Author Blaize Clement has earned herself a legion of fans with the first five books in her pet-sitting mystery series. Now Blaize's beloved heroine, Dixie Hemingway, is back, and when Dixie's latest assignment turns dangerous, it's up to her to save the day.
Dixie, no relation to you-know-who, is helping an injured and cantankerous man take care of Cheddar, his orange shorthair cat. Soon Dixie finds herself totally smitten with the man's adorable infant great-granddaughter. But the baby's naive young mother has enough knowledge about certain powerful local big-mney honchos to send them to prison for life, and they are willing to do anything, even kill her baby, to shut her up.
Caught in the turmoil caused by the grandfather's prickly pride, the granddaughter's misguided plans to regain her young husband's respect by telling the truth in court, and the ruthless determination of wealthy villains to preserve their ill-gotten millions, Dixie is the only person who can rescue the baby. And she has to do it without letting law-enforcement people know -- not even Lieutenant Guidry, with whom she has a new romantic relationship.
Does Dixie have her claws sunk too deep to make it out of this one? Find out in book six of Blaize Clement's splendid series.
ReviewPRAISE FOR BLAIZE CLEMENT AND
RAINING CAT SITTERS AND DOGS
“Another enjoyable tale from Blaize Clement.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Smooth prose, a lush background...a fine-feathered read.”—Publishers Weekly
*CAT SITTER ON A HOT TIN ROOF*
“Thoughtful and compelling.”—Publishers Weekly
“A feel-good [series]…Recommend this one for readers who liked the southern setting and animal characters in Joyce and Jim Lavene’s The Telltale Turtle.” —Booklist
EVEN CAT SITTERS GET THE BLUES
“Gutsy, sexy…Dixie is Siesta Key’s favorite pet sitter.”—Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“Blends elements of cozy and thriller to produce an unusual and enjoyable hybrid . . . sure to delight readers.”—Publishers Weekly *
“For fans of Susan Conant and Clea Simon.”—Library Journal *
“Ingenious…captivating. Here is a series that even people who dislike pet mysteries can enjoy.”
—Reviewing the Evidence
“Will have readers begging for more treats.”—Lansing State Journal
DUPLICITY DOGGED THE DACHSHUND
“Fast paced…the canine caper crowd will enjoy Florida’s leading pet-sitter.”—Midwest Book Review
“Clement’s fast-paced sophomore effort…builds suspense and delivers startling revelations.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A fast-paced novel, an intriguing plot. Clement also infuses this entertaining story with a thoughtful meditation on death, survival, and moving on. It’s a lesson the animals in our lives already know.”
—Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Don’t let the cutesy title fool you. This isn’t one of those lightweight, frothy ‘fun with animals’ stories... It’s tough, gritty, and edgy. One of the strongest points of Clement’s work is her knack for building suspense slowly but steadily, to the point where you have no idea what peril might be lurking just around the bend.”— Sarasota Herald-Tribune
“Clement uses the animals in Dixie’s care…to enrich her plot, creating in the process an entertaining cozy, one of the few set in South Florida, land of noir.”—Booklist
CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT SITTER
“A knockout read.”—Laurien Berenson, author of Doggie Day Care Murder
“Clement’s assured cozy debut introduces an appealing heroine.”—Publishers Weekly
“Impressive…a sure keeper, with well-developed characters, seamless prose, and a winning plot…[a] commendable new series.” —Mystery Lovers.com
“A first-rate debut.”—Booklist
“Entertaining…Dixie is a complex, well-conceived character and the plot fast-moving and believable.” —Kirkus Reviews
“At once a cozy mystery for animal lovers and a jarringly earthy hard-boiled whodunit about human corruption. Clement’s sleuth, Florida pet-sitter Dixie Hemingway, is an engaging combination of vulnerability and toughness, but the real heroine of the story is a gritty Abyssinian cat. A good read!”—Susan Conant, author of All Shots and the Holly Winter Dog Lover’s Mysteries
“Kick off your flip-flops, find a hammock, and settle in for a fun read. Clement’s Floridian heroine, Dixie Hemingway, spouts laugh-out-loud one-liners and words of wisdom in this intriguing whodunit filled with twists, turns, and some pretty captivating critters!”—Cynthia Baxter, author of Murder Packs a Suitcase
“Funny, engaging, and true to life.” —Lee Charles Kelly, author of Like a Dog with a Bone
“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
“A fantastic who-done-it . . . Fans of fast-paced clever mysteries will appreciate Dixie’s efforts to uncover the culprit before she either goes to jail or dies.”—Harriet Klausner Reviews
“A new star in the ‘mysteries with animals’ firmament…this book stands out in the genre for its plotting, pacing, and well formed characters, in addition to an enticing tropical locale.”—The Kingston Observer (Kingston, MA)
“A keeper, with its plucky protagonist, cats galore, and a nice sense of place.”—Library Journal
From the Back CoverNo mission is impawsible for Dixie Hemingway in
CAT SITTER AMONG THE PIGEONS
Former Florida police officer turned pet-sitting sleuth is once again on the prowl. Dixie—no relation to you-know-who—is helping an elderly gentleman, Mr. Stern, take care of his orange shorthair cat, Cheddar. But it’s Stern’s infant granddaughter, Opal, who really wins Dixie’s heart. Problem is that Opal’s mother, Ruby, has some dangerous connections to certain local big-money honchos. Ruby has enough insider information to send them to prison for life…and they are willing to do anything, even threaten Opal’s life, to shut her up and preserve their ill-gotten gains. Now it’s up to Dixie to protect Opal from harm—at all costs. And she must do it without letting law-enforcement people know—not even Detective Guidry, with whom she happens to be romantically involved. Does Dixie have her claws sunk in too deep to make it out of this one? Or are her nine lives finally up?
“Dixie’s latest adventure keeps you glued to your seat from the first chapter.”
—*Kirkus Reviews*
“For anyone who loves mysteries, animals, or just plain great writing.”*
—Laurien Berenson, author of Doggie Day Care Murder*
“Dixie is Florida’s favorite pet sitter.”
—*Sarasota Herald-Tribune*