Undercover Cat [Hardcover]

The Gordons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1991

For 30 some years, a goodly part of the world has taken to its heart the annals and antics and love of the Randall family--which includes a cat-person variously called Pancho, Darn Cat and, affectionately, D.C.

The story began when D.C., after prowling through the neighborhood, scratching on doors and begging for hand-outs, returned home one night with a wrist watch about his neck, placed there by a bank teller taken hostage by a couple of desperadoes.

Twenty-three-year-old Patti Randall, a model, calls the FBI, and agents place D.C. under surveillance. They theorize that the cat will return to a place where he had been treated well.

Their job is complicated by a younger sister, who "falls" for one of the agents, a brother, 12, who sets off rockets, a gossipy neighbor woman, a quick-tempered young attorney who lives across the street, and an assortment of escapades that the FBI Academy at Quantico had never prepared its agents to handle.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a prism of humor...each facet more delicious than the other...In 12-foot neon lights, run for this book...a classic." -- New York Herald Tribune

"Delightful spoof of the undercover agent type of thriller, recommended--even if you prefer dogs." -- Denver Post

"Whether you like cats or hate them, do not, I beg of you, miss Undercover Cat...riotously funny." -- Illustrated London News

About the Author

A former journalist (managing editor, The Citizen, Tucson, Arizona, roving correspondent, the Hearst newspapers), FBI counter-espionage agent and PR writer for 20th Century-Fox, Gordon Gordon co-authored 24 novels that have sold more than 14 million copies in 17 languages, and nine to the movies. The novels have included Undercover Cat (twice filmed by Walt Disney as That Darn Cat), Experiment in Terror, Down Three Dark Streets, Make Haste to Live, FBI Story, Power Play, Night Before the Wedding, etc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 180 pages
• Publisher: Dover Hill Press (September 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096433240X
• ISBN-13: 978-0964332409
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,534,096 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "FBI undercover cat rounds up killers", January 18, 2002

By 

Priscilla Stafford (Yokohama, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Undercover Cat (Hardcover)

'The decision came through from the top. Darn Cat henceforth would be listed in the card index and all reports as Informant X-14. Under the anonymous cloak of X-14, his identity would be held secret for all time, and no one, except those actually working the case, would know that he was of a species other than human...'
-Passage from "Undercover Cat", also published as "That Darn Cat"-

Two bank robbers Dan and Sammy while on a bank job take Helen Jenkins, a middle-aged bank teller. The FBI are stumped and have no leads to catching the crooks. But fortunately, after so long they finally have a lead. But not the kind of lead they, or for that matter, anyone would ever expect. The Randall children, 23-year-old model Patti, 16-year-old Ingrid, and 12-year-old Mike are left alone for the summer while their parents are on vacation. Their cat, Darn Cat (or D.C. as he is called), comes home one night wearing a watch. After a close look, they realize that it is the watch which Ms. Jenkins had been wearing when she had been kidnapped! Informing the FBI, the Bureau sends in Zeke Kelso, to use the cat to lead them to the bank robbers. But nothing goes exactly the way Zeke expects it, too. Snoopy neighbors, D.C.'s mood changes, and a short tempered neighbor stand in the way but everyone knows that time is running out for them...

A totally funny yet suspenseful book, the Gordons certainly have written a book which kept my interest. Not only does the story is read through the people's eyes, we also get to go through the story through the eyes of D.C.! The Gordons imagine what cats think so well that you can almost believe that they had help from a cat to write the book! I love all of the characters, mostly of Patti, Zeke, and Ingrid. I mostly recommend this book to for teenagers and adults, not so much for kids younger than 12 or so.

This book was also afterwards again published under another title, "That Darn Cat". There's also a must read sequel, "Undercover Cat Prowls Again", which I recommend. There is also the terrific Disney movie version of "Undercover Cat" called "That Darn Cat" with an impressive cast of Hayley Mills, Dean Jones, Frank Gorshin, Elsa Lanchester, Roddy McDowall, and Ed Wynn. It's very different from the book, changed to make it more a family film. It's hilariously funny and in my opinion my favorite Hayley Mills movie besides "The Parent Trap".