Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues (Dixie Hemingway Mysteries, No. 3) [Hardcover]

Blaize Clement (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 8, 2008

Critics and readers agree that Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter was a bona fide cozy hit. Its follow-up, Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund, won Blaize Clement a whole new set of fans. Now Floridian pet-sitting sleuth Dixie Hemingway is back in this third mesmerizing installment.
          Dixie Hemingway discovers the dead body of the gatekeeper of a mansion. She’s had her fill of homicide investigations, so she leaves the corpse to be found by somebody else. But that somebody else sees Dixie leaving the scene of the crime, and the bullet that killed the man could have come from a gun she owns. To make matters worse, the owner of the mansion is a new client---a pain-wracked scientist who is either quite insane or a genius whose clandestine work may save millions of lives. Or both.
            In either case, Dixie is stuck caring for him and his pet iguana. All that, plus a calico kitten Dixie is determined to save, put her right in the middle of a bizarre crisis fueled by dark secrets....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the third Dixie Hemingway mystery (after 2007's Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund), Clement blends elements of cozy and thriller to produce an unusual and enjoyable hybrid. Pet-sitter Dixie, a former sheriff's deputy on leave after the death of her husband and daughter, finds a corpse in the gatehouse of a mansion, but leaves the body for someone else to find. Traumatized by having killed someone recently, Dixie wants nothing to do with homicide, but fate decrees otherwise. Her new client, a mysterious scientist wracked by pain, owns the mansion, and Dixie ends up caring for him and his pet iguana as she tries to solve the murder and juggle her conflicting feelings for heartthrob Lieutenant Guidry and seductive attorney Ethan Crane. Clement's deft hand with plot and characters is sure to delight readers.

Review

Unanimous Praise for Blaize Clement’s Dixie Hemingway Mysteries

“A knockout read. For anyone who loves mysteries, animals, or just plain great writing, this is a book to savor.”
- Laurien Berenson, author of Hounded to Death, on Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter

“Destined to be a very popular series . . .”
- Kirkus Reviews on Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund

“At once a cozy mystery for animal lovers and a jarringly earthy hard-boiled whodunit… A good read!”
- Susan Conant, author of All Shots and the Holly Winter Dog Lover’s Mysteries, on Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter

“Kick off your flip-flops, find a hammock, and settle in for a fun read.”
- Cynthia Baxter, author of Who’s Kitten Who?, on Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter

“Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter has it all: a feisty heroine, lovable animals, and a solid whodunit. What more could you ask for?”
- Barbara Seranella, creator of the Munch Mancini crime novels

“Fast-paced . . . The canine-caper crowd will enjoy Florida’s leading pet sitter.”
- Midwest Book Review on Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund

“A new star in the ‘mysteries with animals’ firmament . . .”
- The Kingston Observer on Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter

“A keeper, with its plucky protagonist, cats galore, and a nice sense of place. Look forward to the next in this smart series.”
- Library Journal on Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter

“Eminently likeable . . . Mystery fans are in for a treat.”
- Richmond Times-Dispatch on Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312340931
• ISBN-13: 978-0312340933
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Blaize Clement is the author of Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter, Duplicity Dogged the Dachshund, Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues, Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof, Raining Cat Sitters and Dogs, and Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons, all published by St. Martin's Press/Minotaur. She has been a stay at home Mom, a caterer, and a psychologist, some of them all at the same time. She has never been a pet sitter, but has shared her life with several pets. She lives in Sarasota, Florida. Visit her Web site at www.blaizeclement.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Such a fun series, March 7, 2008

By 

Gloria Beaverson "RockyMountainGirl" (Roxborough, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues (Dixie Hemingway Mysteries, No. 3) (Hardcover)

I picked up the first in this series because I am a retired pet sitter, but is is the great writing and stories that had me read all 3 in a short period of time. The author stays true to what a pet sitter does (oh I remember all of those 4 AM mornings!) while making Dixie a believable and likeable gal. Slowly, Dixie has been brought into the land of the living after the loss of her husband and daughter, not only with 2 potential love interests, but also by adopting a kitten. She is too often in the wrong place at the wrong time (glad that never happened to me!) but that is what the books are all about. I won't go into the plots of the books as other reviewers have done. I will just say that the stories move at a good, tight pace and are so very enjoyable. I look forward to the 4th in the series.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yes, pet sitting and murder do mix!, February 15, 2008

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues (Dixie Hemingway Mysteries, No. 3) (Hardcover)

This third novel in a cozy mystery series featuring Dixie Hemingway got my attention from page one.

Dixie has been pet sitting about four years after leaving her job as a deputy with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Department. She is still trying to cope with the grief and tragedy of losing both her husband and child in an accident. Even though she is still resistant to dating again, Dixie is unable to ignore the disturbing attraction she is feeling for not one but two very sexy men. One is a homicide Lieutenant who has told her she is a suspect in this recent murder and the other is a lawyer who, at this point, just seems to like her in fluffy pink sweaters and tight pants.

Apparently Dixie has a penchant for being in the wrong place at the right time to be drawn into trouble. Determined not to get involved again, she is seen riding away from the scene of a murder, and Lt. Guidry (who looks like a GQ ad) recognizes her description.

Dixie soon realizes that her new pet-sitting job is at the same address where she has seen the murdered guard. Gaining entry to the house, she finds more than just her client-she finds a five-foot iguana. The apparent owner-who is not only slightly strange but very sick and very blue-denies hiring her.

Dixie begins to suspect that someone has deliberately gotten her involved in this bizarre and dangerous situation. Her concern for the pets in her care often extends to the owners and in this case, the owner is not only ill but alone with the iguana-and both need her help. But is she helping an innocent man or a murderer? And why is he blue? As her curiosity overcomes her reluctance, Dixie allows herself to be pulled into the lives of the people and pets that have been affected by the murder.

This is a great read with fun and humor to go along with the unpredictable plot.

Armchair Interviews says: Just enough spice and sass to keep it lively.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even Cat Sitters Get The Blues, July 28, 2009

By 

Gail Rodgers "moonwishes" (North East, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues (Dixie Hemingway Mysteries, No. 3) (Hardcover)

This was a delightful, easy reading mystery. Dixie, is a former cop that had to leave police work behind after the death of her husband and daughter four years prior. She is now a pet sitter that cares passionately for the animals under her care and not so passionately for most of the people around her. However her friends care deeply for her and are encouraging her to step back into life. Finally at the point where she is beginning to be open about allowing a personal relationship into her life, her world is turned upside down when a stranger calls and asks her to care for his iguana. In her quest for the safety and well-being of the iguana, she gets involved in a murder mystery. Mayhem results with our heroine also getting a concussion and being gently cared for by the homicide investigator that makes her heart thump in ways it hadn't for the past 4 years.

This book has all the essential for a fun, quick mystery story. The murder of course, the klutzy heroine, the handsome homicide detective, romance and humor, strange characters and even stranger characters (this book takes place in Florida and almost all books taking place in Florida seem to have lots of really strange characters). If you like Janet Evanovich's books and her Stephanie Plum character, you should certainly enjoy reading this book as they are written in a similar style. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and plan to track down the other books in the series as this was a great book to read on one of my many sick days.