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Kat Colorado #8
Kat Scratch Fever
In her latest case, the supposed suicide of a Sacramento attorney leads private detective Kat Colorado to odd goings-on at a children's charity, whose benefactors include an extortionist and whose employees include an embezzler. Reprint.
355 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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707 people want to read
About the author
Karen Kijewski
28 books83 followersKaren J. Kijewski was born in Berkeley, California. Her father taught at the University of California, and she later attended the school, earning a BA and a Masters degree. Karen is a past president of the northern California chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. She has two daughters, and is currently living in Sacramento, California with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 23, 2014
Forty-five-year old Sacramento attorney James Randolph kills himself, leaving behind a devastated 25-year-old wife, Cathi. Nobody finds his suicide reasonable, especially the legal firm he worked for. Lawyer Richard Carter had hired Kat only a few hours before Randolph shot himself, as his partners in the law firm of Bradshaw, Bellows & Emerson were becoming concerned about Randolph's behavior. It seems their concern was justified.
As Kat holds off a particularly pesky persistent newspaper reporter, J. O. Edwards, and discovers a hidden VHS tape showing Randolph having sex with a girl who now is claiming to be Randolph's Vietnam daughter, Kat gets a request to visit Madeleine Hunter, a wealthy contributor to a charity called 'Hope for Kids'. Hunter tells Kat she is being blackmailed and she thinks Randolph had been as well. Having discovered the tape hidden in Randolph's office, Kat appreciates the confirmation of her suspicions. Weirdly, the victims are asked to write checks out for $10,000 to 'Hope for Kids'.
Is someone who is working at 'Hope for Kids' engaged in creative fundraising, or saving up for their own early retirement? Was Randolph's death caused by the young trophy wife, apparently inconsolable, but who maybe was tired of her middle-aged husband? Who was the beautiful girl on the tape, and was she blackmailing her supposed father with the threat of exposing an incestual relationship, or was it someone else who used it to threaten Randolph? Or was it one or several other possible suspects, maybe working together, which Kat has uncovered from a HUGE list of connected and unsavory peripheral folks she meets during her investigation?
Poor Kat. It's a good thing she loves her job, especially after she receives phone calls from a mysterious telephone caller who threatens to hurt her if she doesn't quit this job. Making sure she gets the message, the blackmailer beats up several of her acquaintances and finally, threatens her best friend, Charity!
That does it. Kat is going to find out who is behind these dastardly doings and why, even if she has to expose every secret every contributor to 'Hope for Kids' has!
This is the best one in the series! I was turning pages into the wee hours, eyes watering from overuse and yawning.
As Kat holds off a particularly pesky persistent newspaper reporter, J. O. Edwards, and discovers a hidden VHS tape showing Randolph having sex with a girl who now is claiming to be Randolph's Vietnam daughter, Kat gets a request to visit Madeleine Hunter, a wealthy contributor to a charity called 'Hope for Kids'. Hunter tells Kat she is being blackmailed and she thinks Randolph had been as well. Having discovered the tape hidden in Randolph's office, Kat appreciates the confirmation of her suspicions. Weirdly, the victims are asked to write checks out for $10,000 to 'Hope for Kids'.
Is someone who is working at 'Hope for Kids' engaged in creative fundraising, or saving up for their own early retirement? Was Randolph's death caused by the young trophy wife, apparently inconsolable, but who maybe was tired of her middle-aged husband? Who was the beautiful girl on the tape, and was she blackmailing her supposed father with the threat of exposing an incestual relationship, or was it someone else who used it to threaten Randolph? Or was it one or several other possible suspects, maybe working together, which Kat has uncovered from a HUGE list of connected and unsavory peripheral folks she meets during her investigation?
Poor Kat. It's a good thing she loves her job, especially after she receives phone calls from a mysterious telephone caller who threatens to hurt her if she doesn't quit this job. Making sure she gets the message, the blackmailer beats up several of her acquaintances and finally, threatens her best friend, Charity!
That does it. Kat is going to find out who is behind these dastardly doings and why, even if she has to expose every secret every contributor to 'Hope for Kids' has!
This is the best one in the series! I was turning pages into the wee hours, eyes watering from overuse and yawning.
November 3, 2008
KAT SCRATCH FEVER - VG+
Kijewski, Karen - 8th Kat Colorado
A Sacramento attorney commits suicide--and Kat finds a video suggesting he'd been blackmailed. But as Kat investigates, she discovers that the extortionist has a charitable streak, ordering victims to make their payments to an organization that helps handicapped kids. Kijewski fans will love this thrilling new entry in the series that features tough-talking Kat Colorado.
Very good plot, characters, dialogue. One of here best in a while.
Kijewski, Karen - 8th Kat Colorado
A Sacramento attorney commits suicide--and Kat finds a video suggesting he'd been blackmailed. But as Kat investigates, she discovers that the extortionist has a charitable streak, ordering victims to make their payments to an organization that helps handicapped kids. Kijewski fans will love this thrilling new entry in the series that features tough-talking Kat Colorado.
Very good plot, characters, dialogue. One of here best in a while.
April 1, 2013
Too tough chick for me. Too much rambling. Just didn't like it. Found it very boring.
June 10, 2012
I know I read this before, but long enough ago that I didn't remember the Bad Guy. I spotted it on the paperback exchange rack at Charlottesville;s central library.
Karen, the author, briefly joined a critique group I was in when I lived in Sacramento (where her series is set, so I heard some of her first book ahead of time and she really did well with a very successful series.
I moved from Sacramento nearly 5 years ago, so it's extra fun to drive around town with Kat, and even stop by restaurants I'd eaten at.
She writes a good, brisk mystery. And her picture on the back cover was by Charr Crail who was a freelance BEE photographer when I was a freelance BEE writer and I always angled to get her to shoot my stories. Sort of old home week with absent friends, but from the East Coast.
Karen, the author, briefly joined a critique group I was in when I lived in Sacramento (where her series is set, so I heard some of her first book ahead of time and she really did well with a very successful series.
I moved from Sacramento nearly 5 years ago, so it's extra fun to drive around town with Kat, and even stop by restaurants I'd eaten at.
She writes a good, brisk mystery. And her picture on the back cover was by Charr Crail who was a freelance BEE photographer when I was a freelance BEE writer and I always angled to get her to shoot my stories. Sort of old home week with absent friends, but from the East Coast.
July 7, 2014
Another complex, layered novel from Kijewski. I though Kat's deduction to the blackmail element was just a bit too much of a leap...like she did in fact, pull a needle out of a haystack. Still, I enjoyed staying with the story, with Kat as she proved her hypothesis of the crime and takes out the bad guy. Too bad Kijewski is no longer writing!
February 1, 2019
Love Karen Kijewski's writing! Fast-moving, intense who-done-it. There is only one more in this series and I will read it soon. Then I will miss her books! I don't know why she hasn't written any more since she does such a good job.
October 3, 2020
I really loved Kat and the way Kijewski moved the story along. This had great lead characters. I did get lost in the sub characters. By the time they entered the story again, I forgot their background.
August 20, 2018
Another good book by Karen!
March 3, 2023
Very much enjoy the Kat series!
August 31, 2015
#8 in the Kat Colorado series.
Kat Colorado series - Sacramento PI Kat Colorado (Honky Tonk Kat, 1996) exposes embezzlement and extortion at Hope for Kids, a charity that aids crippled and disfigured children. Attorney Richard Carter hires Kat to discover what's troubling his partner, Jim Randolph. Before she has a chance to get started, Randolph commits suicide, and Kat finds a sex video involving him that shouts "blackmail." With clever sleuthing, and her skill at extracting confidences, Kat discovers that the blackmailer usually strikes once, demanding a donation to Hope for Kids. Then Kat uncovers a separate scheme in which an embezzler skims from hefty contributions to Hope, unaware that much of the money comes from the wealthy prey of the wily, enterprising blackmailer. When Kat questions the blackmail victims, including some of her friends, they crumble, eagerly revealing long-held secrets.
Kat Colorado series - Sacramento PI Kat Colorado (Honky Tonk Kat, 1996) exposes embezzlement and extortion at Hope for Kids, a charity that aids crippled and disfigured children. Attorney Richard Carter hires Kat to discover what's troubling his partner, Jim Randolph. Before she has a chance to get started, Randolph commits suicide, and Kat finds a sex video involving him that shouts "blackmail." With clever sleuthing, and her skill at extracting confidences, Kat discovers that the blackmailer usually strikes once, demanding a donation to Hope for Kids. Then Kat uncovers a separate scheme in which an embezzler skims from hefty contributions to Hope, unaware that much of the money comes from the wealthy prey of the wily, enterprising blackmailer. When Kat questions the blackmail victims, including some of her friends, they crumble, eagerly revealing long-held secrets.
July 24, 2011
It was my first Karen Kijewski and Kat Colorado book and I loved it! Kat Colorado's personality is depicted so realistically that it leaves no doubt that it is actually fiction that is being read. Her thoughts and reflections are so human and at times, philosophical and with mistakes that I thoroughly enjoyed reading her exploits as a PI.
Randolph's secret behind the suicide is truly a masterpiece of a plot and I admired the way the extortionist worked. It was truly refreshing to read about a blackmail plot that didn't involve personal financial gain; but, instead was built on a twisted principle.
Karen Kijewski has a rare streak of talent that I first came to admire in Sidney Sheldon. I like female protagonists who can stand up and accept their mistakes and are dynamic personalities who let themselves go in pursuit of their passion. Way to go, Kat Colorado!
Randolph's secret behind the suicide is truly a masterpiece of a plot and I admired the way the extortionist worked. It was truly refreshing to read about a blackmail plot that didn't involve personal financial gain; but, instead was built on a twisted principle.
Karen Kijewski has a rare streak of talent that I first came to admire in Sidney Sheldon. I like female protagonists who can stand up and accept their mistakes and are dynamic personalities who let themselves go in pursuit of their passion. Way to go, Kat Colorado!
November 9, 2013
I liked the attitude shown by Kat, the main character, and the introspection we get to see throughout. Lots of attitude but not as over-the-top as many detective types (especially female protagonists where often the author goes overboard).
However, the plot, though interesting lacked some of the basics that surely Kat would have known. Like "follow the money."
So kudos for the character which would have given it 4 stars, but the plot pulled it back to 3 stars.
However, the plot, though interesting lacked some of the basics that surely Kat would have known. Like "follow the money."
So kudos for the character which would have given it 4 stars, but the plot pulled it back to 3 stars.
November 2, 2015
While this book is not philosophically mind-blowing, it was a lot of fun! Kat Colorado and her band of misfits (okay, not exactly misfits, but the characters surrounding her provide a lot of humor and depth) keep you engaged from start to finish, all the while you're placing your bets on "Who Done It". I would definitely read another installment of this series. Kijewski's sass, sarcasm, and intelligence were the ingredients of a great read.
September 17, 2015
I had forgotten how nice the Kat Colorado novels were. I own a couple of them and vaguely remember buying them while vacationing on a beach somewhere. This was a decent mystery story for my current taste for such things.
Read
April 6, 2014The principle character in this series is Kat Colorado, a private detective in Sacramento, California.
Kat Colorado is a wise-cracking, thirty-something California bartender-turned-P.I., a curious cat with nine lives.
Kat Colorado is a wise-cracking, thirty-something California bartender-turned-P.I., a curious cat with nine lives.
Read
April 14, 2008Mystery
June 26, 2008
"You not only ask the wrong questions, you read the wrong stuff."
April 14, 2020
Always enjoyed this series. Several re-reads, never boring.
August 24, 2009
Very Good; Continuing character: Kat Colorado; Kat tracks a murder to a series of blackmail schemes where the payments are made to a charity.
December 22, 2009
I enjoyed this book. It was a fast, entertaining read. Another series based on a female P.I.
March 31, 2011
complex relationships, red herrings traded between 2 who both prove guilty in their way
January 29, 2025
Love this series. I am working my way through all of them!
August 21, 2011
My favorite of the series!
July 9, 2014
The writing is okay. But give the readers at least a reasonable chance at deducing the mystery.
April 9, 2015
She decides to marry Hank at end.
Suicide, blackmail, Hope for children.
Good.
Suicide, blackmail, Hope for children.
Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2016
Karen Kijewski is a fun read. Her character is Kat Colorado, a bartender turned P.I., who loves to solve the mysteries she gets involved with throughout her life.
Want to read
April 30, 2019Synopsis: a Sacramento attorney commits suicide and Kat finds a video suggesting he's being blackmailed by a charity. Or is he the culprit?
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews