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Fear Familiar #6
Familiar Tale
Join the coolest feline detective to ever take on mystery, mayhem and matchmaking.Once upon a time...scandal rocked a Southern town. When Mobile's favorite son was accused of kidnapping, reporter James Tenet scooped the story of a lifetime. But he'd only scratched the surface -- even the scent of gardenias couldn't disguise the reek of deceit that hung in the humid air.Only one angry female stood in his way. As the accused's friend, Jennifer Barkley was James's only link to the truth behind the ugly rumors. And while he adored the furious flash of her eyes, James knew he had to -- wanted to -- kiss and make up.Maybe Jennifer's feline friend, Familiar, was his way to her heart... and the rest of the story. But there were two things James couldn't understand -- cats... and women.
Paperback
First published April 1, 1995
1 person is currently reading
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About the author
Caroline Burnes
66 books42 followersAlso writes as Carolyn Haines
Caroline Burnes started her writing career as a photojournalist for Southern newspapers at the age of 12. She came from a "newspapering" family and as a child was teased because of her writing ambitions.
"That girl’s got ink in her blood," the back-shop printers at the George County Times, the weekly newspaper in her hometown, would say as she stood on a bucket and helped lock up the old pages of type set on a linotype machine.
Growing up in the small town of Lucedale, Mississippi, Ms. Burnes found refuge in reading. The magic of the written word, particularly the strange and wonderful worlds of fiction, was rivaled only by her love of horses.
"If I could have had a chance to be a cowgirl, I might never have written a word," Ms. Burnes said. "As it was, a typewriter was a lot easier to come by than a horse, especially since both of my parents were journalists."
Ms. Burnes earned her B.S. degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi and began a career of covering politics, features and hard news across the South. A love of short fiction led her to write short stories, several of which received critical praise and attention. In 1988 Ms. Burnes took a career shift and began writing romantic mysteries for Harlequin Intrigue under the pseudonym Caroline Burnes.
In 1988 A Deadly Breed, a mystery involving horse racing in Mississippi, was published by Harlequin Intrigue, and since then she has published nearly 30 books with Harlequin Intrigue, which have been translated into nine languages.
"So many of my books feature animals," Ms. Burnes said. "Creating fictional animal characters gives me a chance to share my love of animals with my readers."
Ms. Burnes came to writing as a reader. "Since I began to write seriously about 15 years ago, I haven’t been able to read as much as I’d like. I’ve also become a much harder reader. A writer has to really work to pull me into the story and out of my very demanding life. If I had one wish, it would be for more hours in each day, more time to read and write and to ride my horses.
"I’m not a cowgirl by any stretch of the imagination, but I do have three fabulous horses who give me tremendous pleasure. I mostly ride English and do a little backyard jumping, but lately I’ve started team penning. Once again, the problem is that the cows are smarter than I am!
"I just have to be careful when I fall to land on something soft and not my hands," she said. "Brain damage is unlikely, but I need my fingers to be able to write." Ms. Burnes lives on a five-acre farm with her three horses, Miss Scrapiron, Mirage and Cogar; three dogs, Corky, Sweetie Pie and Maybelline; and five cats, Poe, Miss Vesta, Gumbo, Maggie the Cat, and Chester.
Caroline Burnes started her writing career as a photojournalist for Southern newspapers at the age of 12. She came from a "newspapering" family and as a child was teased because of her writing ambitions.
"That girl’s got ink in her blood," the back-shop printers at the George County Times, the weekly newspaper in her hometown, would say as she stood on a bucket and helped lock up the old pages of type set on a linotype machine.
Growing up in the small town of Lucedale, Mississippi, Ms. Burnes found refuge in reading. The magic of the written word, particularly the strange and wonderful worlds of fiction, was rivaled only by her love of horses.
"If I could have had a chance to be a cowgirl, I might never have written a word," Ms. Burnes said. "As it was, a typewriter was a lot easier to come by than a horse, especially since both of my parents were journalists."
Ms. Burnes earned her B.S. degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi and began a career of covering politics, features and hard news across the South. A love of short fiction led her to write short stories, several of which received critical praise and attention. In 1988 Ms. Burnes took a career shift and began writing romantic mysteries for Harlequin Intrigue under the pseudonym Caroline Burnes.
In 1988 A Deadly Breed, a mystery involving horse racing in Mississippi, was published by Harlequin Intrigue, and since then she has published nearly 30 books with Harlequin Intrigue, which have been translated into nine languages.
"So many of my books feature animals," Ms. Burnes said. "Creating fictional animal characters gives me a chance to share my love of animals with my readers."
Ms. Burnes came to writing as a reader. "Since I began to write seriously about 15 years ago, I haven’t been able to read as much as I’d like. I’ve also become a much harder reader. A writer has to really work to pull me into the story and out of my very demanding life. If I had one wish, it would be for more hours in each day, more time to read and write and to ride my horses.
"I’m not a cowgirl by any stretch of the imagination, but I do have three fabulous horses who give me tremendous pleasure. I mostly ride English and do a little backyard jumping, but lately I’ve started team penning. Once again, the problem is that the cows are smarter than I am!
"I just have to be careful when I fall to land on something soft and not my hands," she said. "Brain damage is unlikely, but I need my fingers to be able to write." Ms. Burnes lives on a five-acre farm with her three horses, Miss Scrapiron, Mirage and Cogar; three dogs, Corky, Sweetie Pie and Maybelline; and five cats, Poe, Miss Vesta, Gumbo, Maggie the Cat, and Chester.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 23, 2020
Oh, these are sweet little books. They really are. Sometimes a bit farfetched, but I read as an escape, and this certainly was one. There was romance, a mystery to solve, time travel, the Salem witch trials, and, as always, feline sleuth extraordinaire, Familiar. If you just want a little break away from day to day living, and who doesn't these days, this series, which was begun around 1990, is a good place to spend a few leisure hours.
June 21, 2023
I didn't really like this. My mother suggested I read it due to Familiar but I could really get past some of the blatant sexist remarks
January 29, 2025
Fun addition to this series. I really liked how the two reasons for the crime were woven together. Not for the crime itself, but how the author wove them to the conclusion
June 25, 2016
I have really enjoyed reading the first books in Carline Burnes "Familar" book series. Familiar, cat detective extraordinaire, kept me on my toes and kept me guessing. It doesn't hurt that he is constantly matchmaking for the humans in his life.
In This story he helps get book publicist Jennifer Barkley and newspaper reporter James Tenet together. They are trying to find and rescue four children that have been kidnaped in Mobile, Alabama. Jennifer's client and friend children book author Mr. Legander is the chief suspect. She and James must find the real kidnapper. Little do they know that it is the lunatic librarian.
Loved this book. Now I need to find the rest.
In This story he helps get book publicist Jennifer Barkley and newspaper reporter James Tenet together. They are trying to find and rescue four children that have been kidnaped in Mobile, Alabama. Jennifer's client and friend children book author Mr. Legander is the chief suspect. She and James must find the real kidnapper. Little do they know that it is the lunatic librarian.
Loved this book. Now I need to find the rest.
September 10, 2013
An older author who writes children books and now children are coming up missing???? Could it be the author himself or someone who wants who wants what he has???? The mystery unfolds with the help of one very intuitive cat named Familiar.
Loved how this one was done and played out....not everyday you get the purrrspective side of an animal.
Loved how this one was done and played out....not everyday you get the purrrspective side of an animal.
January 13, 2014
Anyone who knows me will say how much I love felines and will read anything and everything about them. The Fear Familiar series is no exception with Familiar, black cat detective. This sure-footed kitty won't stop until the mystery is solved and the day is saved, while demanding cream as his payment. Who wouldn't love this beautiful cat?
August 16, 2012
Ah, Familiar! :-) Need I say more?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews