What do you think?
Rate this book
Cat Ship #3
Catagenesis
Two humans, a bunch of cats, a space ship...and murder.
Han-Ja Gee has made a fine living on Trash Planet trading information and secrets with those who are willing to pay, either in money or in more secrets. He thought he knew everything...until a talking cat interrupted a business meeting. But cats can't talk. Cats are so rare that only very wealthy people own them. If he can discover the truth about the cats, he can pay off the life-debt he owes and leave Trash Planet forever.
Farah Shine Collins is a passenger on an ancient generation ship who wakes up two thousand years late in a galaxy that barely survived a catastrophic war...and the cats on her ship have become sentient. Her struggle to adjust becomes infinitely worse when she's asked to partner with an information broker named Han-Ja, who is clearly trouble, to solve a murder on board the ship.
A murder for which the primary suspect is Farah's mother. A murder that not even mind-reading cats seem to know anything about. A murder that is only the first in a string of deadly attacks that threatens to tear the whole ship apart.
Han-Ja just wanted to escape a brutal racketeer. Farah just wanted a place that she and her mother could call home. Neither expected to fall in love while locked on a murder ship with three thousand terrified colonists and almost as many angry cats. But if they cannot stop the killer, the collateral damage will be a lot more than their hopes and dreams. It will be their lives.
Han-Ja Gee has made a fine living on Trash Planet trading information and secrets with those who are willing to pay, either in money or in more secrets. He thought he knew everything...until a talking cat interrupted a business meeting. But cats can't talk. Cats are so rare that only very wealthy people own them. If he can discover the truth about the cats, he can pay off the life-debt he owes and leave Trash Planet forever.
Farah Shine Collins is a passenger on an ancient generation ship who wakes up two thousand years late in a galaxy that barely survived a catastrophic war...and the cats on her ship have become sentient. Her struggle to adjust becomes infinitely worse when she's asked to partner with an information broker named Han-Ja, who is clearly trouble, to solve a murder on board the ship.
A murder for which the primary suspect is Farah's mother. A murder that not even mind-reading cats seem to know anything about. A murder that is only the first in a string of deadly attacks that threatens to tear the whole ship apart.
Han-Ja just wanted to escape a brutal racketeer. Farah just wanted a place that she and her mother could call home. Neither expected to fall in love while locked on a murder ship with three thousand terrified colonists and almost as many angry cats. But if they cannot stop the killer, the collateral damage will be a lot more than their hopes and dreams. It will be their lives.
- GenresRomance
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 29, 2022
2 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Jody Wallace
47 books157 followersJody Wallace’s 30+ titles include sf/f romance, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance. Her fiction features diverse protagonists, action, adventure, and humor. Her readers frequently comment on her great characters, suspenseful stories, and intriguing and creative world building. When describing her methods, Jody says: “There are two sides to every story. I aim to tell the third. And I add cats regardless.”
Outside of her fiction career, Jody has employed her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing to work as a college English instructor, technical documents editor, market analyst, web designer, and all around pain in the butt.
Outside of her fiction career, Jody has employed her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing to work as a college English instructor, technical documents editor, market analyst, web designer, and all around pain in the butt.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 4, 2023
3.5, 4 stars. I'm a little biased since there's a character named after me and I beta read the book. :)
June 19, 2023
“Catagenesis (Cat Ship #3) by Jody Wallace ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: SciFi Extravaganza (plus cats). Location: Trash Planet. Time: Far, far, far future.
THE SERIES: Far away in distance and time, there’s a place called Trash Planet. Grey skies, grey rocks, grey mountains, massive hail storms. This is where the rest of the galaxy sends their garbage because…why not? Trash Planet is also the home of the best recyclers in the Galaxy. The series is funny, and action-packed. And, as the author says: full of “cats being oh so catty”.
THIS BOOK: For 3000 years, humans and cats have been in cryosleep on the Catamaran (ancient generation ship orbiting Trash Planet). Now they’re awake-and the cats are now freakishly intelligent. Dear Barbara (the cats named her) was the 1st to wake. Her daughter Farah was the last. Han-Ja (criminal with a conscience) needs the sentient cats’ secret so he can pay his debt to a brutal Trash Planet gangster. When the ship’s security chief and deputy are murdered, the cats push Han-Ja and Farah to solve the murders. The problem: Dear Barbara is the main suspect.
The mind-reading, mind-tweaking, space-transporting, self-serving, tail-swishing, troublemaking cats claim to know nothing about the murders. Of course, they also don’t share the extent of their powers because…they’re cats. The deadly attacks have just begun. Neither Han-Ja nor Farah expected to fall in love on a murder ship full of humans, sentient cats, and ruthless murderers.
This is author Wallace’s 3rd Cat Ship book. She gave us Su, Will, and Pumpkin in book 1, Lincoln, Briar, and Mighty Mighty in book 2, and now she adds Farah, Han-Ja, and Queen Bea. This book takes place on the ship, which lets us experience all the cats and kittens. Wallace adds more backstories, and develops the cat/human relationships and the attraction between Farah and Han-Ja. Her books just keep getting better. I rated the 1st book 3 stars, the 2nd book 31/2 stars, and this book is a solid 4 catty stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️Thank you to BookSirens, Meankitty Publishing, and Jody Wallace for this ecopy.
THE SERIES: Far away in distance and time, there’s a place called Trash Planet. Grey skies, grey rocks, grey mountains, massive hail storms. This is where the rest of the galaxy sends their garbage because…why not? Trash Planet is also the home of the best recyclers in the Galaxy. The series is funny, and action-packed. And, as the author says: full of “cats being oh so catty”.
THIS BOOK: For 3000 years, humans and cats have been in cryosleep on the Catamaran (ancient generation ship orbiting Trash Planet). Now they’re awake-and the cats are now freakishly intelligent. Dear Barbara (the cats named her) was the 1st to wake. Her daughter Farah was the last. Han-Ja (criminal with a conscience) needs the sentient cats’ secret so he can pay his debt to a brutal Trash Planet gangster. When the ship’s security chief and deputy are murdered, the cats push Han-Ja and Farah to solve the murders. The problem: Dear Barbara is the main suspect.
The mind-reading, mind-tweaking, space-transporting, self-serving, tail-swishing, troublemaking cats claim to know nothing about the murders. Of course, they also don’t share the extent of their powers because…they’re cats. The deadly attacks have just begun. Neither Han-Ja nor Farah expected to fall in love on a murder ship full of humans, sentient cats, and ruthless murderers.
This is author Wallace’s 3rd Cat Ship book. She gave us Su, Will, and Pumpkin in book 1, Lincoln, Briar, and Mighty Mighty in book 2, and now she adds Farah, Han-Ja, and Queen Bea. This book takes place on the ship, which lets us experience all the cats and kittens. Wallace adds more backstories, and develops the cat/human relationships and the attraction between Farah and Han-Ja. Her books just keep getting better. I rated the 1st book 3 stars, the 2nd book 31/2 stars, and this book is a solid 4 catty stars from me🌵📚💁🏼♀️Thank you to BookSirens, Meankitty Publishing, and Jody Wallace for this ecopy.
January 23, 2023
First – I love this series! Cats that can teleport and sometimes read minds. To be honest, I am not so sure that part is science fiction. In the Catship series, cats have also evolved to be able to talk. To humans. Using human words. So, cool!
Humans also play a large role. In Catagenesis, we have Han-Ja Gee. Drug / information dealer, in debt to a mobster. “Smarmy” to quote Farah Shine Collins. (Han-Ja was also in Catapult (book 2) in a very memorable scene involving mind altering drugs (mota), and a talking feline masquerading as a robotic cat.)
Farah is newly awakened after sleeping on a generation ship for 3,000 years. A former law enforcement liaison, she is not nearly naïve as Han-Ja believes or as she is first presented. Her mom is Dear Barbara (the cat’s name for her).
After a murder on the gen ship, Farah and Han-Ja team up to figure out what the heck happened. Dear Barbara is the prime suspect since she is the one who found the body. Otherwise, clues are nearly non-existent. What is not non-existent is a lack of suspects. The non-cat loving crew members blame the cats. There is of course, much disagreement on that, especially from the cats.
More murders, riots and pandemonium ensue. The author continues to throw in little mayhems to complicate the story and provide plenty of humor. For cat lovers, you will get plenty of tail swishing, face washing, brushing against legs and sudden bolting from the room. Plus, a gigantic superior attitude. Yep, cats.
Romance is there too. Farah and Han-Ja do not hit it off at first. But as these things go, each begins to see the appeal of the other. Kissing and heroics ensue.
This book is for anyone who enjoys sci-fi romance, cats, mystery and hilarity. It stands alone, but the first two books are just as good and several characters cross over. So read the entire series I say!
I received a copy of this book from the author. My review is my honest opinion.
Humans also play a large role. In Catagenesis, we have Han-Ja Gee. Drug / information dealer, in debt to a mobster. “Smarmy” to quote Farah Shine Collins. (Han-Ja was also in Catapult (book 2) in a very memorable scene involving mind altering drugs (mota), and a talking feline masquerading as a robotic cat.)
Farah is newly awakened after sleeping on a generation ship for 3,000 years. A former law enforcement liaison, she is not nearly naïve as Han-Ja believes or as she is first presented. Her mom is Dear Barbara (the cat’s name for her).
After a murder on the gen ship, Farah and Han-Ja team up to figure out what the heck happened. Dear Barbara is the prime suspect since she is the one who found the body. Otherwise, clues are nearly non-existent. What is not non-existent is a lack of suspects. The non-cat loving crew members blame the cats. There is of course, much disagreement on that, especially from the cats.
More murders, riots and pandemonium ensue. The author continues to throw in little mayhems to complicate the story and provide plenty of humor. For cat lovers, you will get plenty of tail swishing, face washing, brushing against legs and sudden bolting from the room. Plus, a gigantic superior attitude. Yep, cats.
Romance is there too. Farah and Han-Ja do not hit it off at first. But as these things go, each begins to see the appeal of the other. Kissing and heroics ensue.
This book is for anyone who enjoys sci-fi romance, cats, mystery and hilarity. It stands alone, but the first two books are just as good and several characters cross over. So read the entire series I say!
I received a copy of this book from the author. My review is my honest opinion.
May 1, 2023
Cats and Trash Among the Stars
Do you enjoy speculation about the future of space trash recycling and the operations of interplanetary crime syndicates? Would unusually evolved cats making monkeys out of humans be amusing? If you're a fan of action, suspense, quirky humor, light romance, easy-to-hate bad guys, good guys who must choose between playing it safe and saving others, and cats who have secrets, you've picked the right series!
The strangely gifted cats are the stars of the story, but the cast of human characters, with all their complications and wildly differing backgrounds, are vividly portrayed. Together, cats and humans (including a few mutants) must overcome life-threatening opposition in a breathtaking climax.
I enjoyed how the author introduced a different pair of human protagonists along with their own unique cat cohort in each book. As I read, the growing cast of characters felt like old friends and their environment and problems felt real. How they fight for survival gave me an ache to get out there and help them.
I loved Catagenesis but must admit that it also made me sad. The wonderful story arc finally concludes, for better or for worse, in this volume and it breaks my heart!
Although they could be read separately, I urge you to read the first and second books (Catalyst and Catapult) before this one. I'll certainly be glad you do, because when you spread the word about them, more people will fall in love with the Cat Ship series and the author might be persuaded to add a fourth volume!
A clowder of thank yous to Jody Wallace, Meankitty Publishing, and BookSirens for the free advance reader's copy. My review is given freely, without any obligation. Even at only three installments, the books are all suspenseful and thoroughly fun reads. I heartily recommend Catagenesis!
Do you enjoy speculation about the future of space trash recycling and the operations of interplanetary crime syndicates? Would unusually evolved cats making monkeys out of humans be amusing? If you're a fan of action, suspense, quirky humor, light romance, easy-to-hate bad guys, good guys who must choose between playing it safe and saving others, and cats who have secrets, you've picked the right series!
The strangely gifted cats are the stars of the story, but the cast of human characters, with all their complications and wildly differing backgrounds, are vividly portrayed. Together, cats and humans (including a few mutants) must overcome life-threatening opposition in a breathtaking climax.
I enjoyed how the author introduced a different pair of human protagonists along with their own unique cat cohort in each book. As I read, the growing cast of characters felt like old friends and their environment and problems felt real. How they fight for survival gave me an ache to get out there and help them.
I loved Catagenesis but must admit that it also made me sad. The wonderful story arc finally concludes, for better or for worse, in this volume and it breaks my heart!
Although they could be read separately, I urge you to read the first and second books (Catalyst and Catapult) before this one. I'll certainly be glad you do, because when you spread the word about them, more people will fall in love with the Cat Ship series and the author might be persuaded to add a fourth volume!
A clowder of thank yous to Jody Wallace, Meankitty Publishing, and BookSirens for the free advance reader's copy. My review is given freely, without any obligation. Even at only three installments, the books are all suspenseful and thoroughly fun reads. I heartily recommend Catagenesis!
March 1, 2023
999 Cats on the wall...
999 cats, Take one down.... and the remainder will still be all over, driving you crazy. Especially if they are of the telepathic, telekinetic, mind-speaking cat variety. Of course they won't admit the extent of their powers. They are still cats, after all. So hero Han-Ja, who is himself a highly adept, intelligent, handsome criminal with a conscience, and Farah, who is the last sleeping 3000 year old colonist to awaken on the gen-ship Catamaran, have their human hands tied behind their backs when it comes to solving shipboard homicides, quelling pro-cat vs. kill-cat riots among the other colonists aboard ship, trying to bring said colonists up-to=date with 3000 years of human history before allowing them loose on the Obsidian Rim (all that's left of the galaxy), and freeing Han-Ja from the clutches of the super-criminal who owns him. Oh, and the cats know Farah and Han-Ja are destined lovers long before the ignition of their slow-burn romance...
If you are curious as to how sense can be made of all this, read the first two books in the Catship series. (This isn't a standalone, IMHO. Sorry.) But rest assured, the series is super good, worth reading, and will blow your mind. Especially this last book, which resolves all issues, answers all questions, and will, I guaranteed, delight sapient readers and sentient-cat-lovers alike. I myself give this ARC a voluntary 5 stars, and a recommendation to binge read the series one right after the other, and then decompress with your favorite alcoholic beverage and a restful activity of your choice.
999 cats, Take one down.... and the remainder will still be all over, driving you crazy. Especially if they are of the telepathic, telekinetic, mind-speaking cat variety. Of course they won't admit the extent of their powers. They are still cats, after all. So hero Han-Ja, who is himself a highly adept, intelligent, handsome criminal with a conscience, and Farah, who is the last sleeping 3000 year old colonist to awaken on the gen-ship Catamaran, have their human hands tied behind their backs when it comes to solving shipboard homicides, quelling pro-cat vs. kill-cat riots among the other colonists aboard ship, trying to bring said colonists up-to=date with 3000 years of human history before allowing them loose on the Obsidian Rim (all that's left of the galaxy), and freeing Han-Ja from the clutches of the super-criminal who owns him. Oh, and the cats know Farah and Han-Ja are destined lovers long before the ignition of their slow-burn romance...
If you are curious as to how sense can be made of all this, read the first two books in the Catship series. (This isn't a standalone, IMHO. Sorry.) But rest assured, the series is super good, worth reading, and will blow your mind. Especially this last book, which resolves all issues, answers all questions, and will, I guaranteed, delight sapient readers and sentient-cat-lovers alike. I myself give this ARC a voluntary 5 stars, and a recommendation to binge read the series one right after the other, and then decompress with your favorite alcoholic beverage and a restful activity of your choice.
February 10, 2023
This is such a great series! I can’t wait to read more from this author. The books should be read in order for the correct chronology of events, although each one has its own satisfying ending. Han-Ja Gee is an information broker from the Trash Planet, who is indebted to a Trash Planet loan shark. The cats deem him honest enough to find out about the secret transport ship, the passengers who have been newly released from stasis after 3,000 years and their sentient, mind-reading cats. Han-Ja is brought to the ship to explain current human society to the newly released colonists. Han-Ja has an ulterior motive to acquire enough information about the ship and the cats so that he can secure his freedom from the loan shark. Han-Ja and Farah, one of the newly awakened colonists, quickly start working together to solve the mysterious murders occurring on the ship. This story is very creative, with intrigue, excitement and even romance between Han-Ja and Farah. Very entertaining science fiction story! I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 23, 2023
What happens when cats have capabilities and intellect superior to humans? Does superiority lead to a more moral and righteous rule?
Farrah Collins and Han-Ja are pushed by the cats into a partnership to solve a murder (one to start). The cats, with all their superiority, are unable or unwilling to identify the murderer. Farah and Han-Ja have very different objectives at the outset. This is the story of how their relationship evolves and how the relationship between humans and cats evolves.
The character development is great for the main characters and sufficient for most of the rest. There are a lot of players to keep straight between colonist on the ship, people on the planer, and the cats.
The story is complete and there are no important unfinished sub-plots.
I enjoyed reading this book.
Farrah Collins and Han-Ja are pushed by the cats into a partnership to solve a murder (one to start). The cats, with all their superiority, are unable or unwilling to identify the murderer. Farah and Han-Ja have very different objectives at the outset. This is the story of how their relationship evolves and how the relationship between humans and cats evolves.
The character development is great for the main characters and sufficient for most of the rest. There are a lot of players to keep straight between colonist on the ship, people on the planer, and the cats.
The story is complete and there are no important unfinished sub-plots.
I enjoyed reading this book.
February 12, 2023
Love the way this series keeps building on the foundation of the previous stories. Each book can be read as a standalone, but! I highly recommend starting with the first and following the series that way. You gain so much more insight into what’s going on.
In this, book 3, things are really heating up as the sleeping colonists of the 3000 year old cyroship Catamarand are awakened to a future MUCH different from that they expected! and someone on the ship is murderously unhappy with the new reality of sentient cats, remaining hidden and a destroyed galaxy.
As a person who has been owned by multiple felines throughout a long life I can equivocally state that Ms. Wallace knows her moggies! I especially enjoyed Petal the Destroyer having had several of the same ilk!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In this, book 3, things are really heating up as the sleeping colonists of the 3000 year old cyroship Catamarand are awakened to a future MUCH different from that they expected! and someone on the ship is murderously unhappy with the new reality of sentient cats, remaining hidden and a destroyed galaxy.
As a person who has been owned by multiple felines throughout a long life I can equivocally state that Ms. Wallace knows her moggies! I especially enjoyed Petal the Destroyer having had several of the same ilk!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 23, 2023
Cat-lover or not, if you read fiction, you'll certainly love this book....
The story is a combination of mystery, thriller, sci-fi & intrigue. I simply couldn't put it down, every few pages there was a new twist that kept me completely hooked.... And finally when the real traitor is revealed, I couldn't for the life of me would have ever figured out...
The author's done an amazing job at creating this story, putting attention to the minutest details about every scene and important character.
I would definitely recommend it for sci-fi & mystery fiction readers.
PS: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story is a combination of mystery, thriller, sci-fi & intrigue. I simply couldn't put it down, every few pages there was a new twist that kept me completely hooked.... And finally when the real traitor is revealed, I couldn't for the life of me would have ever figured out...
The author's done an amazing job at creating this story, putting attention to the minutest details about every scene and important character.
I would definitely recommend it for sci-fi & mystery fiction readers.
PS: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 18, 2023
Catagenesis is Book 3 in the Cat Ship Series by Jody Wallace. I am really enjoying this series. The author is blending SiFi, murder, and romance in an excellent book. Although the "human" main characters are new to the series, we still have some of the original cats, Pumpkin, Mighty Mighty and several other cats. I love talking, sassy, mind reading cats! The story is still set on the Trash Planet with both humans and cats trying to save everyone on the ship from a murder. Catagenesis is a fun way to spend time reading. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
April 14, 2023
The cats are back, causing chaos, doing their own thing when they choose. The passengers have been saved from stasis. But now there is murder on board the Cat ship. Who is the killer. This book is back to the fast paced action of the first book. This is book three in the Cat ship, part of a much larger series of books by Jody Wallace. An easy read book with a humorous touch and a bit of romance; can be read as stand alone, but makes more sense if read in Cat ship book sequence. Thank you to BookSirens and Jody Wallace for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
April 17, 2023
This is her third story in the series. While I have yet to read the first story, I have read the second and fully intend to make up for that deficiency! Once again we have snotty, superior cats telling everyone off but this time we also have a type of murder mystery. Like the preceding book this one is just plain fun. While some characters are familiar from book 2, especially the cats, the humans are virtually all new enlarging her character set for even more fun in the future (I hope!)
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily
I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily
March 11, 2023
This book has a slow start but is worth wading through the beginning because the background is important. The storyline is unique & has a different, but interesting paranormal idea. The character relationships are well done, but are somewhat confusing as they are introduced. However, I really enjoyed the story once I got into it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 10, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A good book for cat lovers. It was very absorbing and I wish I could have read it all at once. While it is part of a series, it can be read alone. Relationships are complex and believable. This book is a doorway to an interesting future.
A good book for cat lovers. It was very absorbing and I wish I could have read it all at once. While it is part of a series, it can be read alone. Relationships are complex and believable. This book is a doorway to an interesting future.
May 18, 2023
3.5 stars but not quite 4. I did like this book, but I wasn't as invested as I was with the first 2 books in this series. For me, the story could have been tightened up and I would have enjoyed it more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews