Cats Can't Shoot: A Pru Marlowe Pet Noir (Pru Marlowe Pet Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Clea Simon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2012 | Series: Pru Marlowe Pet Mysteries

 

When Pru Marlowe gets the call that there’s been a cat shooting, she’s furious. Animal brutality is the one thing that this tough animal psychic won’t stand for, and in her role as a behaviorist she’s determined to care for the traumatized pet. But when Pru finds out that the cat did the shooting – accidentally setting off a rare dueling pistol – she realizes something else is going on. Could the white Persian really have killed her owner – or did the whole bloody mess have something to do with that pricey collectible? With the white cat turning a deaf ear to her questions, Pru must tune in to Beauville’s other pampered residents – from the dead man’s elite social set to their equally spoiled pets – and learn the truth before her ex, a former New York cop, gets too close. In a world where value is determined by a price tag, only Pru Marlowe and her trusty tabby Wallis can figure out if this was a case of feline felony – or if some human has set the Persian up to be the ultimate cat’s paw.

 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Simon excels in creating unique and believable animal characters as well as diverse and memorable humans, and this sequel is just as good as Dogs Don't Lie (2011)." - Booklist *STARRED REVIEW*

"Fast-paced... readers will relish this fun caper." -Mystery Gazette

"Simon excels in creating unique and believable animal characters as well as diverse and memorable humans, and this sequel is just as good as Dogs Don’t Lie (2011)." —Booklist, starred review

About the Author

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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590583256
• ISBN-13: 978-1590583258
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,079,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi! Welcome to my Amazon Connect page. I don't know if you found me because you like fun feline mysteries you might be wondering about my mystery "Dogs Don't Lie." Yup, it's got a dog in it - but my new heroine, the animal psychic Pru Marlowe, couldn't function without her sidekick, an irascible tabby named Wallis. They both appear in "Cats Can't Shoot," and next spring, you'll get to read their third outing, "Parrots Prove Deadly." Meanwhile, I hope you are enjoying my Theda Krakow series - "Mew is for Murder," "Cattery Row," "Cries and Whiskers," or "Probable Claws" - and my Dulcie Schwartz series (think cats AND ghosts!) with "Shades of Grey," "Grey Matters," "Grey Zone," "Grey Expectations," or the upcoming "True Grey." Or perhaps we share some family issues, and you're looking at "Mad House" or "Fatherless Women." Or maybe you just love cats and are interested in my "The Feline Mystique." At any rate, good to meet you! I'm a writer and journalist, an avid reader, and am looking forward to making this page lively and fun.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Purr-fectly Delightful Cat Mystery March 31, 2012

By Amy D. Shojai

Format:Paperback

Cats Can't Shoot is the second book in Clea Simon's Pru Marlowe "pet noir" series, and I was fortunate to receive an ARC. Clea is a prolific author of three mystery series, and includes cats in her work (yay!). Pru Marlowe is an animal behaviorist with a talent for "hearing" the thoughts of critters around her--cats, dogs, ferrets and more--but of course there are translation problems that cause misunderstandings. When a white Persian cat is accused of murder--setting off an antique dueling pistol that kills the owner--Pru sets out to discover what really happened. Since the Persian perp refuses to "talk" (cat got her tongue?), Pru meets with a host of furry residents hoping to get the inside scoop. This is a fun mystery with a quirky heroine and unique premise. I liked Pru better than many of the critters, though, since many of the pet voices seemed snarky and held little affection for humans (granted, often with good reason!). Many of the animal conversations got interrupted before any real information could be given, which was frustrating not only to Pru but also to the reader. The behaviorist insights in the book are dead-on accurate! Fans of cat mysteries will lap this up like cream as they second-guess if cats really CAN shoot--and who framed this Persian beauty and why.

--Amy Shojai, CABC, certified animal behavior consultant and author of 23 pet care books

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great mystery! March 31, 2012

By Yvonne Reviews

Format:Paperback

Animal psychic, Pru Marlowe, hears there has been a cat shooting and she's furious. She can't stand the idea of animal brutality and she plans to make sure this situation is dealt with and fast. However, when she arrives on the scene, she discovers that the cat is the one who is accused of doing the shooting using an antique gun. Although relieved that no cat has been shot, she's not buying that the cat is guilty either.

She tries to communicate with the beautiful Persian, but she has no luck. The cat is keeping her info to herself. She's obviously traumatized since the victim was her beloved human. Pru turns to the neighborhood pets, and her own tabby Wallis, for some assistance. They try to help, but Pru is getting mixed signals from everyone and she discovers that victim had quite a few enemies that she never expected to find.

Pru Marlowe is the new Doctor Doolittle of the literary world. She knows exactly what these animals are thinking and what they need. I just want to stress that this is not a supernatural book. The pets do not talk aloud. Pru has a psychic ability, but it's not a paranormal book. It's a cozy mystery.

Pru is a strong character who fights for what she knows to be right. She doesn't sit back and hope that someone saves the day. She does her own saving, even though her latest boyfriend is a cop. She doesn't depend on him or anyone else, for that matter. Well, she does depend on her tabby, Wallis. Their scenes make me laugh. They are like an old married couple. Their concern and love for each other comes through each page loud and clear.

The story is fast-paced with a mystery that will lead you in several different directions before we finally get our answers. Any book that features a kitty as the main character (along with a lovely cover shot) gets my vote.

I loved Clea's Theda Krakow series, but I'm loving this series even more. I can't wait for book #3 to come out.

FTC Disclosure: NetGalley provided me with a copy of this book to review. This did not influence my thoughts and opinions in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Murderous Cat? April 26, 2012

By L. Rigod

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book had a fantastic (not meaning fantasy,) premise of a cat being accused of murdering a man, it's owner. Is it even possible? What about the cat being traumatized? Was the cat enraged and possessed murderous thoughts? Had it been abused or was it being used as a cover-up for another human who possessed evil thoughts? I mean physically possible. Cats are predatory but a house cat shooting her master?

We are taken along with Pru Marlowe, a pet behaviorist (almost,) who receives a chilling telephone call...a 'cat shooting.' Pru rushes to the scene expecting the worse..a fallen cat, only to find the cat is the accused and may be injured.

Pru, in the style of another 'Marlowe' becomes a detective trying to solve not only this murder or accident, but another male friends demise. Why is she swirling in the middle of all this bloodshed and chaos? Pru turns to Wallis, her companion for answers, but finds out she must decode this for herself.

This was a true Pet Noir mystery. Again it reminds me of the famous Philip Marlowe books by Raymond Chandler. Rough character and darned good at what he did...solving crimes. This is not a cozy murder mystery but a hard core mystery that will have you following along at a surprising pace.