Paws For Alarm (Dead Letter Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Marian Babson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1998 | Series: Dead Letter Mysteries

A whisker away from death...

A summer in England sounds like a great idea for the Harper family-- and the house exchange makes it so affordable. Now they've swapped their New England home for a lovely cottage in a village near London. Why, the house even comes with a cat, a shy marmalade named Esmond! Everything seems purrfect...until someone tries to kill Mr. Harper.

Now the genteel village feels sinister, the snooty next-door neighbor is acting suspicious and the house is filled with its real owner's secrets. Numerous attempts on Mr. Harper's life convince his wife Nancy they can't pussyfoot around. They need to investigate, starting with what the mousey orange cat knows...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Inventive in its muted, muffled presentation of terror, which throbs like a heartbeat throughout the novel's core."-- Chicago Tribune

"A spiffy mystery."-- Ocala Star-Banner

About the Author

Marian Babson is an expatriate New Englander who now resides in London, England. She is the author of over 30 mystery novels.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312965133
• ISBN-13: 978-0312965136
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #648,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Cat Sleuths

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars PAWS FOR ALARM is a reprint of DEATH SWAP [1984], January 27, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Paws For Alarm (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

It's the companion volume to WHISKERS AND SMOKE [original title: A TRAIL OF ASHES]. The Harper family of New Hampshire has swapped houses with an English widow, Rosemary, for the summer. Nancy Harper has reason to be grumpy. Her scholarly husband, Arnold, is too eager to get down to research in London. Her twins come from the Calvin of "Calvin and Hobbes" mold. Certainly she loves her husband and children, as can be seen during those times she fears she's lost them, even though they do their best to drive her crazy.

Arnold can be a dreadful tease, but is that any reason for his series of near-fatal accidents? Was Rosemary's husband's death an accident after all? Can the Harpers find out what's going on before Arnold has his final "accident"? How many letters telling Rosemary what damages those Harper imps have caused is poor Nancy going to have to write? If only Donald and Donna could be as polite and well-behaved as Esmond, Rosemary's cat.

Yes, you will find those Babson scenes of awkward social situations in this book. (What do you say when you find an acquaintance caught doing what One Should Not Be Doing? How do you keep your cool when your Loved Ones -- and you're using the term very loosely at the moment -- are making a bid to totally gross you out in public?) Ms. Babson has written better stories, but this one is still a pretty good read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just O K, April 9, 2006

By 

Bookaddict (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paws For Alarm (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

If you have a couple of hours to kill and want to read a short, simple, mystery story then go ahead and read this book. Otherwise, don't bother.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Paws for Alarm, May 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Paws For Alarm (Dead Letter Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Great book, goes well with the other she wrote.