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

Garrison Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997

Feline sleuth ""Big Mike"" and his human companion, Penelope Warren, owner of a local mystery bookstore, sift through a bizarre assortment of baffling clues as they investigate the disappearance of a valuable stallion and the murder of his trainer. Reprint. PW. "

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The lead cat, Mycroft (aka Big Mike), a 25-pound Abyssinian named after Sherlock Holmes's older brother, is just one of several anthropomorphic creatures who hold center stage in this busy caper set in small but continually seething Empty Creek, Ariz. Horse trainer Jack Loomis has been shot and killed, and his employer's prize Arabian stallion has been abducted. The news of the horsenapping moves the town to grief; the murder of the trainer, who had a reputation for cruelty to animals, inspires mixed emotions. Penelope Warren, outgoing proprietress of a prospering mystery bookstore, has spent four years in the Marine Corps and is an honorary member of Empty Creek's police department. As she is drawn into the case, she brings along Big Mike, who has his own ideas about how to play good-cat/bad-cat with the suspects. Penelope soon discovers that Loomis and Maryanne Melrose, the ranch owner's wife, had been lovers, and that some newcomers to Empty Creek are not what they seem to be. Then there is another killing-exactly like the first. A crew of richly drawn and voluble town characters add opinions and-even better-fresh gossip to the investigation, keeping the proceedings lighthearted. Cats, dogs and horses contribute insights to this tale in which everybody, whether on two legs or four, appears to be in rut.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

In his Big Mike series of pet-related mysteries (Royal Cat, 1995; the paperback Desert Cat, 1994), Allen is developing the sort of eccentric and benign if occasionally criminal small town that owes a lot to Andy Griffith's Mayberry and Joan Hess's Maggody. Sometime sleuth Penelope Warren runs an Empty Creek, Arizona, bookstore; her cat Mycroft (a.k.a. ``Big Mike'') goes everywhere with her to assist in tracking down one murderer or another, even when saddlebags may be involved. This time, a heavily insured Arabian stallion is kidnapped and his trainer killed. On the case are Penelope, Big Mike, insurance investigators, the newspaper editor (Penelope's lover), the bank president (her chum), the police chief (her actor sister's intended) and more. The crime is creditably solved and enjoyably so, thanks to an authorial sense of humor that misfires only about a third of the time (not a bad average in this subgenre). But Allen overstuffs his casserole: He's got everything here from a romance writer and an FBI agent on to cute dogs, bunnies, and snakes, not to mention multiple romantic couples cuddling with a boonies-style sexual smarminess. A fairly good series that needs to get leaner and meaner. -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; Reprint edition (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575661888
• ISBN-13: 978-1575661889
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,914,012 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece, February 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stable Cat (A "Big Mike" Mystery) (Paperback)

I proudly list "Stable Cat" among my very favorite books, Mr. Allen has done it again. There is never a dull moment in the life of Ms. Penelope Warren, all of the characters are life-like, fresh, new...I am so happy that finally there is another type of murder-mystery besides the gloomy, dead-serious world of Agatha Christie. This book deserves more than five stars, I have read it twice and plan on reading it again.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and easy, January 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stable Cat (A "Big Mike" Mystery) (Paperback)

I love Mikey and the person he owns. I've read all so far and can't wait til the next one comes out. The Mikey and Penelope books are easy to read. And very funny. At least once every book I find myself laughing out loud and tears running down my cheeks. The characters are one of a kind.They are outragous, lovable, contemptable, and very very strange. Enjoyable reads when you just want to kick back and get some fun out of reading with a little mystery thrown in.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Like animals-- read it!, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Stable Cat (A "Big Mike" Mystery) (Paperback)

Have read all of this series and plan to continue future ones. The cat is great. Like him having a dog for a friend and the fact that he can walk through life and leave chaos in his wake as crimes are being solved.. It is nice to recognize areas I have lived near and be able to picture the scenes in my mind. What I really like is the fact that a lot of the characters have a true love relationship with their partners and there are some interesting parings. The unfortunate part of these couples is that is seems they have to pretend to be someone else or become an exhibitionist in order to have sex with their partner. And the "real" cowboy still alive in this town appears to make his living being a gigolo. All in all this series is a good read but dear author your male bias still shows through in spite of the male calendar which I would like see described in more detail in next book along with reactions of the characters. Author, keep on with the funny stuff and please please keep the animals traveling through your books.