What the Cat Dragged In (Jacques and Cleo, Cat Detectives, No. 1) [Paperback]

Gilbert Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2007

A charming new mystery series from beloved and bestselling author, Gilbert Morris...

Introducing...

Jacques the Ripper: A tough–minded “Savannah” breed of feline–fierce, enormous, and with a mind of his own.

And...

Cleo: A multi–colored “Rag Doll” with long silky hair. Cleo is as affectionate as Jacques is tough and her favorite mode of transportation is draped over the shoulder of the nearest human.

In their debut mystery, Jacques and Cleo and their owner...or rather the human they own, Kate Forrest, and her son, Jeremy, move to a beautiful beach house in Gulf Shores, Alabama, left to Kate by a distant relative.

The catch is that another distant relative, wanna–be novelist (and bonafide cat–hater) Jake Novak, has also inherited an interest in the house. Undeterred, Kate and Jeremy move in the downstairs quarters and Jake takes the separate apartment upstairs.

Then, when a murder occurs...everyone is stumped—but feline sleuths Jacques and Cleo come to the rescue and reveal the identity of the killer.

About this series: For years, mystery readers and cat lovers alike have devoured the suspense novels by Lillian Jackson Braun, Rita Mae Brown and others, in what has developed into the bestselling cat–mystery genre. Now, veteran fiction author Gilbert Morris joins the ranks of those prestigious novelists with his Jacques and Cleo, Cat Detectives series, destined to become a welcome addition to this genre by feline fanatics everywhere.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736919643
• ISBN-13: 978-0736919647
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #879,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gilbert Morris is among today's most popular Christian writers; his books having sold nearly six million copies worldwide. He specializes in historical fiction and won a 2001 Christy Award for the Civil War drama Edge of Honor. Once a pastor and English professor who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, Morris lives with his wife in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cat Lovers Unite!, June 17, 2007

By 

Deborah "Books, Movies and Chinese Food" (Fairfax, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: What the Cat Dragged In (Jacques and Cleo, Cat Detectives, No. 1) (Paperback)

Kate and her son Jeremy have discovered they have inherited a house in White Sands, Alabama which would mean a better life for the two of them. The catch is they have to share the house with another person plus take care of the many animals that already live there. Jake's not too thrilled about sharing the house with Kate and Jeremy plus their two cats Jacques the Ripper and Cleo. He doesn't like animals period and the cats share his same affection about them. The trio begin to adapt their new life together where all seems to be going well at first. Then a murder happens that affects them and it's up to the cats to save the day to find the killer.

This is a new genre for Morris, he's written several mysteries before but none quite like this. What I found very different about this book was the use of pop culture and modern slang. I never would have thought I would have read the words Dr. Dre or 50 Cent in a Gilbert Morris book! Kate's and Jake's situation is unique as this is one of the few CBA books I've read that have an unmarried female and male living together in the same house. This does get brought up several times in the book by church members as an issue but I think it's handled well. I don't mind reading about animals so I liked the mini zoo of animals the two have to keep in the house. However I thought it was unbelievable to keep a raccoon was kept as a pet. Aren't they wild animals? And how come nothing is mentioned about rabies? I didn't really like Jake's character. He came off as very male chauvinist and rude. Personally also I thought he acted like an old man instead of a 30 year old. I didn't like how he would insult and throw away Kate's food. He just felt like a cardboard stereotypical character with no real likable personality. Rhiannon is another strange character as I don't know many young girls who would read the encyclopedia cover to cover.

I liked the cats and their participation in the story. Although I felt that they didn't play a big of a role as the cover made it out to be. Hopefully that changes in the next book because I liked reading about what they were thinking and the communication between the two. The mystery was very good as I did not know who the killer really was and was quite surprised by the outcome. If you like cozy mysteries, this is one I think you'd enjoy.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cats..and suspense, March 3, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: What the Cat Dragged In (Jacques and Cleo, Cat Detectives, No. 1) (Paperback)

If you love suspense and cats, you'll love What the Cat Dragged In. This Gilbert Morris book is the start of a series that includes two cats Cleo and Jacque, and their person.

Kate Forrest, and her son Jeremy are barely getting by in Memphis. Kate is a 29-year-old widow, trying to raise her twelve-year-old son, while working two low-income jobs. Mother and son are living in a run-down apartment with their two unusual cats. Kate suddenly finds she is the beneficiary to a large estate left to her by an unknown distant relative. Little does she know that there are strange stipulations to the inheritance, as well as another unknown relative with whom she will have to share the estate.

Jake Novak, a down-and-out Harley-riding, ex-Chicago cop, who hates cats and is trying to write the Great American Novel, thinks it is a good time to get out of Chicago. He decides this is the answer to be able to spend time working on his novel. Jake, Kate, Jeremy, Cleo and Jacque, head to White Sands, Alabama to fulfill the quirky requirements of inheriting the spoils.

Soon they are sharing the grand home on the beach and getting acquainted with the locals, as well as the inhabitants of the house: a parrot who talks dirty, a ferret and a raccoon, to name a few. Jake is trying to avoid the cats and other creatures, while Jacque and Cleo have their cat conversations about their "Person" and the Intruder (Jake). As they are all learning to live together in this menagerie, they soon find that one of their neighbors has been murdered.

Add a few gangsters, strange neighbors living in a shack, and of course the unusual cats, makes this a fun and quick read. I can hardly wait to see what this crew gets into next.

Armchair Interviews says: For those that love cats--and suspense in the same book, this one is for you.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A good idea, but lost me along the way, October 1, 2008

By 

TnTsang (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What the Cat Dragged In (Jacques and Cleo, Cat Detectives, No. 1) (Paperback)

I really struggled to enjoy this book and will not continue with the series. The premise was good and the writing well-done, but the lack of animal character development and participation in a series named after them, seemed like a ploy to bring over "Cat Who" or "Sneaky Pie" fans. There was also quite a lot of religion, which would have been ok with a gentler hand, but got quite heavy at times. I hated how the author used it to paralyze the lead female. I have always thought faith helped someone make choices, but this character seemed to spend most of her time reading the bible and waiting for signs from God. Maybe that was needed to make the male lead seem more decisive, but it made her look so inept, that I began to lost interest in the story quickly.

I admit to a preference for strong female characters though, so if this doesn't bother you, you may enjoy the book more than I did.