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Murder Most Feline: Cunning Tales of Cats and Crime
When Law Meets Paw . . .The result is this delightful anthology of seventeen courtroom tales by top-notch mystery writers. Cats and mysteries go hand-in-hand, no doubt. After all, what other animal is as mysterious as the common -- yet never ordinary -- house cat? What lurks behind that smug expression? What hidden secrets belie that indifferent stare?
Always dignified, cats are quick to deal out their own justice with a claw or bite, and so it is only natural we find them in a variety of roles in these feline mysteries. Cats take the stand in their own defense to pounce on criminals, provide evidence, and turn the legal system on its collective ear -- all in the name of justice. From a private eye who goes to bat for a cat's inheritance to a common mouser who turns out to be quite a bit more during a high-profile murder trial, these tales of crime are as crafty and cunning as kitties themselves -- and just as entertaining!
The jury has returned, the bailiff is calling the court to order, and the judge is staring at the jury. Sit back and get ready to watch law meet paw in these mostly original stories.
Contents:
Always dignified, cats are quick to deal out their own justice with a claw or bite, and so it is only natural we find them in a variety of roles in these feline mysteries. Cats take the stand in their own defense to pounce on criminals, provide evidence, and turn the legal system on its collective ear -- all in the name of justice. From a private eye who goes to bat for a cat's inheritance to a common mouser who turns out to be quite a bit more during a high-profile murder trial, these tales of crime are as crafty and cunning as kitties themselves -- and just as entertaining!
The jury has returned, the bailiff is calling the court to order, and the judge is staring at the jury. Sit back and get ready to watch law meet paw in these mostly original stories.
Contents:
The witness cat / Parnell Hall
Justice knows no paws / Jon L. Breen
It's in the bag / Bill Crider
Animal sounds / Dulcy Brainard
Blue eyes / Janet Dawson
Cat, the jury / Catherine Dain
The memory pool / Tracy Knight
The lawlessness west of the Pecos / Jan Grape
Catnip / Dick Lochte
Hoskin's cat / Shirley Rousseau Murphy
Missing the cat / Mat Coward
Prints / Ann Barrett
Mr. Biggles for the defense / Matthew J. Costello
Family ties / Richard Chizmar and Barry Hoffman
For the benefit of Bootsy / Jeremiah Healy
In the lowlands / Gary A. Braunbeck
- GenresShort StoriesCatsMystery
248 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Ed Gorman
468 books120 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 15, 2018
Since I like cats I thought this book would be interesting to read. It has a bunch of short stories by authors who like cats (Shirley Rouseau Murphy, Janet Dawson etc.).
Each story has something to do with a cat and either a crime or the court system. Cats are like the courts, they are impartial and chose who is worthy to be their owner.
The stories range from a lawyer saving a cat's inheritance to cats being in the courtroom, either for the judge or for the person on trial. There is even one where the cat does tricks to hide the who dunnit.
This proved to be an enjoyable book and one that makes you wonder what your own cat thinks.
Each story has something to do with a cat and either a crime or the court system. Cats are like the courts, they are impartial and chose who is worthy to be their owner.
The stories range from a lawyer saving a cat's inheritance to cats being in the courtroom, either for the judge or for the person on trial. There is even one where the cat does tricks to hide the who dunnit.
This proved to be an enjoyable book and one that makes you wonder what your own cat thinks.
May 11, 2015
Like most anthologies there's some good stories and some mediocre but overall, it was a good collection to dip into before bed, particularly if you're a cat person. There is an element of..sameness, as they're all cat & court related stories and the theme of 'cat is left everything in the will' does recur.
Personal favourites were "Mr. Biggles for the Defense" by Matthew Costello and "Catnip" by Dick Lochte.
Personal favourites were "Mr. Biggles for the Defense" by Matthew Costello and "Catnip" by Dick Lochte.
September 14, 2009
If you like pussycats, you might very well enjoy seeing them almost always playing heroes - solving crimes, outing the bad guy(s), bein' cats.
This ain't especially deep but it is furry and fun.
This ain't especially deep but it is furry and fun.
August 5, 2015
it had a short story by parnel hall in it, good short stories all involving cats and murder!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews