Book Review - Kittens Can Kill

Kittens Can Kill: A Pru Marlowe Pet Noir

By: Clea Simon
Illustrated By: Rich Siegle
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: 2015
ISBN: 9781464203589
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: May 8, 2015

When animal behaviorist Pru Marlowe got a call about a kitten that was given as a gift to a local lawyer she sees this as an opportunity to expand her paycheck as clients were far and few between in the small town of Beauville. However, Pru soon finds that she got much more than she bargained for. When she arrives at the address she finds the door unlocked but no answer to her knocking, so she goes in but finds the owner lying dead on the floor. Pru learns that this man’s name was David Canaday, a long time lawyer in the town of Beauville. Apparently his health was diminishing for a while so a possible heart attack seems to be the likely cause. However, when his three daughters come together for the reading of his will they instantly start pointing fingers at each other, accusing each other for their father's demise.

With the entire family at each other throats, Pru knows that the kitten that she was originally called about is not safe with any of these women so against her better judgment she takes the kitten home. Of course her own cat Wallis is not pleased but she hopes that maybe in time Wallis can get the little kitten to open up about what happened to Mr. Canaday and allow Pru to use her unique skill of talking with animals.

With curiosity getting the better of her, Pru once again finds herself in the middle of a mystery as rumors start to spread about all three of the Canaday girls and how they could somehow be linked to their father’s murder. On top of that the youngest of the three, Jill, has decided that being an animal behaviorist is her calling and she is constantly contacting Pru to learn all of her ways. Pru is not quite sure that Jill is being completely honest with her about what she knows and how much she is involved. The short and scattered thoughts of the Kitten with the name Ernesto are unfortunately not much help at first but piece by piece Pru will work to solve the mystery in front of her.

This is the second book I have read in the Pru Marlowe series and I have immensely enjoyed both of them as Pru is such an interesting character that I can’t help but easily relate to her. One of the aspects I enjoyed most in this book was the way the thoughts of the animals are presented with the way the animals actually see the world instead of the way humans would see it. It's fun to picture how the pets are reacting and then have Pru slowly figure out why and I think that makes for a great story. For any animal lover or mystery lover the book delivers on both counts.

Quill says: Another intriguing mystery that has me looking for the next one in the Pru Marlowe series.

Panthers Play for Keeps: A Pru Marlowe Pet Mystery

By: Clea Simon
Illustrated By: Rich Siegle
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: April 2014
ISBN: 978-1-5905-8872-7
Reviewed By: Kristi Benedict
Review Date: April 25, 2014

Big cats are predators that have not been seen in the east woods for decades as people have settled the wilderness around them. However, when Pru Marlowe is led to a mauled body by a service dog named Spot that she is training, it appears as if nothing but a big cat could be the cause of death. Knowing that her connection and comprehension of the thoughts of animals could be the only thing that allows this case to be solved, Pru finds herself cracking a case that she did not even mean to get involved with. Trusting Spot’s instincts and acute senses, Pru works to decipher exactly what this dog is trying to tell her and sort out the clues that will help solve this mystery. Along with Spot’s help Pru also seeks council from her cat Wallis, who always has something smart to say and does not mind letting her opinion be known. Even though Wallis is a much smaller cat than the one possibly running loose in the woods, her predator instincts may be just the clue Pru needs if she pays close enough attention to realize it.

While Pru is constantly working out the thoughts voiced by the animals around her, the people of the community have decided that the hunting of this big cat will be taken into their own hands. Fortunately Pru’s sometimes “beau” is a police officer named Jim and both know that this hunt needs to be stopped or someone else will end up getting hurt. Even as all the evidence points toward a cougar attack something continues to eat at Pru, as there are too many pieces missing to be completely sure that a big cat was responsible for this murder. However, when another murder happens it appears that both women were attacked in much the same way. Still refusing to believe that a cougar or some large predator was the one responsible for these murders, Pru throws herself into this investigation and knows that it will take all of her special abilities with animals to find the answer to this mystery.

From the first few pages this book had me intrigued. It took me a bit to figure out how the author portrayed the speaking of the animals and Pru’s interpretation, but once I figured that out, and after I comprehended Clea Simon’s style of writing, I could not put this story down. The connection between Pru, the animals around her, and then showing the difference between human and animal nature is done brilliantly in this book. This is the first one I have read of this series and I definitely see myself reading the others in this series in the future. Each chapter had me hanging on wanting to know more and what’s going to happen with the next turn of the page. After starting the book I finished it within a day as I was easily caught up in the intriguing writing of Simon and the thrilling mystery that was unfolding.

Quill says: Such an amazing mystery that showcases a refreshing and unique heroine!