Elaine Viets has kept her Dead-End Job series going strong by focussing on the secondary characters that we, as readers of the series, have come to love. Catnapped is the dual story of a ransomed show cat that has Helen working in a cattery shampooing, conditioning and brushing the fur of pampered felines, as well as the story of Helen's loved land lady, Marjory, who has been arrested for the murder of her ex-husband.As always, the writing is tight and funny. Viets excels at teaching the reader something about the world in which Helen's investigations take place without making it sound like a research paper on show cats. Her main character, after 13 books, has remained flawed but interesting and someone you can root for, even when she bungles part of the investigation. I always feel like I know a little more about South Florida after reading a Dead-End Job book, set in Ft. Lauderdale, and look forward to the next installment in this series.Victoria AllmanAuthor of: SEAsoned: A Chef's Journey with Her Captain Local celebrity couple Trish and Mort Barrymore is in the throes of an ugly divorce battling for custody of their precious show kitten. When the prized Chartreux goes missing, high profile attorney Nancy Hays enlists the help of her favorite private eye duo, Helen Hawthorne and Phil Sagemont. Amid their search for the valuable feline, the couple stumbles upon Mort bludgeoned to death by a fallen mahogany cat tower. With all eyes on Trish as the most likely suspect, Helen and Phil must prowl for clues in order to clear their client’s name. As the investigation heats up, a ransom plea from a greedy catnapper spurs Helen and Phil to take action. In order to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on Mort’s prior cat show shenanigans, Helen goes uncover as an assistant at a prizewinning cattery. With antics on par with a beauty queen pageant, Helen finds herself drawn into the absurd cat show drama. Meanwhile, Phil starts to have suspicions about the kitten’s whereabouts wondering if it’s really Trish herself behind its puzzling disappearance. The 13th installment of this national bestselling series is clearly Viets’s best mystery to date. The two subplots intertwined into the storyline bring substance to the intricate novel. The chemistry between Helen and Phil is endearing as is the friendship they share with their fellow Coronado residents. As for the cat show theme, Viets gives the reader a comical glimpse of chaos while still managing to construe a plausible plot. Overall, Catnapped’s roaring theatrics and yowling performance deliver this summer’s purr-fect cozy mystery read.
What do You think about Catnapped! (2014)?
I'm still enjoying this series. It hasn't gotten boring or predictable like others.
—sdg
Love this series, its the best. Can't wait for the next book.
—phoenix587
Cute, a change from reading heavy duty mysteries.
—DeidreC
