Pet Peeves

Haskell Blevins #1

by Taylor McCafferty

Private investigator Haskell Blevins must uncover the truth behind the mysterious murder of Cordelia Turley's grandmother and her grandmother's pets

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery

216 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1990

About the author

A pseudonym used by Barbara Taylor McCafferty.

Reviews

[Scoozer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tongue-in-cheek, hard-boiled detective novel starring a self-proclaimed Howdy Doody PI. It took place in Pigeon Hole, Kentucky. I was charmed by the homage to the great old style of detective novels, but admit that at times it was a bit tedious. The style was more important than the characters and plot, although they were fine. Published in 1990, it was a bit dated, but somehow that played well with the location and the style. All in all, I enjoyed the book. I give it a solid C/C+.

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 1 out of 5]

When newly minted P.I. Haskell Blevins is approached by an attractive woman to solve the case of who killed her dear Grammy, he jumps at the chance. But after meeting Grammy's relatives, it seems that there may be more than one suspect. Not to mention a crazy woman in town is claiming that someone is threatening her because she was concerned about Grammy's dead cat...

Okay, I read this book because it sounded interesting. And the fact that the cat was already dead when I started the book didn't change that fact, since it was, well, after the fact as it were. But the more I read, the less I enjoyed it.

It might have sounded cute, but Haskell comes off as a hillbilly (no offense to hillbillies). It made the book less interesting to me. But the reason I only gave it one star is because the author apparently has no problem with animal cruelty. Killing cats isn't humorous. And I'm not talking about the dead cat at the beginning.

I should have known right away when I read how the first cat died (and it wasn't nice) but I continued on. Even when I realized that the cat was only trying to survive. I wish I hadn't. What kind of person thinks it's perfectly fine to write a humorous mystery that includes the killing and torturing of pets? It's horrible. I don't trust people that don't like animals, and this author obviously doesn't care about them...or thinks it's okay to abuse them.

I didn't like the ending, either, but I'll let that one pass. This is not a book I would recommend to anyone.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Local author Kentucky born

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd time I have attempted to read this little book. For some reason, I abandoned it , before completing it twice.
Haskell is a former Detective from Louisville Kentucky who willingly came back to his little town of Pigeon Fork. It appears to be a town trapped in time with its residents wearing hairdos and attitudes of years ago.
Pet Peeves was published in 1990 - so according to Haskell's description of his town, that would allow the plot to be placed in the 1980s. But, he talks, acts and thinks like a man from the 40s or 50s and the town feels the same. There are no computers, cell phones or any other technoligy other than a vague description of basic blood forensic testing.
He may be a good PI, but he is a sexist. I did not like that. His thought patterns reminded me the hard broiled kind and failing. I expect it from plots of the golden age, not 1980s.
The plot, characters and atmosphere was of a typical cozy with some animal abuse and speculation of spousal abuse but really not enough to make anyone squirm.
Depending on the Series availbility at my local library will detirmine if I continue the series

[Teresa Parrish · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually didn't finish it. Quit about the 3rd chapter. It was, idk, too cornball. Reckon that's the right word. Melba being referred to as Della Street so dang often made wonder why the character wasn't named Della in the first place. The Howdy Doody references were getting old also. Haskell just over analyzed everyone. Got more of his thoughts than actual dialogue. I couldn't get a feel for any of the characters. There was no friendships like you'd see rekindled when one moves back home. It's stilted. On a dead end road headed towards stagnant.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former Louisville homicide cop Haskell Blevins returns to his home-town, Pigeon Forge, and starts an underutilized detective agency. When lovely Cordelia asks him if he can find the murderer of her grandmother, a case that's been unsolved for seven months, he gladly signs on. But the more he finds out about the dead woman, the more confused he gets. The sheriff, Blevins' dead father's best friend, is also not too crazy about a big city cop coming in to tell him his job.