Cries & Whiskers

Theda Krakow #3

by Clea Simon

Reporter Theda Krakow is caught up in investigating the rise of a dangerous new designer drug that threatens the musicians and fans who make up the club scene she considers her second home.

Genres: Mystery, Cats, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Animals

251 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Boston Globe-bestselling author Clea Simon is the author of The Butterfly Trap, a sinister slow-build "he said/she said" that will definitely surprise you.

This follows Bad Boy Beat a fast-paced amateur sleuth mystery featuring a novice crime reporter with a nose for news who is convinced a series of street-level killings are connected.

In a different mood, Clea's most recent cozy is The Cat's Eye Charm, the fifth in her "Witch Cats of Cambridge" series.

She is also the author of the psychological suspense novels, Hold Me Down and World Enough, both named "Must Reads" by the Massachusetts Book Awards, as well as the dystopian Blackie and Care black cat series (The Ninth Life), the Dulcie Schwartz feline/academic mysteries (Shades of Grey), the Pru Marlowe pet noir mysteries (Dogs Don't Lie), and the Theda Krakow cats & crime & rock & roll mysteries (Mew is for Murder), as well as three nonfiction books: Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings; Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads; and The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.

The recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Thisbe. Find her at Clea Simon.com

Reviews

[Barb Radmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a holiday treat that the intrepid Theda Krakow is back in another feline mystery from Clea Simon. This time Theda takes on the drug culture and animal rights activist in this fast paced, suspense filled story.

The Top Ten category of who should read this book:
1. Anyone who likes a mystery with a well written, strong, female main character.
2. Anyone who likes a mystery with varied plot lines that are deftly meshed into one seamless story.
3. Anyone who likes well thought out suspense that keeps building to an ending that is compelling and complete.
4. Anyone who likes a work that looks at relationships- human, feline, men and women.
5 Anyone who would enjoy the setting of the Boston music scene.
6. Anyone who would enjoy a carefully developed mystery that entertains and enlightens.
7. Anyone who would enjoy a good book.
8. Anyone who feels strongly about animal rights or welfare (the issue of feral cats is interestingly explored.)
9. Anyone who is a cat lover.
10. All mystery lovers!

Clea Simon has written the third entry into the Theda Krakow series starring the cat loving journalist. It is another testament to her talent as an author that she can make a unique mark in the crowded cat mystery market. She should not be mixed with the cozy crowd. This mystery has fangs and teeth, more like the feral cats it describes than any domesticated house cat.

[Diane Morasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clea Simon does it again. Third time's a charm for this gifted storyteller.Freelance journalist Theda Krakow is back with a cat story that is anything but warm & fuzzy.A fervent animal rights activist is run over during a feral cat rescue at a proposed development site in a Beantown suburb.When her death becomes a murder investigation, Theda discovers that the victim was rescuing feral cats during a winter storm. Theda decides to help her friend Violet, a punk rocker who owns an animal shelter, investigate.As Theda discerns more about the tensions within the animal-rights group. She finds that she may have stumbled upon the biggest story of her career. It may also be her last.


Clea Simon has once again written a quick-paced story saturated with unconventional, characters, both two- and four-legged.An intriguing read & a series NOT to be missed.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really feel like the story is starting to pick up pace, and I also felt like Theda is growing into a more likable character. The last story felt a little fuzzy, but this one seemed more focused, like the author knows more about where she is going with the cast of characters. And it certainly is a cast! There are many friends and acquaintances that make repeated appearances as supporting characters or essential to keeping the plot rolling. Bill is starting to flesh out a little more too, instead of the typical police boyfriend. I liked it!

There is another book in this series that will unfortunately have to wait for pay day before I purchase it. Four stars.

[Homerun2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid 3 1/2 star series. Main characters are likable, Boston setting is well-portrayed, and the action moves right along. This story had a lot of plot threads braided quite implausibly together at the end, but it was good entertainment.

[Megan]

There's a cat... horribly photoshopped above a building. What more could you ask for?

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery, page turner and written with a different slant.

[Teolinda Stark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ja du..."pust", vad mer kan jag säga om detta mysterium, som av någon anledning binder samman narkotika och hemlösa katter.
Kanske skulle det vara smartare att börja på första boken om Theda Krakow. Kanske hade det fått mig att byta inställning, kanske inte alls. Något säger mig att det faktiskt hade kvittat.
Det handlar alltså om katter, katter, katter och så en och annan illamående kvinna blandat med droger och nya uppoppande musikaliska band.
Det är rentav ett under att jag hängde med till slutet och faktiskt förstod upplösningen på det hela också för det var ett evinnerligt springande, letande och ropande efter dessa fyrbenta krabater i alla storlekar, åldrar och färger.
Men var det spännande? Nej.

Betyg: 2 orangea kattburar av 5

[Darlene Dziomba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clea Simon weaves together many worlds within one plot. Theda is a freelance reporter trying to make it big. She latches on to a story about an up and coming band, and an illicit drug trade happening in the performance circuit. Theda and several friends are also involved in rescuing feral cats and attempting to re-home the kittens. This book tugged at my heart. I am also an advocate for animal rescue and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters and hearing about their efforts to care for feral kittens. The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing until the final pages. A good cozy read without graphic violence, but with tension to keep you turning the pages.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theda investigates the discovery of new designer drugs. She seems to go too far, and her beloved cat is catnapped.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skeptical...that was me while reading this. It was unrealistic, far-fetched, and dragging...were my thoughts when finally finish. Even my cat left the room.............

[P.D. Workman]

A good mystery with cats. Little grittier than most cozies, but no language/sex that would be objectionable to a cozy mystery reader.

Animals in peril but not killed.

[Bess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the cat sounds

[Jo Orange · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 and a half stars.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skipped a lot but liked the premise and it was well written. Just too much unnecessary detail for me.

[Dmo48 · Rating 1 out of 5]

D n f

[Kat Lebo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read in the Theda Krakow series by Clea Simon.

This book embodies all the reasons I read mysteries, while having basically none of the issues that make me crazy while I'm reading!

First: This novel is well plotted. Lots of action, lots of irons in the fire, lots of seemingly unrelated incidents that all come together towards the end, and plenty of cats.

Second: Great character development. All Theda's friends are back. There's her cop boyfriend, Bill, her cat sanctuary buddy/clubland singer, Violet, her Mail former co-worker/BFF, Bunny, the heavy drinking club reporter, Ralph, the singer, Tess, the real estate agent, Patti, and, of course, Theda's tuxedo cat, Musetta. All of them figure into the plot, playing their role in helping Theda put together the pieces of the puzzle.

Third: Lots of action, but all of it adding to the complex mix of events that lead Theda to her final epiphany that makes those puzzle pieces fall into place.

Fourth: Editing. Yes. Thank you. I only found one error (and it darn near broke my heart), toward the end, when two police officers came to Theda's apartment to take her statement. At Location 4572 on my Kindle: "The were standing now, reaching for their regulation parkas." Funny how the omission of just one tiny letter can stop you dead in your tracks.

In this adventure, Theda is multitasking like a fiend. There's her freelance writing career with multiple deadlines to meet, a boyfriend incapacitated by an injury, a maybe-murder to solve, feral cats to save, a mysterious high profile band without anyone ever having heard any of their music save the clips on their website, an animal-rights group that didn't mind breaking a law here and there, a new drug making the club scene, friends in crisis, unethical real estate developers, and having her beloved cat, Musetta, threatened. This time around, there is danger everywhere.

A fun romp; a satisfying read. Thank you Clea Simon. I'm on to the next (and currently last) in the series, Probable Claws.

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theda is obnoxious and needs to grow up. I'm glad the cat was featured in this story, since she seemed to be just window dressing before.

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in a series, this book finds freelance rock music critic Theda Krakow dealing with a boyfriend who's laid up with a broken kneecap, a friend who's acting strange, the hit and run death of an acquaintance who's rescuing feral cats, and much more. The rock music scene in Cambridge intersects with drugs, real estate, and some red herrings as well before Theda finally sorts it all out. When is she going to realize that, contrary to her editor's opinion, she actually is a reporter, and a fine investigative reporter at that? A book for cat-lovers, rock music lovers, and those who know Cambridge, or, just want to read a good story.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you aren't a cat person you may not like this book as the main character refers to her cat quite a bit. Action takes place in Cambridge, outside Boston. Main character is a free lance writer covering night clubs. New book. Learned quite a bit about animal rights groups.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like a good mystery. This book fits that description. I picked it up without having read anything else by the author, so was not familiar with the detective and their "history". I liked it and probably would read more by the same author, but have not done so yet.

[Linda Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I've loved all of the Theda Krakow mysteries, this continues to be one of my favorites. Somehow it all comes together for me here: the music, the mystery, the romance on a rough sea. No one does kitty noir like Clea Simon!

[Petula Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like it when people go on and on about their pets ad nauseum, then this is the story for you.

There were many things I liked about this book, such as the setting, the protagonist's line of work and her independence, but the extent of the CAT! theme was a little too much for me.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd say this book was just ok (probably would give it 2.5 stars if I could). It might be because I listen to it on audio book though and wasn't pay attention at parts so I found it a bit confusing with all the story lines. The characters I felt were just ok too.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main character still too focused on overweight descriptions, IMHO, in this 3rd book. Adequate story, but I find that even though I'm a big fan of kitties, having a couple myself, the main character's obsession with her cat over her boyfriend is borderline crazy cat lady.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reporter Theda Krakow is caught up investigating the rise of a new designer drug that threatens the musicians and fans who make up the club scene she considers her second home. OK novel with ctas as an assesssory.

[Elly Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2* I wish I could say that I enjoyed this one as much as I did "True Grey," but I can't. This one wasn't as solid and indeed at times it was annoying. I did finish it but only because I was busy doing other things while the audio prattled on. Still, I'll give more of her books a try.

[Moonbean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic page-turning mystery!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoying this series, which I think gets more sure-footed with each entry.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewer of bands in Cambridge.