of quality writing wrapped around an unusual crime."-Houston Chronicle

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 319 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786259639
• ISBN-13: 978-0786259632
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,234,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and enjoyable, February 28, 2004

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Cat Who Wasn't a Dog (Hardcover)

When their friend's ancient dog dies, actors Trixie and Evangeline are summoned to help grieve--and help assist the dog on its way to the taxidermist who will immortalize its remains. Despite an appointment, however, no one appears to be at the taxidermist--at least no one alive. When Trixie finds a living cat, a dead man, and a fast-spreading fire, the three women flee--accidentally leaving behind the mortal remains of Fleur-de-Lys.

Getting away from a fire is one thing--getting away from murder is something else. The police soon identify the aging actresses and their driver as witnesses--or suspects. Trixie and Evangeline have to return to the scene of the crime, witness the dreadful rehersals for a reprisal of Arsenic and Old Lace, and deal with a number of unlikable and unsavory characters including their hostess's step-mother, the director, the lead man, and a friend of Evangeline who is intent on making big bucks in investment. Trixie finds herself more and more attached to the rescued cat, Cho-Cho-San, but there are plenty of other claimants for Cho-Cho's love. Still, somebody had left the living cat at the taxidermist--with instructions to have it stuffed.

Author Marian Babson does a great job developing her characters--with the blend of competition and mutual support that typifies the thespian professions. Her writing is light and enjoyable with plenty of places that left me with a big smile on my face. Mystery fans will notice that the actual solving of the mystery goes on outside of the book--the primary protagonists aren't really involved in solving the murder(s) or arson. I would have thought that this would detract from my reading pleasure but, to my surprise, it didn't. THE CAT WHO WASN'T A DOG is a fun and enjoyable novel.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book combines two Babson delights, February 3, 2004

By 

Ann E. Nichols (Sierra Vista, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cat Who Wasn't a Dog (Paperback)

One of them is cats. Besides lovely Cho-Cho-San, there's a gentleman theatre cat named Garrick. The other delight is that Trixie and Evangeline, the former Hollywood Golden Age movie stars from REEL MURDER, ENCORE MURDER, and BREAK A LEG, DARLINGS!; are back.

Overbearing and obnoxious characters abound, not least Evageline herself. Loved the idea she came up with to cure one actor's lackluster performance, though. There're interesting recipes that are being tested for a cookbook for people on the road, such as how to make a nicely poached egg when you don't have a egg poacher with you. Pity the cookbook is on a tight deadline and the recipe tester is stuck with the suspects. Will it be safe to eat anything in THAT kitchen?

The strength of this book is in its wickedly diverting dialog, to use an old phrase. If you're in the mood to put up your feet and spend a cozy afternoon chortling (while giving thanks that Trixie has to deal with those people instead of you), I recommend this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I will read more by this prolific author!, March 19, 2007

By 

Liz at reviewedbyliz.com "Because life is too... (Cedar Springs, Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Cat Who Wasn't a Dog (Mass Market Paperback)

I despise mysteries in which psychic pets communicate the solution to their humans. Fortunately, this isn't one of those. The cat in question is quite normal and the object of a reasonable amount of affection, but not so much as to be cloying.

The humans, on the other hand, are quite interesting. The main characters are two female actresses of a certain age who are currently between stage productions in London. When they come to the aid of a fellow actress whose favorite pet has died, they become embroiled in both her current play and a murder investigation.

While the solution to the mystery is predictable, I did enjoy this book. None of the characters are tremendously deep, but we do get some glimpses into the world of the professional theater and enjoy the characters' accumulated knowledge of it and all of the glamorous, witty, tragic, and outrageous personalities the theater produces. This book is a fast and easy read and I will read more by this prolific author. If you are looking for a lighthearted read to while away an afternoon, pick this one up.