Down on her luck and coping with a temperamental cat, Alice Nestleton contacts the Village Cat People for assistance, but when their representative is murdered on Alice's doorstep, the Cat People want Alice to investigate
Lydia Adamson is the pen name for Franklin B. King who is an author, free-lance writer and copywriter. In addition to the Alice Nestleton series, he is the author of the Deirdre Quinn Nightingale and Lucy Wayles series. He lives in New York City and also wrote under the name 'Frank King'.
I have not read any of the earlier books in this series, this book read fine as a stand alone. I liked the characters, some of whom were more likable than others. The setting was engaging as was the historical story of Edna St. Vincent Millay. The cats were very realistic - uncooperative, making their owner jealous, and sometimes zany. The name Village Cat People - people to call when you need help with your cat is great!
I really enjoy this series, all revolving in some way or another around cats. The "sleuth" is an actress who is semi successful, but who needs a day job to stay afloat financially, so she "cat sits" for various cat loving owners who much leave their pampered kitties. It's her "day job" that brings the murders to her attention. Her love life sometimes intrudes (a bit PG 13, but not explicit) with its casual attitude towards extra marital sex, but the stories are charmingly told with eccentric and real feeling characters and cares.
This is the first of this series I've read. Perhaps I would have liked it better if I'd read the earlier ones and warmed up to the characters more. It was a quick read.