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Cat Caliban #2
Two-Shot Foul
Please note this book was also published as Two Points for Murder
The case of a lost kitten seems innocent enough, but Cat's investigation leads her to the murder of a local basketball hero. Who murdered Julius "Juky" Kay, star forward of the Rattlesnakes, the local Oscar Robertson high school team? Cat is literally up to her armpits when she ends up on crutches after her first sports injury." Me, I want it on the record now that I do not want to die hot and sweaty on a gym floor, surrounded by the smell of gym socks and sneakers." Poor Cat, but the killer who under-estimates a hobbled Cat, is a fool. And sometimes justice is hot and sweaty.
The case of a lost kitten seems innocent enough, but Cat's investigation leads her to the murder of a local basketball hero. Who murdered Julius "Juky" Kay, star forward of the Rattlesnakes, the local Oscar Robertson high school team? Cat is literally up to her armpits when she ends up on crutches after her first sports injury." Me, I want it on the record now that I do not want to die hot and sweaty on a gym floor, surrounded by the smell of gym socks and sneakers." Poor Cat, but the killer who under-estimates a hobbled Cat, is a fool. And sometimes justice is hot and sweaty.
- GenresMysteryCozy MysteryCozy
212 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1993
60 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
D.B. Borton
16 books47 followersD. B. Borton is a Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio Wesleyan University and now a full-time writer. Specializing in humorous mysteries, she has published eleven mystery novels in two series, the Cat Caliban series (Berkley, Hilliard and Harris) and the Gilda Liberty series (Fawcett), as well as the mystery novel SMOKE (Boomerang) and the humorous science fiction novel SECOND COMING (Boomerang). Her latest mystery, BAYOU CITY BURNING (Boomerang), was published in June 2019.
A native of Houston, Texas, Borton became an ardent admirer of Nancy Drew at a young age. At the age of fourteen, she acquired her own blue roadster, trained on the freeways of Houston and the broad stretches of oil-endowed Texas highway, and began her travels.
She has lived in the Southwest and Midwest and on the West Coast, where she has collected three degrees in English without relinquishing her affection for the expressiveness of the everyday language that real people speak. Her research skills and her ear for language both serve her well in mysteries set in realistic places and featuring characters with authentic voices.
A native of Houston, Texas, Borton became an ardent admirer of Nancy Drew at a young age. At the age of fourteen, she acquired her own blue roadster, trained on the freeways of Houston and the broad stretches of oil-endowed Texas highway, and began her travels.
She has lived in the Southwest and Midwest and on the West Coast, where she has collected three degrees in English without relinquishing her affection for the expressiveness of the everyday language that real people speak. Her research skills and her ear for language both serve her well in mysteries set in realistic places and featuring characters with authentic voices.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 29, 2020
Cat is riding high on the success of solving the case of the missing kitten and, as it turned out, simultaneously figuring out how a corpse ended up in her apartment building. That’s almost an unhealthy success rate for a beginner P.I. with zero training. Beginner’s luck or not, what do you do for an encore?
An empty-nester widow at age 60, Cat Caliban reinvented herself and plunged head first into a little OJT (On the Job Training) as a private investigator. Good news spreads fast and it isn’t long before she’s called on again, this time by a distraught mother whose teenage son was shot and killed.
Julius “Jukey” Kay was the opposite of the average American male teen. In fact, he was a fine example of what most parents hope for. Studious, civic-minded, kind, intelligent and well respected by classmates and teachers alike. Jukey’s mother wants to know who shot her son and why?
This time out Cat is hampered by a badly sprained ankle so she’s slowed down some by having to use a crutch. But it won’t stop her from finding Jukey’s killer. And when another supposedly healthy player drops dead on the basketball court, Cat doesn’t accept that it’s just a coincidence.
Cat Caliban is a character for the ages. She’s irreverent, not obsessed with her appearance, doesn’t sweat the cat hair on her clothes, swears like a sailor on shore leave, and enjoys a good G and T (gin and tonic) at day’s end, or maybe even midday if circumstances call for it. Cat is my hero.
This is the fourth D.B.Borton novel I’ve read and with each one I’m impressed by her keen observation of the nuances and authenticity of street slang that is prevalent in the Ohio Valley region. In “Two-Shot Foul” Borton delves more deeply into the underbelly of high school sports and the accompanying consequences of undue pressures from parents, coaches and faculty. A real eye-opener for the uninitiated. Four stars.
An empty-nester widow at age 60, Cat Caliban reinvented herself and plunged head first into a little OJT (On the Job Training) as a private investigator. Good news spreads fast and it isn’t long before she’s called on again, this time by a distraught mother whose teenage son was shot and killed.
Julius “Jukey” Kay was the opposite of the average American male teen. In fact, he was a fine example of what most parents hope for. Studious, civic-minded, kind, intelligent and well respected by classmates and teachers alike. Jukey’s mother wants to know who shot her son and why?
This time out Cat is hampered by a badly sprained ankle so she’s slowed down some by having to use a crutch. But it won’t stop her from finding Jukey’s killer. And when another supposedly healthy player drops dead on the basketball court, Cat doesn’t accept that it’s just a coincidence.
Cat Caliban is a character for the ages. She’s irreverent, not obsessed with her appearance, doesn’t sweat the cat hair on her clothes, swears like a sailor on shore leave, and enjoys a good G and T (gin and tonic) at day’s end, or maybe even midday if circumstances call for it. Cat is my hero.
This is the fourth D.B.Borton novel I’ve read and with each one I’m impressed by her keen observation of the nuances and authenticity of street slang that is prevalent in the Ohio Valley region. In “Two-Shot Foul” Borton delves more deeply into the underbelly of high school sports and the accompanying consequences of undue pressures from parents, coaches and faculty. A real eye-opener for the uninitiated. Four stars.
November 30, 2020
In my eyes D.B. Borton is the original Cozy Mystery writer! Her stories always leave me wanting more and always seeing room for the sequel, plus I learn something new every time.
Two-Shot Foul is about high school basketball, and the pressures the kids playing are under to succeed. Kind, generous, decent Christian boy Julius "Juky" Kay is found dead, shot by someone, and lovable, unlicensed Private Investigator Cat Caliban will not stop until she finds the killer. Even when Cat is shot at herself!
The stories not so subtle hints, makes you love how the author gets to the end even more. Not to mention the funniest one-liners ever. Don't let the her fondness for cuss words deter you from reading, it adds to the image of the characters.
On a serious note, this is a must read for every young athlete you know.
Two-Shot Foul is about high school basketball, and the pressures the kids playing are under to succeed. Kind, generous, decent Christian boy Julius "Juky" Kay is found dead, shot by someone, and lovable, unlicensed Private Investigator Cat Caliban will not stop until she finds the killer. Even when Cat is shot at herself!
The stories not so subtle hints, makes you love how the author gets to the end even more. Not to mention the funniest one-liners ever. Don't let the her fondness for cuss words deter you from reading, it adds to the image of the characters.
On a serious note, this is a must read for every young athlete you know.
March 17, 2023
This is set in the 1980s.
Her role models are Mrs. Pollifax and Colombo.
Cat Caliban had decided to change her life. At 59 she is a widow with grown children. She sold her house, bought a small apartment building in a dodgy part of town and decided to become a private investigator. But to get a license she needs two years of experience! This is her second case and it started with a missing cat. That led to a notebook left in the sofa of a high school basketball player who got shot for no apparent reason in a home nearby with his mother desperate for answers. So the sleuthing begins! This book is hilarious because of the situational and especially the verbal humor. The cozy murder mystery is very well done as Cat brangles with friends and law enforcement over her way of sleuthing. Plenty of plot twists and red herrings, too. I loved it!
I requested and received a copy from the author.
Her role models are Mrs. Pollifax and Colombo.
Cat Caliban had decided to change her life. At 59 she is a widow with grown children. She sold her house, bought a small apartment building in a dodgy part of town and decided to become a private investigator. But to get a license she needs two years of experience! This is her second case and it started with a missing cat. That led to a notebook left in the sofa of a high school basketball player who got shot for no apparent reason in a home nearby with his mother desperate for answers. So the sleuthing begins! This book is hilarious because of the situational and especially the verbal humor. The cozy murder mystery is very well done as Cat brangles with friends and law enforcement over her way of sleuthing. Plenty of plot twists and red herrings, too. I loved it!
I requested and received a copy from the author.
January 13, 2024
Engaging characters, humour, and respect for diversity. I've been liking this series although I really wish the language was cleaner because it creates a barrier for me. And I confess I skimmed a few play-by-play basketball paragraphs because I don't know enough about the game for the descriptions to make sense. But I liked the story. And I appreciated how the author portrayed a few Christians (including a clergyman) with the same acceptance she gives to characters of different economic status, sexual orientations, or mental abilities. (This is not to say the clergyman is or is not guilty... he's a suspect. Just that he and his stated beliefs are presented fairly in a mainstream novel.) It'll be the characters who keep me reading this series.
November 13, 2020
This is the second Cat Caliban book and just as good as the first. Funny, exciting, and a bit heartwarming.
I guessed half of the mystery pretty early in this book - I guess because of what's common knowledge in 2020 compared to 1993 when the original version of this book was published. But that didn't tell me the whole of what was going on, and in any case, it doesn't detract from the telling.
The characters are all so great, both the new ones and the ones returning from the first book. They feel so real!
I guessed half of the mystery pretty early in this book - I guess because of what's common knowledge in 2020 compared to 1993 when the original version of this book was published. But that didn't tell me the whole of what was going on, and in any case, it doesn't detract from the telling.
The characters are all so great, both the new ones and the ones returning from the first book. They feel so real!
December 6, 2020
Cat Caliban has done it again. From finding a little boy's lost cat to the accidental death of one of the star basketball players to the murder of another. The mother of Julis (Juky) Kay, star basketball player for the Rattlers, asks Cat to try and find out who shot and killed her son. Her search leads her on a roundabout trail that eventually leads to who and why. A must read.
I received this book free from the author for my reviews of the day.
I received this book free from the author for my reviews of the day.
February 24, 2019
Nice to see the characters from the first book being developed further. Plot revolves around two (supposedly) unrelated deaths of high-school basketball players. A lot of descriptions of basketball game tactics, which I suppose are accurate. Writing is good, and the protagonist is an intelligent 60-year-old woman who is not easily intimidated.
December 1, 2020
“AJ cat gone.” And Cat’s only expense was a ninety-nine cent can of tuna. Score one for the Cat. But that leads to another thing that when she tried to return it… I was a college professor and had many athletes in my classes and really enjoyed the way they stuck together. And they all knew the color of his socks 😊. I enjoyed this story and recommend the book.
December 8, 2020
THOUGHT-PROVOKING, ENTERTAINING, WITTY AND TRAGIC, THIS STORY TELLS ABOUT THE USE
OF STEROIDS WHICH HAD BEEN THE GO-TO DRUG OF CHOICE FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE BACK IN THE 1980'S AND 90'S. BORTON'S CHARACTERS ARE CHARISMATIC, CHARMING AND EXTREMELY LIKEABLE. THIS BOOK IS AN ALL AROUND WINNER. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
OF STEROIDS WHICH HAD BEEN THE GO-TO DRUG OF CHOICE FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE BACK IN THE 1980'S AND 90'S. BORTON'S CHARACTERS ARE CHARISMATIC, CHARMING AND EXTREMELY LIKEABLE. THIS BOOK IS AN ALL AROUND WINNER. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
June 22, 2025
PI in training, Cat Caliban, is ask to help finding a lost kitten. She finds not only the kitten but also a notebook of a young murdered basketball player. The cryptic notebook intrigues Cat and when the murdered boys mom is asking for her help to find the killer, she is stepping unwillingly onto a hornets nest.
For all fans of basketball a feast, for the rest of us intriguing.
For all fans of basketball a feast, for the rest of us intriguing.
December 22, 2018
An entertaining mystery story with an unlikely sleuth.
February 19, 2021
Lots of fun,well plotted, great ensemble of regulars
June 11, 2025
another ace for Cat Caliban
What a great little mystery with Cat and co. again. They got better and better I’m really looking forward to the next episode.
What a great little mystery with Cat and co. again. They got better and better I’m really looking forward to the next episode.
September 15, 2025
This was a fun read. The "murder" of the week type mystery books are fun and this one ended up tightly in a bow, but the end result was such a peek into the history of the time period (early 90s). It's also fun to see a PI operate in a world with out cell phones, social media, etc.
This was picked up as my vacation book somewhere along the way. The main character of Cat is a fun MC who is a landlord to an interesting cast of characters and has fully grown children so rather than "needing" to close the case to get paid, she's able to take her time a little bit more.
This was picked up as my vacation book somewhere along the way. The main character of Cat is a fun MC who is a landlord to an interesting cast of characters and has fully grown children so rather than "needing" to close the case to get paid, she's able to take her time a little bit more.
November 21, 2020
As Ms. Borton, herself agreed, she doesn't consider these novels "great literature", but they are "fun in the service of a little consciousness-raising". I absolutely agree with her in the case of Two-Shot Foul. In this instance, the use of performance-enhancing drugs is brought to our attention.
Not only does Cat Caliban, unlicensed P.I., successfully conclude her second case (or third if you count finding the Blackie the cat) she sheds light on the perceptions and dangers of using such drugs. I was aware of some of the resultant health problems, but the high school setting used by Ms. Borton paints an even more startling picture.
It was really enjoyable having the "old gang" together for another, some say cozy, I say quirky, mystery. Even hampered by a bum leg, Cat is at her best when soothing distraught mothers, wedeling information out of reluctant teen-agers or wrangling a sticky grandson to the solve the case.
Not only does Cat Caliban, unlicensed P.I., successfully conclude her second case (or third if you count finding the Blackie the cat) she sheds light on the perceptions and dangers of using such drugs. I was aware of some of the resultant health problems, but the high school setting used by Ms. Borton paints an even more startling picture.
It was really enjoyable having the "old gang" together for another, some say cozy, I say quirky, mystery. Even hampered by a bum leg, Cat is at her best when soothing distraught mothers, wedeling information out of reluctant teen-agers or wrangling a sticky grandson to the solve the case.
June 4, 2014
Cat is a retired owner of a small apartment building. She is also training to be a private detective. When she gets a silly case of finding a lost kitten for a child, she stumbles upon the notebook of a murdered high school basketball star. The mother wants her to dig around further. As she does, she realizes that there might have been more than one murder and that the local team players have more than one secret.
There's a lot of discussion of basketball in this one, not something I know a lot about, but it was still entertaining.
There's a lot of discussion of basketball in this one, not something I know a lot about, but it was still entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2014
Didn't think this one was quite as good as the first one, maybe because I don't know that much about basketball, but it was still enjoyable, especially as it's written with a distinct tongue in cheek
May 2, 2017
PROTAGONIST: Cat Caliban
SERIES: #2 of 8
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Cat Caliban, a 60-something-year-old mother, wants to become a PI. She's been asked by an acquaintance to look into the murder of an admired teenaged basketball star, Juky Kay. Although she doesn't really know what she's doing, she keeps at it and eventually arrives at the truth. Unfortunately, there wasn't really a solid clue until almost 20 pages from the end, at which time Cat figures out all the answers to all the questions. That didn't really make sense.
SERIES: #2 of 8
RATING: 3.0
WHY: Cat Caliban, a 60-something-year-old mother, wants to become a PI. She's been asked by an acquaintance to look into the murder of an admired teenaged basketball star, Juky Kay. Although she doesn't really know what she's doing, she keeps at it and eventually arrives at the truth. Unfortunately, there wasn't really a solid clue until almost 20 pages from the end, at which time Cat figures out all the answers to all the questions. That didn't really make sense.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews