Customer Reviews

Cheat the Devil (Cat Austen Mysteries)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Cat Fortunati Austen is tracking the beginnings of a TV episode based on her "Death of a DJ" adventure while a serial killer is tracking women from her brother Dominic's blue-collar Atlantic City Parish. It is a real treat to watch author Rubino spin out this suspenseful tale as she weaves these plots together in this intriguing, off-beat, and ultimately heart-rending tale. Rubino has a knack for satire and for wringing out both tears of laughter and sadness, a real feel for characters and a writer of some very, very funny dialogue. There are a lot of books by bigger houses that don't have a fraction of this book's suspense or storytelling skill. I hope the fourth book is in the works.

With this third Cat Austen mystery, Jane Rubino delivers a tautly paced drama balanced with a comic and suspenseful subplot. With their romantic getaway derailed, Cat Austen is left to deal with the pre-production chaos surrounding the CopWatch television show's episode based on Cat's "Death of a DJ" adventure, and Victor must deal with the latest in a series of murders that have an uncomfortably close link to the parish church of Cat's brother, Father Dominic Fortunati. As suspicion threatens to cause a rift in the relationship between Cat and Victor, a man from Cat's past threatens her peace of mind, as her compulsion to live up to the bravado of "Kate Auletta", the TV version of Cat, nudges her toward a heartstopping climax. This is the third Cat Austen mystery, and as with Death of a DJ and Fruitcake, the author supplies thrills, a host of true-to-life characters and the most side-splitting dialogue of any writer in the field. Highly recommende! d.

I just finished Cheat the Devil and have started Plot Twist, which I plan to read much slower as it is, so far, the last in the series. I rate Jane Rubino right up there with Jan Burke, Earlene Fowler, Carolyn Haines and Marcia Muller. Although the romance between Cat and Victor exists, the stories don't need to revolve around it as you become so caught up in all the characters (I want Cat's family) and the solid story lines. One of the many things I loved about Cheat the Devil is that you are coming upon the end of the book and you THINK the murders are solved and it's a wrap, but then . . . surprise! Death of a DJ and Fruitcake are also highly recommended.

I picked up Rubino's first book, Death of a DJ and fell hard for these characters. Just finished Cheat the Devil, and I've found an author I'll follow as long as she's writing. How great it is to get lost in a gripping plot with a batch of such funny, bright, true-to-life characters. I am ordering her second book today, and waiting impatiently for the next installment.

Cat Austen dreads her spur of the moment agreement to accompany her beau, New Jersey police Lieutenant Victor Cardenas on a getaway trip.. She is elated when Victor has to cancel due to being assigned the investigation of a murder. However, her joy turns to sadness when she realizes that the victim was connected to St. Agnes Church where her brother Dom is a priest. Cat also learns that this is the fourth murder of a person related to the church.

Three more people are killed, all having some involvement with the St. Agnes Church. Victor, who is frustrated with the way his relationship with Cat seems to have been stalled by her for reasons unknown, begins to believe that Father Dom is the killer.

The third novel in the Cat Austen mysteries, CHEAT THE DEVIL, is a fun addition to the warm series. The secondary characters including Cat's six siblings, mother, and two children are all wonderful protagonists who add much to the story line, just like they did in the previous two novels (DEATH OF A DJ and FRUITCAKE). The who-done-it is very intriguing, but it is the Austen extended family that makes Jane Rubino's story go down the right way.

Harriet Klausner

Just finished my two-week-long Rubino-Read-A-Thon, and I can't stand the thought that I must wait until June for the 4th installment! Once again, the characters are all completely and totally believable, the Cat/Victor relationship is teasing us along, and the mystery is the best I've read in a long time. No way you'll be disappointed. In fact, I read the library's copy, and then went out and bought the hardcover to keep for myself. It's that good.

This Tale of Two Mysteries - a take -off on a TV show and a serial killer murder plot are the work of a top-knotch storyteller. Great plotting, and exceptional cast of characters. A Must Read.

This mystery is very confusing to read because the author throws so many characters at you. I had a difficult time keeping them all straight. I fail to understand Cat's insistence on placing herself in danger time and time again. Doesn't this woman remember that she has children? Also, if she's so much smarter than the police, why doesn't she stop whining around about her writing career and join the police force? I'm sure they'd be delighted to have her, given her penchant for witholding information from them, lying about her whereabouts and her habit of blatantly inserting herself into their investigations. Cat needs to get a life.