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Brimful Coffers #2
Please Do Not Feed the Cat
A "colony" of British writers is beset by a series of hit and run accidents and much noisy rivalry about shared characters in their books.
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2004
45 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Marian Babson
62 books87 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 2, 2025
Years and years ago, I read a Marion Babson novel, Canapes for the Kitties, about a group of mystery writers choosing to live in the same village of Brimful Coffers in order to create a literary community. Their lives came to resemble one of their books more than they would have liked.
It’s been more than 10 years, but I have finally read the sequel, and I could not have loved it more. Do Feed the Cat was just as witty and cleverly plotted as Canapés for Kitties! In this sequel, one of the writers, one with the pseudonym of Macho Magee, gets involved with a most unsuitable, domineering harridan. Writer Lorinda Lucas has newly returned from a book tour in New York, and she finds that quite a lot has happened in her three-week absence. To tell more would spoil this delightful novel. Just know that Babson definitely penned a gem!
It’s been more than 10 years, but I have finally read the sequel, and I could not have loved it more. Do Feed the Cat was just as witty and cleverly plotted as Canapés for Kitties! In this sequel, one of the writers, one with the pseudonym of Macho Magee, gets involved with a most unsuitable, domineering harridan. Writer Lorinda Lucas has newly returned from a book tour in New York, and she finds that quite a lot has happened in her three-week absence. To tell more would spoil this delightful novel. Just know that Babson definitely penned a gem!
October 6, 2021
There's some humor in this cozy mystery and cats and dogs. I was starting to feel like I was listening to an Agatha Christie story with the narrator's voice. It has murder, mystery and a tiny bit of suspense.
November 5, 2019
Lorinda Lucas is home from her tour. She's fed up. Fed up with travel, and extremely fed up with the tawdry, sensationalist crime books she bought to read on the trip. Roscoe, the pudgy cat belonging to neighbor Macho McGee, is not, however, fed up...or even fed! He's now a ghost of himself, thin, weak, and desperate! How did this happen? There appears to be a new girlfriend in Macho's life, and one who isn't doing either Macho or Roscoe any favors with the strict diet she has them both on! And if this weren't bad enough, now there are bodies on the ground in Brimful Coffers...again!
Lorinda and her friends must find a murderer...and stop a nasty girlfriend from starving a cat to death...before it is too late for all involved!
My ONLY disappointment in this "series" is that it was only two books long! However, I do note that Ms. Babson is a prolific writer, and that cats feature heavily in her writing, so I will certainly be delving into more of her works...but I'm really going to miss Lorinda, Had-I, But-Known, and Roscoe!
Lorinda and her friends must find a murderer...and stop a nasty girlfriend from starving a cat to death...before it is too late for all involved!
My ONLY disappointment in this "series" is that it was only two books long! However, I do note that Ms. Babson is a prolific writer, and that cats feature heavily in her writing, so I will certainly be delving into more of her works...but I'm really going to miss Lorinda, Had-I, But-Known, and Roscoe!
October 12, 2008
I was a little apprehensive to pick this book up, however I am somewhat happy that I did. This is really the first murder-mystery that I have read, and while it wasn't great it did open me up to a new genre that I previously didn't think that I would like.
Marion Babson does a great job at developing her characters. Her characters were people I could imagine actually running into. They did not seem to be distant fantasy characters with whom I could not connect.
I enjoyed reading this book until the end. The story was built up and I was anticipating the end so much that I was disappointed. Her resolution was very short and seemed to abrupt. I would have liked there to be a little more insight into the ending.
Overall I would say that this was very readable and I will be looking for something else of hers to read in the near future.
Marion Babson does a great job at developing her characters. Her characters were people I could imagine actually running into. They did not seem to be distant fantasy characters with whom I could not connect.
I enjoyed reading this book until the end. The story was built up and I was anticipating the end so much that I was disappointed. Her resolution was very short and seemed to abrupt. I would have liked there to be a little more insight into the ending.
Overall I would say that this was very readable and I will be looking for something else of hers to read in the near future.
March 14, 2014
A light-hearted cozy set in a British writers' colony, Please DO Feed the Cat contains murder, mystery writers, and cats. The characters are well-developed. The plot's a little thin and so is Roscoe, a formerly plump cat who's been put on a diet. Entertaining and charming. I'm going on a Marian Babson reading spree.
June 10, 2023
A decent follow up. Poor Roscoe is put on an involuntary diet and so has his owner. The group if mystery writers to include Lucinda are not fond of this turn of events nor of the accident that claimed the life of a child. Gemma who witnessed part of the accident is distraught and spends most of the book in a dither.
July 28, 2021
Lots of wry humour in this cozy mystery. It certainly was fun to read - especially the tongue in cheek pokes at authors. It’s a pity though, there were only two books in this series. I would have enjoyed reading more about these characters and this setting.
August 29, 2013
I liked this book a lot, beginning with the cover, a picture of a cat looking hungrily at a birdcage. The characters (cats and humans) were interesting, especially Lorinda and Freddie. I loved that Lorinda's cats were named for that famous literary convention HIBK; they were "Had I" and "But Known." The setting of a colony of mystery writers was very enjoyable. I was glad to find out (from Goodreads, of course) that there was a volume before this, so now I can read about these characters some more. I would rather have read them in the correct order, but there I was in my public library and this book just popped out at me. I have included this book on my "librarians" because the author has worked as a librarian.
This is a mystery book written about writers of mystery books. This allows for some delicious commentary on writing and publishing. Book tours, interviews, the author who goes by the name of the character in his books, and more. There is the feud between two visiting authors who are writing about the same historical figure and who hate that there is another writer in her territory, but who don't recognize each other because no one can identify an author from book jacket photos! There are the writers who are thinking about changing genres because their books aren't selling as well as they used to. Lorinda is trying to read through a stack of mysteries that she bought in the United States on her recent book tour there. She's trying to keep up with current tastes, though she finds them very distasteful. There are many chapters that begin with some lurid gore or sex scenes, sometimes both. "Whatever had happened, she wondered, to the concept of reading as entertainment? Now it appeared to be an endurance contest as to how many pages the reader could get through without throwing up." (chapter 1).
The plot is unusual in two ways. One is because it was unclear that murder was involved. But two hit and runs in the same small town means there is something deeper going on. The second thing is that the readers couldn't figure out who the murderers were because "we" had never met them. The murderers do not make an appearance until the very end when they are trying to kill the group of writers. I loved the scene in which the two hypnotized people Gemma and Macho are remembering crucial events together yet separately. And a savior in the unlikely personage of Hilda Saint.
This is a mystery book written about writers of mystery books. This allows for some delicious commentary on writing and publishing. Book tours, interviews, the author who goes by the name of the character in his books, and more. There is the feud between two visiting authors who are writing about the same historical figure and who hate that there is another writer in her territory, but who don't recognize each other because no one can identify an author from book jacket photos! There are the writers who are thinking about changing genres because their books aren't selling as well as they used to. Lorinda is trying to read through a stack of mysteries that she bought in the United States on her recent book tour there. She's trying to keep up with current tastes, though she finds them very distasteful. There are many chapters that begin with some lurid gore or sex scenes, sometimes both. "Whatever had happened, she wondered, to the concept of reading as entertainment? Now it appeared to be an endurance contest as to how many pages the reader could get through without throwing up." (chapter 1).
The plot is unusual in two ways. One is because it was unclear that murder was involved. But two hit and runs in the same small town means there is something deeper going on. The second thing is that the readers couldn't figure out who the murderers were because "we" had never met them. The murderers do not make an appearance until the very end when they are trying to kill the group of writers. I loved the scene in which the two hypnotized people Gemma and Macho are remembering crucial events together yet separately. And a savior in the unlikely personage of Hilda Saint.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2012
BOTTOM LINE: #2 of 2 satirical cosies concerning Lorinda Lucas, author, in peculiar Brimful Coffers, rural England. A wonderfully cosy romp for those of us who love cats and amateur sleuths and Babson, but not recommended unless you’ve already read #1, CANAPES FOR THE KITTIES, 1996, a somewhat better book than this, unfortunately. I adore Lorinda, but Babson kept repeating herself. The weaknesses of this sequel wouldn’t stop me from gobbling up a third though, should there be one - it's still a lot of fun.
Someone’s running pedestrians down and leaving the scene, in this otherwise idyllic little village. Well, it *was* idyllic until two feuding authors hit upon the same historical character for their mystery series.... Another lovely visit with Lorinda and her cats and friends in their extremely dangerous rural retreat (think Cabot Cove - on steroids!) Ms. Babson gets to sharpen her claws on publicity hounds, pushy females, writers, editors, and, yes, readers too.
Someone’s running pedestrians down and leaving the scene, in this otherwise idyllic little village. Well, it *was* idyllic until two feuding authors hit upon the same historical character for their mystery series.... Another lovely visit with Lorinda and her cats and friends in their extremely dangerous rural retreat (think Cabot Cove - on steroids!) Ms. Babson gets to sharpen her claws on publicity hounds, pushy females, writers, editors, and, yes, readers too.
January 21, 2011
Mystery writers Freddie and Lorinda are neighbors in a quaint English village, and concerned about their close friend Macho (he writes that kind of book), a gentle man who has taken up with Cressie, a harridan who starves him and his cat Roscoe. Macho seems to dislike Cressie, as do all the neighbors, but she has some hold on him. Meanwhile, the village has been shocked by the hit-and-run death of a child. When there's a second death, all the neighbors suspect the same person. Things are not as they seem, however--just as you'd suspect. This is a real comfort read of a book, as so many of Babson's are.
March 31, 2009
A light snack of a book, uncomplicated for a "mystery." Refreshing literary pallate cleanser for me - I picked it up because of the cat. I love cats. So does the author, and her main characters. She happily devotes many narrative passages to the behaviors and idiosyncracies of the main character's two cats: "Had I" and "But Known." :-) Cute.
August 18, 2013
Fun mystery about a small village of mystery writers and their cats and dogs. It's very fun,and easy to get into. I love the names of the kitties - Had-I, But-Known, and Roscoe.
I got this in our library's take-me-home free section and oow I want to try and find the first book as it is the second in a series.
I got this in our library's take-me-home free section and oow I want to try and find the first book as it is the second in a series.
May 13, 2014
Crazy but funny story. Small English Village where lots of writers live. Very devoted cat owners and dog owners among them. Murder involved, of course. You have your nervous type of character, who tends to babble. The rude,demanding female character. And the cynical ones. Marion Babson's books usually feature at least one cat.
October 20, 2024
Cute Cozy Mystery, But….
Maybe I’m being a bit nit picky, but there were two things that put me off, and one was the names of Lorinda’s cats. I’m sure there is a story behind it, and I even think I know what it might be, but I don’t think anyone would name their cats those names. If they did they’d at least have nicknames for them. They are too much of a mouthful for one thing.
The other problem for me was the sub story in this book was that editors and publishers want nothing anymore but explicit sex and gore in their so called “cozy mysteries “ which isn’t realistic, but the off putting part was that Lorinda was supposedly checking out some examples in paperbacks she had purchased, and
there were sections of these italicized “books” that were examples of the sex and gore. I actually skipped over them not willing to read as far as “Lorinda” did before throwing them across the room. Totally unnecessary and unpleasant addition to the story in my opinion. It’s exactly why the cozy mystery genre exists, so suspense and mystery lovers don’t have to read that kind of thing.
Maybe I’m being a bit nit picky, but there were two things that put me off, and one was the names of Lorinda’s cats. I’m sure there is a story behind it, and I even think I know what it might be, but I don’t think anyone would name their cats those names. If they did they’d at least have nicknames for them. They are too much of a mouthful for one thing.
The other problem for me was the sub story in this book was that editors and publishers want nothing anymore but explicit sex and gore in their so called “cozy mysteries “ which isn’t realistic, but the off putting part was that Lorinda was supposedly checking out some examples in paperbacks she had purchased, and
there were sections of these italicized “books” that were examples of the sex and gore. I actually skipped over them not willing to read as far as “Lorinda” did before throwing them across the room. Totally unnecessary and unpleasant addition to the story in my opinion. It’s exactly why the cozy mystery genre exists, so suspense and mystery lovers don’t have to read that kind of thing.
August 24, 2024
Picked this up on a whim, not really my genre, but running out of options as now in my 3rd circuit of the sparse local library stacks. Found this selection to be a bit more readable than many titles I've been attempting lately. Liked the cats, the author has those three characters down pretty good, although the Tortoiseshell in particular may have been attenuated. The relative small number of characters made for easier reading. Although had to try to ignore the substrata of feminine leaning ethnocentricity. The start of every chapter with excerpts from unrelated, irrelevant and mostly salacious works in progress was irritating. The drinking and the cooking excerpts were overdone, the snipping and gossiping a bit less so since they were moderately relevant to the plot. Unfortunately there wasn't much of a mystery until very late in the book. The over used genre device of not exploring the obvious until late was in full effect here. Sort of liked it, so can half-heartedly recommend. Although the three stars will consign this review to obscurity.
September 1, 2020
Nice enough cozy. Might help to read the first in the series. I am disappointed that there are only two in this series, and no more expected. I would like to see more of the characters, but they seem not to be in any other of the author's books. The mystery in this book was slow to take off. For much of the book the characters visit each other, have drinks, have tea, feed the cats, and talk. But there is a mystery that gradually emerges from all this. Halfway through the book one of the characters is dun in and at the end it is revealed who dun it.
May 29, 2025
I really liked this book. It was a really fun read. I am giving it 3 stars because the ending was totally incomplete and left a lot of unanswered questions.
Who were the "builders"?
Other than writing about them, what was their relationship to Cressie? Why did they hate her so much?
Did the builders run over the child. why?
Why did the builders go after Macho? Because Cressie was with him?
I don't think the end was that great, but maybe I missed something somewhere? IDK
Who were the "builders"?
Other than writing about them, what was their relationship to Cressie? Why did they hate her so much?
Did the builders run over the child. why?
Why did the builders go after Macho? Because Cressie was with him?
I don't think the end was that great, but maybe I missed something somewhere? IDK
December 27, 2024
Cats, canapes and corpses
Another good Marian Babson, replete with wily cats, curious canapes and confused writers. Two warring authors arrive in Brimful Coffers; Macho has a Machiavellian house guest; a child and a woman are killed, … (that’s enough, no spoilers). Lots of fun, especially if you’re a cat person.
Another good Marian Babson, replete with wily cats, curious canapes and confused writers. Two warring authors arrive in Brimful Coffers; Macho has a Machiavellian house guest; a child and a woman are killed, … (that’s enough, no spoilers). Lots of fun, especially if you’re a cat person.
July 26, 2021
Audiobook version, and the reader unfortunately did not suit the book as well as the reader of the previous book in the series, Canapes for the Kitties. The story was also weaker, although a nice sense of community engendered among this colony of mystery writers.
July 26, 2022
Ridiculous
The book is slow to progress to the actual murder. The characters are not particularly interesting and the denouement is positively ridiculous.
I would not waste the time and money on this book.
The book is slow to progress to the actual murder. The characters are not particularly interesting and the denouement is positively ridiculous.
I would not waste the time and money on this book.
July 28, 2022
I have read all three books in the series: Canapes of the Kitties, Miss Petunia's Last Case, and Please Do Not Feed the Car. The books were charming and engaging. Definitely a light, interesting read.
May 25, 2017
Do not understand what the poor cat had to due with anything. except being hungry. Very confusing story.
November 14, 2017
I liked the title. Turned out to be a decent soft mystery.
January 5, 2022
Not my favorite of hers but still better than most others.
Read
June 3, 2022I enjoyed this. It's a good book for people who enjoy mysteries and who love cats.
October 1, 2022
Sorry, found the whole thing lame, confusing and irritating. Skipped lots. Didn't even bother to hear the end as by then had totally lost the plot !
May 23, 2023
This was hard for me to keep reading. Not really engrossing 2 1/2 *
June 17, 2023
Mildly cute.
September 12, 2023
confusing
Very difficult for me to follow. The characters were. Ot that pleasant. But I did like Roscoe, the fat cat.
Very difficult for me to follow. The characters were. Ot that pleasant. But I did like Roscoe, the fat cat.
April 26, 2024
Be careful with friends!
Good book loved the cats and their people! Lots of excitement in the boom to keep your interest! Will be looking for more Marian Babsonin
Good book loved the cats and their people! Lots of excitement in the boom to keep your interest! Will be looking for more Marian Babsonin
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews