Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Gilbert Morris has a great set-up for his new cozy mystery series--featuring "cat detectives" Jacques and Cleo. The person belonging to the two cats is a struggling single mother named Kate. She's astounded to discover she's inherited a beach house in White Sands, Alabama and the money that comes along with it. Unfortunately, there are two conditions. First, she has to live in the house and take care of the former owner's animals, which include a raccoon, a ferret, a rabbit with a death wish (she constantly chews electric cords), a cussing parrot, a pit bull, and a snake. Second, she has to share the house with Jake, another heir who is also required to live in the house.

Jake and Kate are truly the odd couple. Jake is a former cop who believes in cooking everything from scratch and keeping things neat as a pin. Kate believes in microwave thawing and throws her clothes on the floor. Kate has a natural affinity for animals. Jake hates them, even though he grudgingly agrees to help take care of the menagerie because of the terms of the will. Kate is a Christian and Jake is a skeptic. So naturally, sparks fly. Does anyone see a romance coming?

Most of What the Cat Dragged In sets up Jake and Kate's inheriting the money, meeting, and attempting to set up housekeeping together. (Although for propriety's sake, Jake occupies an upstairs apartment of his own.) And of course, we get to know the two cats, Jacques and Cleo. Cleo's a sweet, fluffy ragdoll. Jacques is a rare cat known as a Savannah, which is half Serval wild cat. His nickname is "Jacques the Ripper." Both Jake, the former cop, and Trouble the pit bull are afraid of him.

The mystery starts pretty late in the book, which is all right because it frankly isn't as interesting as Jake and Kate, the animals, and the quirky characters in White Sands.
(Spoiler) This is a mystery, however, so eventually the friend of Kate's son, Jeremy, is killed, and Jeremy is a suspect. Jacques the Ripper comes to the rescue by uncovering an important clue that clears Jeremy.

Reviewed by Robin Johns Grant
http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com

I love to read and try new (to me) authors but this book was truly a waste of my time and the paper it is printed on. I found it while searching for animal involved mysteries it is advertised as a one but in truth it is just another boring religious story where the lead female,Kate, is subservient and scared of her own shadow can't even think for herself. Jake is a macho man. The 12 year old son of Kate,Jeremy, is the only like able person in this book. The animals are barely involved. In all honesty I had a great desire to send this book through the shredder but resisted instead I sent it to the goodwill where it might do some good. My opinion: if you are looking for a good animal mystery don't buy this book instead try any of Rita Mae Browns books and the Joe Grey cat series.

I have never read this author before. The plot has been well-summarized by other reviewers, so I won't get into those details. I was NOT expecting the extensive use of Evangelical Christianity throughout the book (and then in the 2nd and 3rd books in the series); in fact, I found it very heavy-handed. The books came across as blatant evangelism hiding (not very well) behind an animal mystery facade. The mystery parts are OK, but I don't think I'll be reading any more from this author. Being a somewhat lapsed mainstream Protestant who doesn't regularly attend church, I found that I can't stand the preachy characters, and the characters who start out skeptical about religion (often "bad guys" who are just about to "see the light") invariably "get Jesus" by the end of the book. I think the stories would be more appealing to the general population without religious references. If you're not uncomfortable with all the religious references, the books are relatively well written and are "clean" without being unbearably Victorian.

I'm sorry I wasted my money on this one. Doesn't begin to compare to the good cat mysteries. The blurb doesn't reveal how heavily religiously-oriented it is.

I recently found this author and this series so I wasn't sure what I was in for. This is a great read. I would recommend this to anyone. It is not a long book. Although the cats help to solve the mystery - most of the action involves the people.

It's so nice to read a book without graphic nonsense. The story was very entertaining too.

Don't waste your time if you're looking for a Cat Mystery. There are probably 8 or 9 paragraphs in which the cats appear and they mostly complain about their "person". And then, all of a sudden, the male cat (Savannah cats, BTW, aren't black) finds the clue that solves the crime. And it's not that good of a mystery...too many characters and side tracks not enough substance.

30-ish ex-Army, ex-cop and would be writer, Jake, is billed as a cat-hater but doesn't seem to be that much of one in the story. 30-ish Kate starts out strong in self confidence and in her faith and she does not like Jake because of his morals or ethics. Then Gilbert ups her religion but wimps out her confidence and somehow we get a 'romance'. (Also never mentioned is that Kate and Jake must be related, or how, if they are both heirs to this estate.)

Gilbert doesn't know whether the beach is North or South even though he lives on the Gulf coast. And he doesn't know much about animals even though he has a virtual zoo of them in the story. (write what you know). Such a waste of a possible good plot. If Jake had been 20 years older and remained the curmudgeon and cat-hating writer it would have been more interesting characterization.


The publishers can't get names right, in the synopsis (Jake Winters on the back cover but it's Jake Novak in the story). NOT a good read. I am a big fan of Cat and other mysteries, but this one is neither a Cat story nor a very good mystery. Haven't read any other Morris Gilbert, am not likely to after this introduction.