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Jack Caleb & John Thinnes #4
The Feline Friendship
"Thinnes specialized in homicide. He hated working rapes. Rape was more like a drive-by shooting than anything else because it was often a matter of the victim being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But drive-bys usually happened in the killer’s neighborhood and were perpetrated against known enemies or at least innocent neighbors. . . . With rape it was different. Rape hurt the victim when it went down, and again when the cops investigated---no matter how careful they were. . . . Thinnes hated the whole thing."
But unfortunately for John Thinnes, he’s got a rape case on his hands. Not only that, he has a new partner---and it’s a woman. A tough woman with a make-my-day attitude. Don Franchi is no woman to be pushed around and she lets Thinnes know it.
As Thinnes learns of his unwelcome assignment, psychiatrist Jack Caleb is in session with a patient who many years before was a victim of rape and still suffers from the experience.
When the rapist continues his crimes, and adds killing to rape, Thinnes turns once more to Caleb in the hope that he can point him in the right direction to uncover the killer. Caleb has previously aided Thinnes in his homicide investigations, and an odd friendship has grown up between the tough, matter-of-fact, show-me-the-evidence detective and the gay shrink, with each man recognizing the other’s basic honesty and complementing knowledge.
Although she is driving the detective to the brink, it is Thinnes’s partner, as smart as she is tough, who first comes upon a faint track of the killer. After a hunt filled with suspense, lighted at intervals by further discovery of the perpetrator’s “system,” the gay psychiatrist, the crime-hardened cop, and his unstoppable partner are finally able to bring their elusive prey to heel. And, albeit a little grudgingly, and with some encouragement from his sensible wife, Thinnes is ready to admit to anyone who will listen that he sure lucked out in getting Don Franchi for a partner.
But unfortunately for John Thinnes, he’s got a rape case on his hands. Not only that, he has a new partner---and it’s a woman. A tough woman with a make-my-day attitude. Don Franchi is no woman to be pushed around and she lets Thinnes know it.
As Thinnes learns of his unwelcome assignment, psychiatrist Jack Caleb is in session with a patient who many years before was a victim of rape and still suffers from the experience.
When the rapist continues his crimes, and adds killing to rape, Thinnes turns once more to Caleb in the hope that he can point him in the right direction to uncover the killer. Caleb has previously aided Thinnes in his homicide investigations, and an odd friendship has grown up between the tough, matter-of-fact, show-me-the-evidence detective and the gay shrink, with each man recognizing the other’s basic honesty and complementing knowledge.
Although she is driving the detective to the brink, it is Thinnes’s partner, as smart as she is tough, who first comes upon a faint track of the killer. After a hunt filled with suspense, lighted at intervals by further discovery of the perpetrator’s “system,” the gay psychiatrist, the crime-hardened cop, and his unstoppable partner are finally able to bring their elusive prey to heel. And, albeit a little grudgingly, and with some encouragement from his sensible wife, Thinnes is ready to admit to anyone who will listen that he sure lucked out in getting Don Franchi for a partner.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2003
13 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Michael Allen Dymmoch
16 books19 followersMichael Dymmoch was born in Illinois and grew up in a suburb northwest of Kentucky. As a child she kept a large number of small vertebrates for pets and aspired to become a snake charmer, Indian chief or veterinarian. She was precluded from realizing the former ambitions by a lack of charm and Indian ancestry and from the achieving the latter by poor grades in calculus and physics. This made her angry enough to kill. Fortunately, before committing mayhem, she stumbled upon a book titled Maybe You Should Write a Book and was persuaded to sublimate her felonious fantasies. Moving to Chicago gave Michael additional incentives to harm individuals who piss her off. On paper of course.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 9, 2021
The 4th book in a series, this was the 1st for me. While not necessary to have read the other books, I’m sure the development of the characters and their relationships would have enhanced my enjoyment. I also suspected someone I shouldn’t have, had I known more.
The title of the book confused me.* I hate when I can’t figure out the connection. I selected this book from one of those neighborhood book sharing kiosks, based on the cozy title. This was not a curl-up-in- front-of-the-fire-with-a-cup-of-tea story at all. Instead ut was a police procedural about a serial rapist/murderer.
*Other titles by the author which could possibly be misleading or random: The Man Who Understood Cats: A Caleb & Thinnes Mystery. The Death of Blue Mountain Cat, White Tiger.
The title of the book confused me.* I hate when I can’t figure out the connection. I selected this book from one of those neighborhood book sharing kiosks, based on the cozy title. This was not a curl-up-in- front-of-the-fire-with-a-cup-of-tea story at all. Instead ut was a police procedural about a serial rapist/murderer.
*Other titles by the author which could possibly be misleading or random: The Man Who Understood Cats: A Caleb & Thinnes Mystery. The Death of Blue Mountain Cat, White Tiger.
July 2, 2022
The Feline Friendship
Another stellar book by this author. She has the ability to bring her characters to life. You either like them or hate them. This time Thinnes , the detective, and Caleb, the psychiatrist, are hell bent on catching a serial rapist and murderer. The book is fascinating to watch unfold. I loved the book as well as her other books. This is the fourth book in a series of five. I'm on to the last book and I'm just hoping there will be more. I highly recommend!
Another stellar book by this author. She has the ability to bring her characters to life. You either like them or hate them. This time Thinnes , the detective, and Caleb, the psychiatrist, are hell bent on catching a serial rapist and murderer. The book is fascinating to watch unfold. I loved the book as well as her other books. This is the fourth book in a series of five. I'm on to the last book and I'm just hoping there will be more. I highly recommend!
May 19, 2018
I like Michael Dymmoch's books. this is not one of her better ones.
September 10, 2007
THE FELINE FRIENDSHIP – Ex
Dymmoch, Michael Allen – 4th in series
This may make my Top Ten of 2003. Detective John Thinnes, with his new female partner, investigate a series of brutal rapes, while his friend, Dr. Jack Calab, who is a psychiatrist is treating a woman who had been raped 15 years previous and still suffering from it.
This is an excellent series. The characters are well drawn, it’s refreshing to have John Thinnes be a happily married detective who is neither an alcoholic nor a smoker, and although Jack Calab is gay, that’s not the focus. The writing is excellent and the mystery suspenseful. These are definitely not cozy, in spite of the titles, and it is best to read the series in order to understand the background and relationship of the main characters. To me, this author should be much better known.
Dymmoch, Michael Allen – 4th in series
This may make my Top Ten of 2003. Detective John Thinnes, with his new female partner, investigate a series of brutal rapes, while his friend, Dr. Jack Calab, who is a psychiatrist is treating a woman who had been raped 15 years previous and still suffering from it.
This is an excellent series. The characters are well drawn, it’s refreshing to have John Thinnes be a happily married detective who is neither an alcoholic nor a smoker, and although Jack Calab is gay, that’s not the focus. The writing is excellent and the mystery suspenseful. These are definitely not cozy, in spite of the titles, and it is best to read the series in order to understand the background and relationship of the main characters. To me, this author should be much better known.
December 16, 2015
I picked up this book without knowing it was the 4th book in the series, but I didn't have any troubles getting into the case or the characters. It's not the grittiest crime novel I've read, but among the well-written ones with a realistic tone and a round-about of complex, convincing AND likable detectives. Dymmoch has the ability to create female characters as successfully as their counter part. I also like the fact that there is a gay consultant whose contribution is quite valuable to the investigating team. I enjoy the dynamics between the characters as much as the case. Engaging introduction, steady development, good twists and memorable ending, this book has them all. I'd be interested in checking out other books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews