Murder Can Spook Your Cat (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #5) [Paperback]

Selma Eichler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1998

Private investigator Desiree Shapiro has run into some tough cases before, but the death of a noted children's book author--found in her study with her cat as the only witness--has her truly stumped. A frequently married woman of contradictions and eccentric habits, this writer had enough in her estate to provide more than a motive for homicide. Desiree must think fast if she wants to catch a killer--not to mention stay alive! .

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Signet (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451192176
• ISBN-13: 978-0451192172
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #937,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A real mind-bender, November 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder Can Spook Your Cat (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #5) (Paperback)

Private Investigator Desiree Shapiro has mixed feelings about Kevin Garvey, her former neighbor of two years. She is sad to see him move, but glad to see him marry the woman of his dreams, children's author Luella Pressman. When Desiree met Luella, she immediately finds the writer to be eccentric and thoroughly delightful. Five years later, Kevin contacts Desiree to tell her that he believes that his former wife was recently murdered. He asks Desiree to look into Luella's death. She agrees, but only to try and put his mind at rest.

After questioning relatives of the deceased, the full figured sleuth finds no evidence of murder or even the slightest hint of a motive. Everyone who knew Louella seemed to love her. Desiree feels that the case is at a stand still at least until the autopsy report is completed. However, Kevin pleads with her to continue with her inquiries and soon Desiree stumbles across some interesting information that places her life in jeopardy.

Desiree Shapiro is a very realistic character who is in harmony with herself as she realizes that her love for food overwhelms any thought of being the next millennium's Twiggy. As the heroine in Selma Eichler's MURDER CAN SPOOK YOUR CAT, Desiree constantly employs humor to disarm people including her audience. Although the mystery is creatively drawn and well plotted, the heart of this book and series is Desiree, a native New Yorker who lives life her way.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not her best book, October 8, 2005

By 

A. Meneely (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Murder Can Spook Your Cat (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #5) (Paperback)

Although I have enjoyed others in the Desiree Shapiro series, this particular one was difficult for me to finish. In the end, I was glad I stuck it out, but I thought the middle of the book was very slow, not to mention the fact that I'd figured out the murderer early in the story. Worth reading from the local library, but I wouldn't purchase it for a collection.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Author, Not Best Book in the Cozy Mystery Series, November 7, 2009

By 

Caroljane "Kidney cancer survivor" (Underground) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder Can Spook Your Cat (Desiree Shapiro Mystery #5) (Paperback)

I happened into a lot of 10 desiree shapiro mysteries, including this one.
I've enjoyed reading the books, but this one wasn't the best of the lot! I found the character interacting with what seemed like an emotionally abusive male, slightly off-putting. But she does wake up and dump him!

Overall, I recommend this series. Great stories and writing. Good detective work, plenty of action. If you're only going to buy one... I wouldn't start with this book.

If you can buy several books and you like mysteries and shorter books, you'll love this series.