Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof

A Dixie Hemingway Mystery #4

by Blaize Clement

Book by Clement, Blaize

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

405 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2009

About the author

My passion is people. I think people are absolutely magnificent. Not the power-hungry heads of governments or churches or corporations who justify all kinds of horror if it suits their goals, but the rest of us. In spite of the awful things some human beings do in order to control other human beings, most people are peacefully going about their own business, and I applaud that. Families are the backbone of any civilization, and parenting is the most important job in the world.

That same passion and respect for people makes me a strong supporter of the right of any two adults who wish to combine their lives and property to do so without anybody judging them or erecting laws to make their lives more difficult. It seems to me that people who go around condemning how or who somebody else loves would better mind their own business and spend that time showing love to their own spouses or lovers.

As a polio survivor, I’m zealous about ADA laws being implemented and intelligently observed. I try to keep a sense of humor about architectural barriers, but curb cuts and gentle ramps aren’t so difficult to install, and they make life a lot easier for many people. And does anybody know the purpose of those metal bars attached to the walls in handicap-accessible bathrooms? I used to think they might be there in case somebody in a wheelchair decided to rinse out her panty hose, but that can’t be it.

My favorite story of all time is Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child. When my two sons were little, I would beg them to let me read that story to them, and sometimes they would indulge me. When my five grandchildren were small, I made a tape of myself reading it so they could listen to it when I wasn’t there. They indulged me too. I still get a little bubble of delight at the 'satiable Elephant's Child saying to all his dear families, “I am going to the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, to find out what the Crocodile has for dinner.”

My favorite scene in all literature is from another Rudyard Kipling story, The Jungle Book, where the wolf pack has met to look over the new cubs so they would know their own from an enemy, and Father Wolf pushes Mowgli into the center.

Come to think of it, I suppose those beloved stories about the intelligence and nobility of animals, coupled with my passion for families and children has inevitably led to writing the Dixie Hemingway Mystery series. The relationship between people and pets is one of the highest examples of unconditional love, and Dixie Hemingway is a professional pet sitter who values her family and the pets she takes care of above all else.

Okay, we’re almost finished with this pseudo-bio.

I think the best writing being done today gets the least amount of respect. Good writing isn’t determined by the subject matter, but by how well the writer keeps the reader fascinated and anxious. With few exceptions, that means good mysteries, horror, and sci-fi. I’m proud to be a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime.

My favorite quote is from the 14th century Sufi poet, Hafiz: “Sweetheart, O Sweetheart, you are God in drag!”

Okay, that’s my bio. Now you know the “real me.” I hope we meet someday and that you’ll tell me about the real you.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/blaize...

Reviews

[Scoats · Rating 3 out of 5]

We own the first four Cat Sitter books and now I have read all of them. This book is from 2005, so I'm sure there are still many more in the series. But we have 100s of other books I haven't read yet, so I'm not looking for more.

While the characters and story were as strong as ever, this one seemed a bit rushed and could have benefited from a good bit of tightening. How many times do we have to read that Dixie came home, took a shower, took a nap naked, woke up and put on cargo shorts, a t-shirt, and Keds? How many times do we have to read about the same breakfast she eats every day. I understand the need maybe to mention it for readers who haven't read the first four books, but even then mentioning that stuff once per book should be enough.

And with all those pages, the question of which man will Dixie choose, which has been building for three books, doesn't really advance at all. With a $25 cover price for the hardback, this should have been much better.

I'm pretty sure I gave the 3rd Cat Sitter book 4.5 stars, so I know Clement has the ability to write great books. Which makes this one disappointing.

Still fun and a good read. Over all, solid but a bit flabby.

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a woman named Dixie Hemingway, who is an experienced pet sitter that is very devoted to the pets she agrees to take care of. She has been struggling to come to grips with the loss of her husband and daughter four years before. She can now talk about them without breaking down into tears. She meets a young woman named Laura, who she befriends and is disappointed to discover she wasn't who she said she was after, only she was brutally murdered. Dixie questions everyone surrounding Laura's life in an attempt to determine who might have wanted her dead. She discovers that money and jealousy were probably closely tied to the motive for taking Laura's young life. I enjoyed this and will continue with the series.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof" by Blaize Clement.

FANTASTIC!!! 5 star review.

This series just keeps getting better and better.

Dixie Hemingway finds a new friend in Laura. Laura seems to be on the run from an abusive husband. She's left Dallas and is trying to remain as incognito as possible. That's what Dixie has been told and that's what Dixie believes...for a while that is.
Then Laura is discovered in her shower stabbed to death and hideously mutilated. That's when the truth about Laura and her background becomes even more complicated than originally believed.

This wonderful mystery brings us into the world of service dogs. Mazie is a service dog for little Jeffrey. Jeff has been plagued with seizures and Mazie aka Jeff's best friend is his constant help and hope. Jeff is scheduled for brain surgery to alieve or completely stop his seizures but that means Jeff and Mazie will be separated. Will that have a negative effect on Jeff and Mazie? If so, how will or can Dixie do anything to resolve this dilemma?

I loved this book so original and alive with believable characters...thanks to a creative author. Highly recommended to all lovers of mysteries.

[LibraryCin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pet sitter Dixie is watching (with the help of her elderly friend, Pete), a service dog to a little 3-year old boy (who needs to be in the hospital for a surgery). Next door, Dixie meets Laura, a beautiful woman who recently moved in. Dixie and Laura quickly become friends when Laura reveals that she recently left her husband and is hiding from him. It’s not long before Laura is found murdered in her house.

This is a pretty good rating for a cozy mystery from me (often they are 3 or 3.5 stars). It’s a light book and a light series, but I really enjoyed this one. Of course, I love the pets in these stories and I love some of the secondary characters – Dixie’s friends and family – particularly her brother Michael, and his partner, Paco.

[Mary Tonks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a cozy mystery with many nail-biting moments. Red herrings and crazy character twists to keep the reader turning pages

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, it's the morning of the Friends of the Library book sale and I know that I have to be there all day and will be interrupted a thousand times by fellow book lovers and I need a book to read. I swung by the library on my way to the sale and checked this book out. It was perfect. A fun read and no problem with the interruptions, I could pick the story right back up. This is the third book in this series that I've read and I have to admit that I'm enjoyed them all. The story is told by a woman who had been a deputy sheriff before her husband and three year old daughter were killed by an elderly driver who stepped on the gas instead of the brake when trying to park his car (memo to me: review the pedal placement before driving to lunch today). She leaves the sheriff's department and becomes a full-time pet sitter and walker and apparently makes a good living at it. Of course, crimes are committed in and around her pet-sitting duties and she becomes involved. A tad far-fetched, but it works. This book focused on seizure assistance dogs, a Havana Brown cat (which are beautiful by the way), an 80 year old helper, a woman who has trouble with the truth and who is running away from something in her past. Needless to say, bad things happen, although not as many as you might suspect and everything turns out in the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Kevin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was really bad. The only reason I kept reading it was because I was on vacation with the person who gave it to me. She asked how it was and I told it wasn’t very good; she said, I didn’t think it would be. I wanted to say—Then why did you give it to me! Lesson—don’t give someone a book if you don’t think it’s any good. She’s a bad, derivative writer. I’m shocked Sue Grafton hasn’t sued her for plagiarism. A basic problem is the main character’s profession. She’s a pet sitter, which means she has to go through the same routine twice a day, like walking dogs. This is repetitive and pretty boring—how interesting can you make walking a dog. I’m not sure why I’ve even spent so much time writing this review. Don’t read this book.

[AngryGreyCat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was last night’s read. I am reading my way through the Dixie Hemingway Mystery series, somewhat out of order. I really like this series and this book is no exception. The mystery was really well plotted and exciting right up to the end. Dixie is a great character and I love the relationship she has with her clients and their pets. Dixie has shown growth since the first book and it was really evident in this book when she reached out to make a new friend and to go on a date. I always feel that the books in this series are paced more like a thriller than a cozy and that really keeps me turning the pages to get to the end. Highly recommended read!

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this series, but I didn't think this was one of the best. It was rather repetative, and at the end, I was wondering why Dixie would go back into Laura's house, with the killer still on the loose. Hasn't she ever seen a horror movie? I don't like horror movies, and I still know better than that.

[Emily Kestrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this is where the Cat Sitter series and I part ways. None of them are realistic, but the other ones were a bit silly but still good light reading. This one crossed the line into being dumb: the story was paper-thin, the killer was obvious from the get-go, and Dixie acted like an idiot from start to finish.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all the books in this series, but this one dragged a little in the middle for me. I like the characters, but I wish there was more development of the relationship between Dixie and Guidry.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wish this book was good so I would be interested in reading more of this author, but no. I liked the concept: pet sitter detective novel. Maybe there is better of this type by a another author...

[Heidi]

I really like this series and this was another solid read

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I jumped into the series with the fourth book, the author did a good job of not making me feel like I was missing out. Dixie quit the police force after the tragic deaths of her husband and daughter, and now she makes her living by taking care of other people's pets. One such assignment has Dixie taking care of a young boy's service dog while the boy is having surgery that will hopefully end his seizures. While caring for Mazie, Dixie meets one of the neighbors, a beautiful woman named Laura. Dixie is drawn to Laura right away. She doesn't have many female friends, and she is pleased to strike up a rapport with the other woman. Laura reveals she is on the run from an abusive husband.

Later, when Laura is murdered, Dixie is shocked but determined to aid the police by telling them what she has learned from Laura. Dixie takes Laura's cat to be boarded until the woman's sister can claim him. However, when Dixie meets Celeste, she takes an instant dislike to her. It seems there was little love lost between the sisters, either. It also becomes apparent that Laura had a habit of attracting dangerous men, and Dixie runs afoul of two of them during her time in Laura's neighborhood. Unable to keep out of the investigation, Dixie continues to ask questions, and curiosity may just kill the cat.

Fantastic story. Dixie was very real and relatable. She wasn't fun loving and free-spirited; instead, she was guarded and cautious. However, I found many of her wry observations to be humorous. All characters were fleshed out, even the pets, which I appreciated.

[Scoats · Rating 3 out of 5]

We own the first four Cat Sitter books and now I have read all of them. This book is from 2005, so I'm sure there are still many more in the series. But we have 100s of other books I haven't read yet, so I'm not looking for more.

While the characters and story were as strong as ever, this one seemed a bit rushed and could have benefited from a good bit of tightening. How many times do we have to read that Dixie came home, took a shower, took a nap naked, woke up and put on cargo shorts, a t-shirt, and Keds? How many times do we have to read about the same breakfast she eats every day. I understand the need maybe to mention it for readers who haven't read the first four books, but even then mentioning that stuff once per book should be enough.

And with all those pages, the question of which man will Dixie choose, which has been building for three books, doesn't really advance at all. With a $25 cover price for the hardback, this should have been much better.

I'm pretty sure I gave the 3rd Cat Sitter book 4.5 stars, so I know Clement has the ability to write great books. Which makes this one disappointing.

Still fun and a good read. Over all, solid but a bit flabby.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dixie's friend Pete, a semi-retired clown, is pet sitting with Mazie, a seizure assistant dog. Her friend, a three year old boy, has been taken to the hospital to have surgery to reduce or eliminate his seizures. Unfortunately, this separation is very difficult for both dog and boy. The stress and worry Pete has for both dog and boy are also affecting him. Next door, a woman Dixie met briefly has been murdered. Dixie had assumed they were on the way to becoming friends and is hurt to find that Laura lied to her. Three different very large men seemed to have been acquainted with Laura and all three seem threatening. Who killed her and why?

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this because I accidentally picked it up thinking it was "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", and then thought it was hilarious it said "Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof". This book is so, so bad. Like, laughably so, and not in the way you'd think. It's a horrible combination of repetitive explanations of pet care and sexist remarks about both men and women, with the occasional mention of murder.


I could go on and on about all the things I hated about this. I'm not going to, because I'm bored already.

[Holly Keimig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dixie finds a new friend in this book, which is very exciting at first, and maybe a sign she is moving on with life. That friend turns out to be now what they seemed and Dixie has to keep her pets happy (including a very sad seizure assistance dog while his boy has surgery), solve a murder, and look at her new friend in new ways. Her relationships heat up a bit too. This one was scary (may not take a shower ever again!), but not as bad as a few of the previous ones. Excited to see what happens next.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another charming book in this series with more endearing characters...Pete the clown and Cora, who continues to make an appearance in each book with her chocolate bread. You know, the author could write a cookbook with all the food she describes in each book. I would sure like a recipe for that chocolate bread!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dixie Hemingway is an ex cop who does pet sitting and has the knack of finding bodies. She had felt a connection with a woman who seemed so believable but she is found murdered and everything she believed seems to not be the truth. Things seem stranger when Dixie keeps hearing unusual statements about the woman and the men she knew.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dixie seems to always find trouble. Or the trouble finds her. I love the way she takes care of animals. I’m still guess will she take the detective or the lawyer and if one of them is hiding something.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great series. i just love the main character.

[Ch J Loveall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good series - will continue - bubblegum read.

[Ellen Thielen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Florida, Dixie had to quit the police force when she was coming to terms with the tragic deaths of her husband and young daughter. Now as a pet sitter, murder still seems to follow her ...

[Marseydoats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series but Dixie is a little too predictable in all the things she does.

[Sherrie Dagg · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying this series! Cute cozy mysteries with some animals tossed in! Can't go wrong. :)

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best in the series so far.

[Sharon Caladino · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like animals you'll like this. Story was engrossing. Not too deep and not too simple.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! Great new cozy mystery series for me. Looking forward to reading more of them.