Murder at the Cat Show [Hardcover]

Marian Babson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1989

Catty Murder

Doug Perkins doesn't dislike cats-he just isn't especially interested in them. But the struggling young London public relations firm of Perkins and Tate can't afford to be choosy about the jobs they take. So when Doug is asked to do the PR for a glorified feline extravaganza called "Cats Through the Ages," he doesn't hesitate. But it isn't long before he wishes he had hesitated...

There are some very valuable cats on exhibit-even a few feline celebrities. Then the robbery of a gold statue of Dick Whittington's cat sets nerves on edge. The theft is not exactly a PR man's dream, but this disaster pales in comparison to the gruesome murder that follows. Someone has knocked unconscious the show's organizer, the universally despised Rose Chesne-Malverne, and pushed her into the cage with a pair of feral tigers fancifully named Pyramus and Thisbe-with predictably fatal results. Now, it's up to Doug to find an elusive killer who appears to have nine lives of his own...

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The appearance of this second-in-a-series from England will gladden Babson's numerous aficionados in America. Doug Perkins describes the larky and suspenseful action at the cat show that he and his partner, Gerry Tate, have been hired to publicize. Their efforts are hardly needed, since media people swarm about the exhibit, but then famous Hugo Verrier's golden cat statue goes missing and show-organizer Mrs. Chesne-Malvern is killed. Somebody wedged her body behind the bars securing Pyramus and Thisbe, Sumatran tigers whose mistress, Carlotta Montera, plays a leading role in the murder investigation. In the supporting cast, "stage mothers" push their stars. While many convincingly real cats compete for the reader's affections, even Doug, expressing indifference to feline charms, falls helplessly in love with a wistful kitten. The drama ends with a suitably startling episode that trips up the person trying to slip away with Verrier's golden cat.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

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

"If you haven't read at least one of Marian Babson's books, you have definitely missed the boat."-Mystery News

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

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Press (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312029543
• ISBN-13: 978-0312029548
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,024,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bet you can't read just one, January 27, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder at the Cat Show (Mass Market Paperback)

If I had to pick a favorite from Marian Babson's "cat mysteries," this would be it! This is the first of her books that I read, and since then I've been a compulsive Babson fan. These are the most true-to-life, hilarious cats and cat owners (and cat haters) I've ever read about. I never tire of re-reading this book, the prequel, both sequels and every other Babson book I've been able to get.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not to my taste., February 7, 2011

By 

Lily Courthope - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder at the Cat Show (Paperback)

While the writing style is certainly enjoyable -- Babson does have a good sense of humor -- the failure to develop fully rounded human characters at the expense of more interesting cat characters (a species that holds no interest for me at all) left me unimpressed. Since I didn't care about the people, I didn't care whodunnit either.

4.0 out of 5 stars Another enjoyable read, October 15, 2008

By 

Dana Cunningham (Subiaco, Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder at the Cat Show (Mass Market Paperback)

If you want to just kick back and enjoy a light funny murder mystery you can't go wrong with anything written by Marian Babson. This is an entertaing mystery that will keep you guessing. Lots of quirky oddball characters. Sure to please the cat lover in all of us.