What do you think?
Rate this book
Nine Lives to Murder
A backstage fall causes a preeminent English actor and a cat to miraculously switch bodies, and while the cat lies in the hospital in the actor's body, the actor in the cat's body tries to learn who pushed him. Reprint.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
65 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Marian Babson
60 books90 followersMarian Babson, a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but lived in London for the greater part of her life.
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles.
A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar.
She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel.
The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs.
She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order.
Gerry Wolstenholme
September 2010
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 20, 2017
I almost faint when I realize I’m listening to a story of a man trapped in a cat’s body while the cat is trapped in the man’s body! I’m not prepared for a surreal experience!
Am I not listening to a murder mystery?
But as I continue listening I’m surprised I enjoy it so much I don’t want to stop.
Winstanley Fortescue, a leading British Shakespearean actor, finds himself in the body of Montmorency D. Mousa (aka Monty), the company cat, the resident pest-control officer!
As a cat, when he has “to go”, for once in his life, he doesn’t want an audience!
Win is very irritated that all these women cry on him, wetting his fir. Can’t they use handkerchiefs!
He has to fight Monty’s instinct to eat a mouse after catching one! I have to fight my own temptation to cheat and listen to how this book ends.
Then there is this delicate and sensitive question about the intimacy between male and female…. of cats and humans! Female cats are so tempting. How about Monty in Win’s body when he is with Win’s wife?
Steven Crossley, the narrator, gives a wonderful performance! He is great! He gives each character their personality. He makes this book so much fun.
Five stars to the narrator! Five stars to the author!
Am I not listening to a murder mystery?
But as I continue listening I’m surprised I enjoy it so much I don’t want to stop.
Winstanley Fortescue, a leading British Shakespearean actor, finds himself in the body of Montmorency D. Mousa (aka Monty), the company cat, the resident pest-control officer!
As a cat, when he has “to go”, for once in his life, he doesn’t want an audience!
Win is very irritated that all these women cry on him, wetting his fir. Can’t they use handkerchiefs!
He has to fight Monty’s instinct to eat a mouse after catching one! I have to fight my own temptation to cheat and listen to how this book ends.
Then there is this delicate and sensitive question about the intimacy between male and female…. of cats and humans! Female cats are so tempting. How about Monty in Win’s body when he is with Win’s wife?
Steven Crossley, the narrator, gives a wonderful performance! He is great! He gives each character their personality. He makes this book so much fun.
Five stars to the narrator! Five stars to the author!
May 7, 2008
I really enjoy light mysteries, and Marian Babson's cat books fit the bill. You won't figure out whodunit, but just sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy the atmosphere. ***I have read other books of hers, but have found them slightly more disturbing and less fun than the ones that feature cats.
August 19, 2011
I have a good number of Marian Babson books on my mystery shelf, and often I overlook the thin volumes in favor of something else, something meatier. That is always a mistake. Every time I pick up a Marian Babson book I am drawn into the story quickly and am sad when I get to the end.
Nine Lives to Murder was no different. There was not a murder as such, but the story was still fin and entertaining and well worth my time and energy. If you have not read a Marian Babson book, pick one up. You won't be sorry.
Nine Lives to Murder was no different. There was not a murder as such, but the story was still fin and entertaining and well worth my time and energy. If you have not read a Marian Babson book, pick one up. You won't be sorry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2020
The Cat's Meow
What a pleasant surprise this book was! I picked it up because I like the body switch trope, though I've yet to see it or read it done as well as I think that it could be. Montmorency aka Monty, the theater cat, and Winstanley Fortescue, renowned actor, experience a mutual blow to the head which causes a body switch. What ensues is an often funny and fairly good mystery. I admit it, the red herrings had me flummoxed. If you know cats and you like mysteries, this cozy is for you.
What a pleasant surprise this book was! I picked it up because I like the body switch trope, though I've yet to see it or read it done as well as I think that it could be. Montmorency aka Monty, the theater cat, and Winstanley Fortescue, renowned actor, experience a mutual blow to the head which causes a body switch. What ensues is an often funny and fairly good mystery. I admit it, the red herrings had me flummoxed. If you know cats and you like mysteries, this cozy is for you.
July 27, 2021
while an entertaining read, the mystery plot played second string to the idea of a man trapped in a cat's body. and later moved to third string when we start experiencing the cat in the man's body. they get that way when someone tries to kill the man and the cat breaks his fall. neither he nor his wife really do much in the way of investigating other than to prove that someone is indeed trying to (very ineptly) kill him. the murderer is revealed only by chance and the explanation for the weapon's presence is never given.
October 20, 2021
I love quirky stories done right and this is one that I thoroughly enjoyed. Although I'm a "dog person" by inclination it's obvious that Babson knows her cats and gets the emotions and actions just right. This isn't "fluff" and will keep you thinking, so if you're looking for something that isn't the same-old-same-old mystery I recommend it!
December 14, 2021
I thought this was going to be a silly but fun mystery involving a cat. Instead, it was a ridiculous and not even really enjoyable book involving a cat and sort of a mystery. Honestly, it wasn't even really a mystery for most of the book, just wild speculation over who might be suspicious, and
January 25, 2023
Freaky Friday but with a cat
The concept is cute and different, but got tiresome after its initial novelty. After a while I got tired of all the cat thinking and just wanted the story to move forward. It was too unrealistic to me that Win could perform while he was Monty. The characters got lost in the silliness.
The concept is cute and different, but got tiresome after its initial novelty. After a while I got tired of all the cat thinking and just wanted the story to move forward. It was too unrealistic to me that Win could perform while he was Monty. The characters got lost in the silliness.
May 11, 2018
Really strange, beginning. It kinda goes dead from there. Laughable bad.
July 3, 2019
Hilarious mystery story of an actor and a theater cat trading places.
June 17, 2020
An odd book, but quite fun. A man collides head to head with a cat, and they switch personalities. A sort of cross between fantasy and cozy mystery amongst a group of British theatre types.
January 23, 2021
A light hearted romp with a very pleasing premise. Winstanley Fortescue comes a cropper off a ladder he falls on the theatre cat Monty. When he comes to, he finds that he is has swapped bodies with the cat. Now he must try to find out who tried to polish him off, while trying to hide the switcheroo from everyone else. Inhabiting the cat’s body gives him a chance to see other characters in a different light - and get a taste of the impact of his own deplorable behaviour. Brilliantly depicts what it might be like for a human to be a cat and vice versa. An easy, funny read.
September 9, 2021
JUst what I needed a silly fun read that was entertaing and not taxing
December 25, 2021
Not one of my favorites of this author.
June 8, 2022
Delightfully ridiculous.
October 22, 2022
4.0 stars A unique cat's perspective
February 26, 2023
An unusual mystery but good fun.
October 9, 2024
Enjoyable farce with a lot of heart. And silliness. Recommended.
March 31, 2025
3.5 stars
April 30, 2025
Enjoyed very much. Easy read with fun plot. Loved reading cats point of view.
May 10, 2025
This is a flight of fancy. If you can imagine a man and a cat mentally changing places, you're good to go. I enjoyed it a great deal.
August 12, 2025
Unusual story that was quite enjoyable!
Who doesn't love a freaky Friday between a man and a cat 🤣
Who doesn't love a freaky Friday between a man and a cat 🤣
April 5, 2026
Fun mystery involving cats.
Interesting point of view in the storytelling. Well-written fun. A little later, I will try another book by the author.
Interesting point of view in the storytelling. Well-written fun. A little later, I will try another book by the author.
July 4, 2009
Saw this one at the library and it looked interesting. It is a mystery involving a cat, so I gave it a try. British Shakespearean actor Winstanley Fortescue has had what appears to be an accident during rehearsal of a new play. When he regains consciousness, he is in the body of Montgomery, the theater cat. Monty's "spirit" has somehow changed places with his, and is now in Win's injured body. Win must learn how to be a cat, and find out what actually happened - of course it is no accident at all, but the first of several attempts to kill him (or rather, his body, since no one suspects that the transfer has taken place). Monty also has his own troubles learning to be a human - the small references to staring at his thumbs and wiggling them were amusing. Several theater people come under suspicion, but of course the real culprit is revealed in the end. As for Monty and Win, things work out in the end. A good quick read for a day off!
September 23, 2011
I haven't read anything by Marian Babson in a very long time. I can't imagine why I'd forgotten about her work. Her delightful sense of humor and her knowledge of cat psychology make for a delightful read.
February 7, 2017
I read this book to fulfill a couple of challenges. It isn't my typical choice, so it's unsurprising that I didn't love it. Win and Monty were both unlikeable, and the mystery was rather secondary. The insight into the mind of a cat was interesting.
April 15, 2012
I know people love this series but it just did not do it for me. I was looking to read a "cozy" mystery so I was in the mood for it but I found the book a little dull and a whole lot confusing...
July 22, 2012
I was very entertained by this book!
February 14, 2016
A fun read
December 27, 2010
interesting, OK
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews