The Diamond Cat

by Marian Babson

A pigeon in the sky with diamonds pulls an ordinary woman into a perilous mystery, in this novel by an Agatha Award–winning author.
 
Bettina Bilby doesn’t have much fun living with her nagging, critical mother—but at least this weekend she gets to temporarily take in her friend’s four cats. Then, after a rainstorm, one of her four-footed guests finds a dead carrier pigeon—and a fortune in diamonds—outside the house.
 
As Bettina wonders what to do about this treasure that fell from the sky, some dangerous types start showing up around town, and before she knows it, Bettina’s dull life is enlivened by a murder mystery.
 
Praise for Marian Babson
“What can a reviewer say about Marian Babson? If you haven’t read at least one of her books, you have definitely missed the boat. She is consistently witty.” —Mystery News

Genres: Mystery, Cats, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Cozy

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Marian 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

Reviews

[Sabine Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very easy to read. As a cat lover, I enjoyed the personalities of the cats in the story because I could literally see them in my mind and understood their behaviors so that I would laugh, and nod knowingly at many parts of the book.

I was pleasantly surprised at the ending of the book. Normally it is easy for me to guess who the antagonists are, but I was really surprised by this one. I liked the development of the main characters who also were down to earth people - the kind not normally written about. Very descriptively written.

[Lorna Dielentheis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A fun and light read!

[Ericka Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to ask you a question. What would you do if you found a dead carrier pigeon in your yard with a cylinder attached to his leg with diamonds in it? Marian Babson does a good job writing in 4 cats into this mystery. Where did the diamonds come from and where were they heading before the pigeon died. Marion is an English writer I just love the way she writes. The way she wrote this book even if you did not know she was English you would by the beginning of the book. She keeps you in suspense until the last chapter. Congrats on another good mystery I will read another soon. I found this book at our local library so I probably would never have read any of Marian Babson mysteries with the help of my local library.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

By the end of the FIRST chapter I hated Bettina’s mother so much I didn’t know if I WANTED to get thru the rest of the book! I will say, if the author’s goal was to write a character the reader would hate, she did that very well! Every time I read “BETTINA!” I could HEAR it! So maybe my rating isn’t fair. The cats definitely added some interest. I would’ve liked an epilog, I think. Was Adolf ok? (How many days has it been since he pooped?! I was getting concerned.) What happened with the people, the final piece of evidence. Did Bettina finally get the cattery she always wanted?

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy light mysteries, and Marian Babson's cat books fit the bill. You won't figure out whodunit, but just sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy the atmosphere. ***I have read other books of hers, but have found them slightly more disturbing and less fun than the ones that feature cats.

[Tania Monhollan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book overall. The ending came together very quickly like trying to rush to the end of the story. Not so sure I liked some parts of the ending. Can't say why or it will give something away.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite Marian Babson's so far. The mother is truely awful. I love how Babson doesn't force her characters to be nice and good and sympathetic.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cat series.

[Shahara LeFay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated. I didn't check the published date til halfway done. (Two decades ago!) Nice for mystery fans who don't want gore. I'd like to read a more recent book from the author.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to laugh, I got this book from the Library Booksale years ago & it has been on my TBR: the funny thing it had a bookmark in it where I apparently stopped.

Now I know I read this when I originally purchased it for the Library's Mystery collection.... I only remember the basic plot.

So picking it up again today & beginning at the beginning, I realized that I must have put it aside because I abhor(ed) the weakness of the main character & more so her mother, with whom she lives....

Basic synopsis: Cat sitter, her mother & four cats; terrible storm; petulant mother opens the door & the cats all run outside; cats find a carrier pigeon laden w/ diamonds; alpha cat swallows one of the diamonds; all in peril

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two mid age women living next door to each other, with their selfish, manipulative, irritating mothers who have been best friends for life. The main character is cat sitting 4 cats, whose mother hates, and the book opens with a bad storm, a homing pigeon carrying diamonds, secrets, flooding, people every where, murder and tension. But as challenging it is to put up with mother it was hard to put the book down. One cat eats one of the diamonds and much of the story privately revolves around waiting for the reappearance of the thing.

[Lizzytish · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a strange book. I almost didn’t finish it due to the most annoying mother! How the wimpy daughter put up with her was unbelievable. Also I found the characters to be so ignorant as to what was going on beneath their noses! And the ending? How convenient! Oh my, I have no idea how this book ended up in my to be read shelf! The cats were kind of cute.

[Colleen Yerton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not what I expected. I did find myself invested in determining what exactly was going on. The ending seemed pretty abrupt after dragging out the story and sharing so much details about the cats. There were some unexpected deaths that were a bit shocking and I felt that the response to those deaths was a bit off? But overall it was a decent mystery.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble staying with this book. Bettina’s mother is HORRID!!! She is such a horrid, repulsive character I wasn’t sure I could keep reading, and if it wasn’t a short book, I probably wouldn’t have. Overall, I felt there were plot holes and that Bettina was not very believable. She was both stupid and insightful?

[Peggy Huey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read as a woman takes care of 4 cats during a severe storm that blows a carrier pigeon off-course and slams it into the woman's house, killing it. Oddly enough, the pigeon is carrying a small fortune in jewels, the search for which sets off the remaining events in the story.

[Shannon Judisky · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute but sad

[Jennifer Buchmelter]

The characters were annoying, most of all the mother, Mrs. Bilby. Exclamation points were used too often and so were capital letters when Mrs. Bilby would shout Bettina's name. The ending was too abrupt. An epilogue was needed to let the reader know what happened with Bettina and Adolf.

I decided to read the book because of the cats, but even the cats were written to be annoying for a lot of the book.

[Kimberlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Battina is cat-sitting when she finds a pigeon with diamonds strapped to its leg. Then odd things begin to happen. The storyline is quite predictable. no real sleuthing here.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mysery.
Single woman lives with mother.
Cat sits.
Homing pigeon crashes and dies. It has diamonds.

[Carolyn Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of cat antics. Interesting story

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

funny, exciting, easy, good cats