Royal Cat (A "Big Mike" Mystery) [Paperback]

Garrison Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

Inheriting the title of Queen of the annual Elizabethan Festival in Empty Creek, Arizona, after her predecessor is murdered, bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Penelope Warren and her feline sidekick, "Big Mike," set out to unmask a killer. Reprint.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Abyssinian alley cat Mycroft-aka Big Mike-returns for his second adventure (after Desert Cat) among the wacky denizens of Empty Creek, Ariz. The townspeople have turned out for the Empty Creek Authentic Elizabethan Spring Faire, but mischief turns foul when the queen is murdered. Mystery-bookstore owner Penelope Warren, the hastily chosen new queen, snoops around when she isn't sending shrews and bawds to the pillory or kissing Sir Walter Raleigh, while her feline companion, Mike, newly appointed royal cat, wears an Elizabethan collar and cloak and spends his days dreaming of lima beans and thinking. Mike points his claw at the murderer just before Penelope is taken captive and sentenced to be beheaded. The rousing finale-featuring a ragtag band of revolting peasants-and the antics of the exceptionally ribald cast more than make up for the occasional plot lapse. Royal Cat is lusty good fun.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575660458
• ISBN-13: 978-1575660455
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,840,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big Mike rules in this one!, June 1, 2007

By 

C. Mattoon "christymatt" (US) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Royal Cat: A 'Big Mike' Mystery (Big Mike Mysteries) (Hardcover)

My favorite Big Mike and Penelope Warren mystery. As Penelope, Big Mike's mistress and honorary member of Empty Creek's police force, is crowned Elizabeth Regina after the death of the first Elizabeth, the detecting, loving and hilarity begins. Penelope is stumped on this case but after the second murder she begins to put the pieces in place; Marlowe who hates Shakespeare, secret notes taped to her door and then Big Mike's discovery of the poison! Got it? Well, if you don't, read it; it's a light joyeous romp and loaded with laughs, and oh yeh, with some mystery tucked in!

3.0 out of 5 stars No progression from first book, May 19, 2011

By 

T. Persson (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Royal Cat (A "Big Mike" Mystery) (Paperback)

The first book in this series, "Desert Cat", was more a study in the wacky cast of characters rather than a mystery. While I enjoyed it I was hoping that Allen was using it to acquaint us with his recurring characters and other books would be more about the mystery and advance the lives of his main cast.

Alas and alack, this was not the case. We have a likeable group of eccentric residents of Empty Creek AZ and some good visiting characters, but very little story and almost no mystery. We don't find out anything new about the main characters and there is very little action. The main theme is equating women's breasts to produce and finding a sexual partner. It's not raunchy but it really isn't interesting either.

While I like the characters, I'm not much for romance stores and that is basically what these first two books are. I will try one more of the series, but if it is just another foray into romance rather than murder I will probably give up on the series.

3.0 out of 5 stars Cozy cat mystery, April 13, 2010

By 

A. E. Poe (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Royal Cat (A "Big Mike" Mystery) (Paperback)

I call these cat mysteries, "Junk food for the Brain." They're not Shakespeare but they are an enjoyable way to pass the time on a subway. It's like eating a donut.