Skeeter: A Cat Tale by Anne Watson

When a stray kitten romps into Lynne's life, she has no idea what she's getting into. As Lynne describes in letters to her friend Angie, Skeeter is all Cat - high spirited, contrary, and inventive. He's so goofy that he reminds Lynne of her own nuttiest escapades; so irrepressible that even Lynne's neighbor, mark, gets wound around his paw. And when Angie visits to see skeeter for herself....Well, no one who meets Skeeter will ever be quite the same again.

Anne L. Watson's writings on cats have appeared in the newsletter of the Gozo SPCA. She lives in Friday Harbor, Washington, with one formerly-stray cat.

Quote: "I think I'll continue being pack leader. Like all despots, I perpetuate Skeeter's servitude by monopolizing the means to freedom: the checkbook, the car keys, the can opener."

My Thoughts:This was a cute little story. I didn't realize how short it was until I finished it because I read it on my Kindle. I have since found that it is only 112 pages long. The story of Skeeter was told in letters written to Lynne's friend, a string of anecdotes. It was rather loosely strung and I think it could have been a better story with more details. I enjoyed reading about Skeeter, his antics were funny. As a cat lady myself I found myself laughing and comparing Skeeter to some of the cats I have owned over the years, especially when she was trying to get Skeeter t except a harness and leash. Cat people would like this book.

Links:

The authors site

Challenges:

100+ Reading Challenge

eBook Reading Challenge

2010 Cat Book Challenge

Monthly Mixer Mele

Total pages read 2010:

This book - 112

Total - 4840

Cat Striking Back by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

Book Description : Beware of the cat striking back . . .
On a lovely moonlit night, Joe Grey is minding his own business, carrying a gift of mice to a litter of kittens, when he stumbles upon a murder scene. Behind an empty house lies a swimming pool, its bottom covered with mud. There is also blood, the smell of human death, and drag marks. But there is no victim. Without a body, it's a crime that will be hard to prove.
With stubborn feline curiosity, Joe Grey sets out to investigate. As he, Dulcie, and Kit follow the killer's trail among four houses whose owners are on vacation, they discover that more murder has been planned for the small, close-knit neighborhood. They uncover evidence of conflict among the residents and multiple signs of breaking-and-entering, although nothing valuable seems to be missing.
With the help of two local ferals, the cats find the victim's hidden grave and learn of the violence that is yet to come. As they set out to alert the law, they discover the perfect way to thwart the killer—through that person's unnatural but powerful fear of cats.
Thus unfolds the next installment in Shirley Rousseau Murphy's beguiling series about the gray tomcat P.I., his feline friends, and human companions, as, skirting danger, they unravel events shaped by human frailty and by the darkest feline imaginings from the killer's past.

Quotes: When Joe slipped out of his tower to the rooftops, his belly full of supper and his mind on the empty houses, the fog had blown away; the sky was clear, the moon bright as he leaped across the singles to the neighbor's roof and raced on into the night.

Why this book you might ask: I follow this series so there was no question about buying and reading this.

My Thoughts: I love this cat themed fantasy, cozy mystery series. This is the 15th book. It was a fun light read and while it won't be my favorite of the series I still enjoyed it. The thoughts of the human characters seemed to go on far too long, especially the musings of the bad guy. They were predictable and repetitive, I found myself skimming some pages. The lively dialogue I expect to read wasn't fully here this time. If you are a mystery person who loves cats or a cat lover who reads mysteries you'll like it.

Links:
Joe Grey books

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: William Morrow; First Edition edition (October 27, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0061123994
ISBN-13: 978-0061123993

Challenges:
100+ Challenge
2010 Cat Book Challenge
NaJuReMoNoMo
Monthly Mixer Mele

Total Pages for 2010:
This book - 319
Total - 1375