What do you think?
Rate this book
The Neighbour’s Cat: A Short Story
Hello, my name is Theodore. The first thing you should know about me is that I’m a cat. I’m what humans call a tuxedo cat. The second thing you should know about me is that my owner hurts women. In the period of five years that I have been his pet, he has killed four women, and he’s on the lookout for the next victim. And he has found her.
The novel version of this book will be published on the 3rd of November you can add it here https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
The novel version of this book will be published on the 3rd of November you can add it here https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2019
12 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Ellis
31 books168 followersJ.S Ellis is a thriller author. She has a degree in creative writing, English literature, and digital marketing. She lives in Malta with her fiancé and their fur baby Eloise. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s either cooking, eating cheese and chocolate, or listening to good music and enjoying a glass of wine or two.
You can Stalk J.S Ellis at
https://joannewritesbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorJ.SEllis/
https://www.instagram.com/author_j.se...
https://www.pinterest.com/joannewrite...
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-s-e...
https://www.amazon.com/J-S-Ellis/e/B0...
You can Stalk J.S Ellis at
https://joannewritesbooks.com
https://www.facebook.com/authorJ.SEllis/
https://www.instagram.com/author_j.se...
https://www.pinterest.com/joannewrite...
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-s-e...
https://www.amazon.com/J-S-Ellis/e/B0...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
November 30, 2023
Short and Sweet!
This story is told from the perspective of a cat. The cat’s point-of-view is terrific at keeping you interested in the happenings of this little book.
It is also a great way of telling the story from the perspective of a neighbor. I just know this is happening (the title says this), but I don’t know how.
The cat is a very thoughtful cat and it has a lot to say about its environment, but who’s listening?
The human of the cat is a regular chimpanzee and he is not to be trusted with any one or any thing. Yes, I said it.
And this story is a great example of how to get five stars.
Five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This story is told from the perspective of a cat. The cat’s point-of-view is terrific at keeping you interested in the happenings of this little book.
It is also a great way of telling the story from the perspective of a neighbor. I just know this is happening (the title says this), but I don’t know how.
The cat is a very thoughtful cat and it has a lot to say about its environment, but who’s listening?
The human of the cat is a regular chimpanzee and he is not to be trusted with any one or any thing. Yes, I said it.
And this story is a great example of how to get five stars.
Five stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 13, 2020
For all of those who are owned by a cat and for those who have often wondered what their cat was thinking .. this is the book for you. But it comes with a twist.
Theodore is a tuxedo cat. His human is a serial killer and over the last 5 years, he's killed 4 women. He's stalking a new victim now.
This victim is a lovely woman who lives in an apartment across the way. Theodore wants to stop his human from hurting anyone else, so he does what any cat would do ... right? He befriends this woman and hopefully spoils his owner's thought of killing her.
So as to not have as spoilers. my review stops there. This is a short story, less than 50 pages, a fast, entertaining read. There are a few twists and turns that are unexpected. This is a nice little crime fiction featuring a unique character.
I happened to find this one while strolling through Amazon and just couldn't resist. I gave this one 5 stars .. it's short, but packed fill of information ... and I have a tuxedo cat.
Theodore is a tuxedo cat. His human is a serial killer and over the last 5 years, he's killed 4 women. He's stalking a new victim now.
This victim is a lovely woman who lives in an apartment across the way. Theodore wants to stop his human from hurting anyone else, so he does what any cat would do ... right? He befriends this woman and hopefully spoils his owner's thought of killing her.
So as to not have as spoilers. my review stops there. This is a short story, less than 50 pages, a fast, entertaining read. There are a few twists and turns that are unexpected. This is a nice little crime fiction featuring a unique character.
I happened to find this one while strolling through Amazon and just couldn't resist. I gave this one 5 stars .. it's short, but packed fill of information ... and I have a tuxedo cat.
May 20, 2022
Well the cat got a happy ending that’s what matters
December 26, 2019
What a unique short story. Theodore, a tuxedo cat, is living with a man who has killed 4 women in 5 yrs. This cat is going to try to save the next woman his human has his eye on to kill. The story is told completely from the cat’s point of view. Focused and fast-paced.
May 16, 2020
The Neighbour’s Cat is a short thriller set in Malta, told from the point of view of Theodore, an unusually caring tuxedo cat. I bought it on a whim having seen a review by a friend - it was under a dollar on Amazon and took about twenty minutes to read. I hadn’t previously heard of the author.
Theodore is worried - his owner, the handsome Dean, is a serial killer, who has already murdered four women since he rescued him as a kitten five years earlier. Now Dean is watching Jane, a writer who lives across the street, and Theodore knows that it’s up to him to save her...
Obviously I’m a sucker for all things feline, so was intrigued by the premise of this, but feel a bit disappointed by both the the outcome and the execution of this. It’s a very simplistic writing style - which I guess is appropriate if your narrator is a cat - but he didn’t have many recognisably feline traits that would’ve made him more believable. I was also expecting a twist - either about exactly what Dean was up to, or for the ending.
The afterword explains that this story is to be expanded into a full novel told from Dean’s point of view, and with a different ending, which I think would work better, as the problem with only hearing Theodore’s POV is we get no explanation for Dean’s actions - or how a cat can know what he’s up to - how did he learn to read, for example? Theodore reports things he couldn’t know about, although his frustration at his limitations does come across well.
Also, would a sociopathic killer really care enough to adopt and keep a stray cat? Maybe, if there’s a particular reason why he hates women enough to keep killing them, but there’s no clue here about that here.
Overall, this had potential but fell flat for me. 3.5 rounded down for the present tense narration and typos/errors/Americanisms.
Theodore is worried - his owner, the handsome Dean, is a serial killer, who has already murdered four women since he rescued him as a kitten five years earlier. Now Dean is watching Jane, a writer who lives across the street, and Theodore knows that it’s up to him to save her...
Obviously I’m a sucker for all things feline, so was intrigued by the premise of this, but feel a bit disappointed by both the the outcome and the execution of this. It’s a very simplistic writing style - which I guess is appropriate if your narrator is a cat - but he didn’t have many recognisably feline traits that would’ve made him more believable. I was also expecting a twist - either about exactly what Dean was up to, or for the ending.
The afterword explains that this story is to be expanded into a full novel told from Dean’s point of view, and with a different ending, which I think would work better, as the problem with only hearing Theodore’s POV is we get no explanation for Dean’s actions - or how a cat can know what he’s up to - how did he learn to read, for example? Theodore reports things he couldn’t know about, although his frustration at his limitations does come across well.
Also, would a sociopathic killer really care enough to adopt and keep a stray cat? Maybe, if there’s a particular reason why he hates women enough to keep killing them, but there’s no clue here about that here.
Overall, this had potential but fell flat for me. 3.5 rounded down for the present tense narration and typos/errors/Americanisms.
March 27, 2020
Stumbled upon this book entirely by accident and I'm really glad I did. Cannot be more intrigued than a cat talking to me about its killer owner! I mean how creative is that? Should have to give it to the author just for her plot and creating the cute 5 year Theodore. I was intrigued really, what would this cat really do? Will it save the girl? I thought the story would sag somehow but to my surprise, it went really well on its short span of 25 minutes and I completely enjoyed the entertainment.
November 29, 2019
Good short story, easy read. This is from the cat perspective and it makes you wonder how much our animals really pick up on.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 4, 2019
*Disclaimer: We would like to thank Ms. Ellis for sharing the review copy with us in exchange for our honest review. *
Deal All,
Let’s meet Theodore. Theodore was found by his master in a box as a baby. His master, Dean, brought him home, took care of him and nursed him to health. Theodore is happy in his new home but… he is troubled by his owner’s secret. His owner stalks, studies and hurts women. Dean has already killed four of them and has found his next victim. But Theodore can’t help. Theodore is just a cat.
Theodore feels helpless. He observes his master studying his new victim, Jane, and is desperate to save her life. He tries getting close to Jane but Dean doesn’t appreciate this. Dean is meticulous and careful, and leaves no scope for error. There is no way Theodore can warn Jane; he can’t talk or scream for help. Theodore is but a cat.
Read ‘The Neighbour’s Cat’ if you are curious to know how it ends. It is a short story and a very quick and engaging read to the end. The entire story is beautifully written through the eyes of a cat. As I was reading the book, I couldn’t help but make a mental note about how much of our personal information we share publicly and how easy we make it for scammers, criminals and serial killers to do their job.
A must read you guys, go ahead and pick this book if you are in the market for a quick thriller.
Deal All,
Let’s meet Theodore. Theodore was found by his master in a box as a baby. His master, Dean, brought him home, took care of him and nursed him to health. Theodore is happy in his new home but… he is troubled by his owner’s secret. His owner stalks, studies and hurts women. Dean has already killed four of them and has found his next victim. But Theodore can’t help. Theodore is just a cat.
Theodore feels helpless. He observes his master studying his new victim, Jane, and is desperate to save her life. He tries getting close to Jane but Dean doesn’t appreciate this. Dean is meticulous and careful, and leaves no scope for error. There is no way Theodore can warn Jane; he can’t talk or scream for help. Theodore is but a cat.
Read ‘The Neighbour’s Cat’ if you are curious to know how it ends. It is a short story and a very quick and engaging read to the end. The entire story is beautifully written through the eyes of a cat. As I was reading the book, I couldn’t help but make a mental note about how much of our personal information we share publicly and how easy we make it for scammers, criminals and serial killers to do their job.
A must read you guys, go ahead and pick this book if you are in the market for a quick thriller.
February 26, 2020
Full disclosure: I am a cat lover. So when I got the opportunity to read this book, I jumped at it. I was not disappointed. The entire story is told from the cat's perspective which makes it even more interesting. With only 36 pages, it is difficult to review the book without spoilers. However, I can say that it is unlike any other psychological thriller/suspense book I've ever read. I was hooked from page one. It is a very quick read and definitely one that I would read again myself AND recommend to my friends.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 13, 2022
After reading the synopsis that this story is narrated by a cat, I was sceptical that it would be rubbish. However, as they always say, do not judge a book by it's cover (or synopsis in this case!)
I love the fact Theodore plays such a huge part in this short story, and yet it's all relatable, as cats are clever little furbabies!
I'm so glad he now has an owner that will treat him right, and Dean got his comeuppance! Who knew a cat could make a fantastic detective/rescuer!
Thank you J.S, for allowing me to read this as an ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and cannot wait to read more about Theodore!
I love the fact Theodore plays such a huge part in this short story, and yet it's all relatable, as cats are clever little furbabies!
I'm so glad he now has an owner that will treat him right, and Dean got his comeuppance! Who knew a cat could make a fantastic detective/rescuer!
Thank you J.S, for allowing me to read this as an ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and cannot wait to read more about Theodore!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2019
Theodore is a cat whose owner is a sociopath killer. Theodore is trying to stop his owner from killing again, but being a cat that can be hard to do. This is a short story that really does put a lot of information into a short amount of words, and yet gets it's point across. I enjoyed it very much! I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from Booksprout.
August 24, 2020
The plot was literally the first season of 'You' but with a cat POV. The change in POV was cute but that's the only thing unique about this story. It was a quick read which I was thankful for since it read like a five-year-old's diary. Sure, the premise was interesting but there was nothing riveting about the story itself.
December 20, 2019
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a crafty plot. I obviously found the idea of a murder thriller from a cats perspective to be refreshingly interesting. But what really cinched this for me was the authors ability to give you a natural feel at the same time. Theodore struggles with his admiration for his owners care, and the fact that the same man could be a murderer. It’s a very interesting concept and since it was a shorter read, maintains interest fairly well. It’s not just where the plot leads, but how you get there...through the eyes of the thing we share the absolute most with. But what if they understood more than you thought? It’s a very interesting basis of narrative and the author actually pulls it off quite well which I think was particularly difficult considering we have no idea how a cat really thinks and this could have been a cat-astrophe (sorry). Honestly, it wound up being more than I had expected. While it wasn’t extremely different from any other murder thriller in actual content, it brought a twist of originality that I appreciated as a strangely enticing story telling. It’s very quick and if you like a fresh look at yet another murderer book, this is a good one to break the pattern.
What a crafty plot. I obviously found the idea of a murder thriller from a cats perspective to be refreshingly interesting. But what really cinched this for me was the authors ability to give you a natural feel at the same time. Theodore struggles with his admiration for his owners care, and the fact that the same man could be a murderer. It’s a very interesting concept and since it was a shorter read, maintains interest fairly well. It’s not just where the plot leads, but how you get there...through the eyes of the thing we share the absolute most with. But what if they understood more than you thought? It’s a very interesting basis of narrative and the author actually pulls it off quite well which I think was particularly difficult considering we have no idea how a cat really thinks and this could have been a cat-astrophe (sorry). Honestly, it wound up being more than I had expected. While it wasn’t extremely different from any other murder thriller in actual content, it brought a twist of originality that I appreciated as a strangely enticing story telling. It’s very quick and if you like a fresh look at yet another murderer book, this is a good one to break the pattern.
May 15, 2020
We all suspect cats are judging us, and this book allows us to see into the mind of one who happens to live with a serial killer. This isn't my typical type of book, but I had to see the unique POV of a cat. And "The Neighbors Cat," didn't disappoint.
It was a short, quick read that kept me on the edge of my seat. It truly felt like a cat was telling me the story. The removed, distant POV was excellent and made it seem exactly like how a cat would talk. As the story progressed, I noticed quite a few grammatical errors and typos, but in some ways it almost made the cat narrator more believable.
At times, it did seem like the cat knew too much, but at the same time I'm not sure we give our pets enough credit. He was a brave and heroic little guy, and if you're looking for a quick, exciting read I'd definitely recommend it!
Thanks to Voracious Readers Only and the author for a free copy!
It was a short, quick read that kept me on the edge of my seat. It truly felt like a cat was telling me the story. The removed, distant POV was excellent and made it seem exactly like how a cat would talk. As the story progressed, I noticed quite a few grammatical errors and typos, but in some ways it almost made the cat narrator more believable.
At times, it did seem like the cat knew too much, but at the same time I'm not sure we give our pets enough credit. He was a brave and heroic little guy, and if you're looking for a quick, exciting read I'd definitely recommend it!
Thanks to Voracious Readers Only and the author for a free copy!
August 28, 2020
30 pages, and a short read between half an hour and an hour. Written in a brilliant perspective and draws you in immediately. Leaves you feeling highly satisfied at the end. And it feels like a complete story! Nice for when you dont want to commit days to reading a novel that might just drag out. Recommended for anyone who likes a thriller!
I received this book from the author via Voracious Readers only for an honest review. Ive got this author on my watch list for any more books. Definately worth the read.
I received this book from the author via Voracious Readers only for an honest review. Ive got this author on my watch list for any more books. Definately worth the read.
November 6, 2020
Intriguing and creative tale about a beautiful tuxedo cat named Theodore and his owner Dean, a serial killer. Short story and hard to put down, because Theodore knows Dean is studying and researching soon to be victim number 5 unless he can stop it from happening by somehow warning her. Crafty and love it mostly being told from the cat's point of view.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2020
I enjoyed this thriller about a cat and the serial killer owner. It was different and quite intriquing. I highly recommend this unique spin with the POV coming from the cat. I do not want to devoludge too much of the story but I absolutly LOVE it.
** I received a complimentary copy of the book from J.S. Ellis via Voracious Readers Only **
** I received a complimentary copy of the book from J.S. Ellis via Voracious Readers Only **
February 22, 2020
A short story told from the point of view of a cat.
I really enjoyed this short story. Definitely makes you question how much pets pick up on.
Thank you to the author and voracious readers for a copy in return for an honest review
I really enjoyed this short story. Definitely makes you question how much pets pick up on.
Thank you to the author and voracious readers for a copy in return for an honest review
February 19, 2020
As a cat lover, I was immediately intrigued by the prospect of a cat potentially solving a crime and/or rescuing his owner's next victim. Theodore is lovable and definitely a unique POV to read from, so I enjoyed getting to see the terror unravel through an unlikely narrator's eyes. And to those who are worried, no, the cat does NOT die! He ends up perfectly safe! Despite there being a handful of typos, I found this to be a fun and interesting read. I received a free copy of this for an honest review -- thank you, Voracious Readers!
May 3, 2020
A thriller told from the cat’s point of view.
I loved it!
I loved it!
July 21, 2020
This is a funny take taken from the car next door as they worry about the neighbour next door. What will.he find out? See if the car can help
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 5, 2019
Thank you to the author and Booksirens for the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.
The blurb of this book immediately had me intrigued. I love murder / serial killer books and I love cats. This book has a serial killer and it was told from a cat's viewpoint.
I loved this book and practically devoured it in one setting. It was a thrilling read. The only problem I had with it was that it was too short. Lol.
I highly recommend this book and I will look out for more books from this author.
The blurb of this book immediately had me intrigued. I love murder / serial killer books and I love cats. This book has a serial killer and it was told from a cat's viewpoint.
I loved this book and practically devoured it in one setting. It was a thrilling read. The only problem I had with it was that it was too short. Lol.
I highly recommend this book and I will look out for more books from this author.
November 15, 2019
This is a great short read as told from the point of view of a cat. Since I am a cat lover (animal lover really but my favorite are cats and bees), this book was really an awesome read. While it takes a bit of a fun attitude at times, it is a serious topic and I found it unique and well, fun. Great book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 4, 2020
I liked the idea of this story but felt the cat “knew too much” considering he was just a cat; HOWEVER, the author does state that he’s going to add in the owner’s perspective which would eliminate that issue. The story is very unique!
Thank you to JS Ellis and voracious readers for the advance review copy!
Thank you to JS Ellis and voracious readers for the advance review copy!
October 17, 2020
A Jellicle Cat.
Theodore is a cat. He isn't any ordinary cat. Theodore knows his owner Dean is a serial killer. He kills women. His preference is brunettes who don't have a lot of friends and /or are not married or currently engaged. Theodore can not do anything about it, obviously until he meets Jane and her husband Matthew. Dean becomes interested in Jane and quickly gets rid of Mathew causing him to have an accident. Now, Jane is alone and Theodore knows he must do everything in his power to stop his owner from killing again. I loved this. It was original and clever to write the POV of a serial killer’s house cat. I loved the angst Theodore goes through when he knows he has to hurt Dean to stop him. It exposes Theodore loves Dean and just wants him to stop killing. Lol. You can feel Theodore’s heart break for his beloved owner. The characters are rich and riveting. The pace is slow in the beginning, however, I just count that as building up the suspense. It picks up speed soon after. The tension in this story builds to a breathtaking climax. I have read three books by this author already, and this is by far my favorite. I love her writing. I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book by the author and BOOKSIRENS, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Theodore is a cat. He isn't any ordinary cat. Theodore knows his owner Dean is a serial killer. He kills women. His preference is brunettes who don't have a lot of friends and /or are not married or currently engaged. Theodore can not do anything about it, obviously until he meets Jane and her husband Matthew. Dean becomes interested in Jane and quickly gets rid of Mathew causing him to have an accident. Now, Jane is alone and Theodore knows he must do everything in his power to stop his owner from killing again. I loved this. It was original and clever to write the POV of a serial killer’s house cat. I loved the angst Theodore goes through when he knows he has to hurt Dean to stop him. It exposes Theodore loves Dean and just wants him to stop killing. Lol. You can feel Theodore’s heart break for his beloved owner. The characters are rich and riveting. The pace is slow in the beginning, however, I just count that as building up the suspense. It picks up speed soon after. The tension in this story builds to a breathtaking climax. I have read three books by this author already, and this is by far my favorite. I love her writing. I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book by the author and BOOKSIRENS, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 8, 2020
I've read other stories with cats in them. In fact quite a few authors in the mystery/thriller genre like to feature cats in their stories. I think that's because cats are very intuitive and notice everything around them. If you've ever "owned" a cat (or rather a cat has chosen to put up with you) you know that silent look of judgement they give you whenever they are not sleeping. This book though is actually told through the perspective of the cat! Imagine actually being able to see things as they see it. Not a boring life either, Theodore's owner Dean is a serial killer and Theodore is set on saving the woman who is the next victim.
This book is very fast paced which is needed given it's length. You can easily fit this short read into your lunch break. I enjoyed it but would have liked things to be a bit longer. If we got even another 5-10 pages we might have been able to crack the mystery of our own cats minds. :) 🐱👤
I received a free copy of this story from BookSirens and am leaving my voluntary honest review.
This book is very fast paced which is needed given it's length. You can easily fit this short read into your lunch break. I enjoyed it but would have liked things to be a bit longer. If we got even another 5-10 pages we might have been able to crack the mystery of our own cats minds. :) 🐱👤
I received a free copy of this story from BookSirens and am leaving my voluntary honest review.
January 11, 2020
This was an absolutely adorable yet creepy story. I don’t want to say too much as it would be easy to give away spoilers with this being a short story. There are 3 main characters-Dean the owner, Jane the neighbor, and Theodore the cat. We see the story through Theodore’s eyes, and he sees a whopper of a story.
This is my first book by JS Ellis and I see she’s written a few others that I plan on reading. The book was well written, easy to understand, and quite cute.
Thank you to BookSirens for a free copy of this book to review.
This is my first book by JS Ellis and I see she’s written a few others that I plan on reading. The book was well written, easy to understand, and quite cute.
Thank you to BookSirens for a free copy of this book to review.
November 29, 2019
What can I say about this book? I ADORED IT!! I truly loved it! I honestly cannot express how exciting, unique and what a fast-paced heart-thudding thriller this novella was! The blurb makes the novella out to be a bit wacky- from a cat's point of view.....ohhhhh ok! But no, trust me- it works, IT REALLY REALLY WORKS! This short action packed page-turner had me flipping the pages so fast!
Very well written, interesting concept and a book I will definitely recommend to anyone who likes a fast-paced thriller or even action novel! In fact I just private messaged a friend of mine from University and told her to read this book immediately. Furthermore I have just subscribed to this author's page and now shall proceed to track down all her work and read it because if her other works are half as good as "The Neighbour's Cat" then I will be over the moon.
I believe that because this was such a short book, a novella really at just 50 pages, that it really lent itself to a one-sitting read. I unfortunately had to read it in two sittings, and could not wait to find out what happened next!
But for me it wasn't just the page length that made this novella a page-turner, it was the writing style. The author uses a beautiful mix of short and long sentences to draw the reader in, create a wonderful flow, and most importantly- create tension! Plenty of tension in this book!
Now, to the characters, well there are two protagonists. The cat, and his owner. The cat as a character was created and established particulalry well and did not come across as ridiculous in any way, shape or form. In fact, thinking back upon the book, I am very much impressed by how well developed the cat and his owner were for such a short story! Imagine establishing a setting, interesting plot and two well developed believable characters in just over 50 pages? I mean Tolkienesk and Anne Rice writing is beautiful, but not all authors need 80 pages alone just to establish and develop one characteristic of their protagonist. As such, I commend the author for artfully painting these two characters in such a short length of time.
I feel I really am fan-girling now, but honestly this book has solidly bashed it's way into my "Top 10 Favourite books of All Time ((It's-Slow-At-A Party-Ask an-Acquaintance-Have You-Read-This-Book-Because-It's-Super)) kind of List". Books in this list include "Girl on The Train", "Relic" by Preston&Child, "The Wife Between Us",Hendrics, "Bad Apple", Z.Stage and the likes..... Books that have wormed their way into the cultural consciousness, the same way I believe this book should!
Overall, as you can clearly tell, I ADORED this book and I think you will too!
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review via BookSirens. This did not affect my review.
Very well written, interesting concept and a book I will definitely recommend to anyone who likes a fast-paced thriller or even action novel! In fact I just private messaged a friend of mine from University and told her to read this book immediately. Furthermore I have just subscribed to this author's page and now shall proceed to track down all her work and read it because if her other works are half as good as "The Neighbour's Cat" then I will be over the moon.
I believe that because this was such a short book, a novella really at just 50 pages, that it really lent itself to a one-sitting read. I unfortunately had to read it in two sittings, and could not wait to find out what happened next!
But for me it wasn't just the page length that made this novella a page-turner, it was the writing style. The author uses a beautiful mix of short and long sentences to draw the reader in, create a wonderful flow, and most importantly- create tension! Plenty of tension in this book!
Now, to the characters, well there are two protagonists. The cat, and his owner. The cat as a character was created and established particulalry well and did not come across as ridiculous in any way, shape or form. In fact, thinking back upon the book, I am very much impressed by how well developed the cat and his owner were for such a short story! Imagine establishing a setting, interesting plot and two well developed believable characters in just over 50 pages? I mean Tolkienesk and Anne Rice writing is beautiful, but not all authors need 80 pages alone just to establish and develop one characteristic of their protagonist. As such, I commend the author for artfully painting these two characters in such a short length of time.
I feel I really am fan-girling now, but honestly this book has solidly bashed it's way into my "Top 10 Favourite books of All Time ((It's-Slow-At-A Party-Ask an-Acquaintance-Have You-Read-This-Book-Because-It's-Super)) kind of List". Books in this list include "Girl on The Train", "Relic" by Preston&Child, "The Wife Between Us",Hendrics, "Bad Apple", Z.Stage and the likes..... Books that have wormed their way into the cultural consciousness, the same way I believe this book should!
Overall, as you can clearly tell, I ADORED this book and I think you will too!
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review via BookSirens. This did not affect my review.
May 21, 2020
I wanted to read this story because, as a cat lover, I liked that the story was told from the point of view of a cat. (I’ve read other books with feline protagonists and enjoyed them.) I also enjoy thrillers, so it seemed like “pet cat owned by sociopath who wants to stop him killing latest victim” would be a good read. (No spoilers – this is the premise of the story, and you learn it in the first few paragraphs.)
It’s a short story (around 46 pages in the PDF version) and it does move quickly. I read it in one sitting. I was hooked by the story, and it is interesting. But I struggled whether to give it 3 or 4 stars. On the one hand, it’s a novel approach. On the other – I felt like I didn’t really get to know the characters as well as I would have liked (either the feline or the sociopath owner). This may have been due to it being a short story instead of a novel. And the story (and ending) felt a bit rushed towards the climax/ending. (There were also a couple of times where the verb tense switched, but honestly it is not a huge distraction.) That being said – I did enjoy the story. It did build tension, it made me want to know what happened to these characters. And I cared about the cat, and what happened to him and the woman. For people who may be sensitive to violence (especially against women) – the descriptions are not graphic or gratuitous. At the end of the story, the author wrote that due to the interest in the main character, they are working on a full-length novel based on this story, with the feline protagonist. I would be interested in reading this novel. And based on this story, I would read other novels this author has written.
Please note – I received a complimentary copy of this short story from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a review.
It’s a short story (around 46 pages in the PDF version) and it does move quickly. I read it in one sitting. I was hooked by the story, and it is interesting. But I struggled whether to give it 3 or 4 stars. On the one hand, it’s a novel approach. On the other – I felt like I didn’t really get to know the characters as well as I would have liked (either the feline or the sociopath owner). This may have been due to it being a short story instead of a novel. And the story (and ending) felt a bit rushed towards the climax/ending. (There were also a couple of times where the verb tense switched, but honestly it is not a huge distraction.) That being said – I did enjoy the story. It did build tension, it made me want to know what happened to these characters. And I cared about the cat, and what happened to him and the woman. For people who may be sensitive to violence (especially against women) – the descriptions are not graphic or gratuitous. At the end of the story, the author wrote that due to the interest in the main character, they are working on a full-length novel based on this story, with the feline protagonist. I would be interested in reading this novel. And based on this story, I would read other novels this author has written.
Please note – I received a complimentary copy of this short story from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a review.
March 9, 2020
In the short story The Neighbour’s Cat, Ellis introduces us to Theodore, a little black-and-white cat who just so happens to be owned by a serial killer. Theodore’s owner develops a worrying fixation with the married woman living in the opposite house leaving the cat, fearing for her life, no option but to come up with a way to stop him.
I’ve read my fair share of anthropomorphic animal tales, and they tend to work because they usually don’t take themselves too seriously – this one does, and it’s to its detriment. There’s very little in Theodore which would lead you to know that he’s a cat if you hadn’t already been explicitly told that he was. The story in general is very simplistic, but I’ve read enough short stories and novellas to know that brevity doesn’t have to come at the cost of characterisation and plot development.
All in all, an average stop-the-killer thriller that doesn’t require too much from the reader, ideally sized for the commute.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read my fair share of anthropomorphic animal tales, and they tend to work because they usually don’t take themselves too seriously – this one does, and it’s to its detriment. There’s very little in Theodore which would lead you to know that he’s a cat if you hadn’t already been explicitly told that he was. The story in general is very simplistic, but I’ve read enough short stories and novellas to know that brevity doesn’t have to come at the cost of characterisation and plot development.
All in all, an average stop-the-killer thriller that doesn’t require too much from the reader, ideally sized for the commute.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews