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Theda Krakow #1
Mew Is for Murder
Theda Krakow is in a funk. Her sometime boyfriend's gone for good. The death of her beloved cat opened a bigger void. And the career leap she's made from copy editor to freelance writer has left her finances and her spirit flat. She desperately needs a headline to get her life back on track.
One day, out for a stroll in her Cambridge neighborhood, Theda spies an adorable stray kitten. This charmer leads Theda to an old woman holed up in a decrepit house full of cats. Is this one of those "crazy cat ladies," a classic hoarder, or is the old woman a neighborhood do-gooder?
More important, is this the story to catapult Theda out of the dumps?
But when she returns to interview Lillian Helmhold, Theda finds her fascinating subject dead of an apparent accident. The neighbors are celebrating, the police aren't interested, and the cats are removed to a shelter. End of story.
Not for Theda--one or two things don't compute. So Theda marshals her investigative journalism skills to turn gumshoe.
One day, out for a stroll in her Cambridge neighborhood, Theda spies an adorable stray kitten. This charmer leads Theda to an old woman holed up in a decrepit house full of cats. Is this one of those "crazy cat ladies," a classic hoarder, or is the old woman a neighborhood do-gooder?
More important, is this the story to catapult Theda out of the dumps?
But when she returns to interview Lillian Helmhold, Theda finds her fascinating subject dead of an apparent accident. The neighbors are celebrating, the police aren't interested, and the cats are removed to a shelter. End of story.
Not for Theda--one or two things don't compute. So Theda marshals her investigative journalism skills to turn gumshoe.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2005
92 people are currently reading
1420 people want to read
About the author
Clea Simon
57 books403 followersBoston Globe-bestselling author Clea Simon is the author most recently of
The Butterfly Trap,
a sinister slow-build "he said/she said" that will definitely surprise you.
This follows Bad Boy Beat a fast-paced amateur sleuth mystery featuring a novice crime reporter with a nose for news who is convinced a series of street-level killings are connected.
In a different mood, Clea's most recent cozy is To Conjure a Killer, the fourth in her "Witch Cats of Cambridge" series.
She is also the author of the psychological suspense novels, Hold Me Down and World Enough, both named "Must Reads" by the Massachusetts Book Awards, as well as the dystopian Blackie and Care black cat series (The Ninth Life), the Dulcie Schwartz feline/academic mysteries (Shades of Grey), the Pru Marlowe pet noir mysteries (Dogs Don't Lie), and the Theda Krakow cats & crime & rock & roll mysteries (Mew is for Murder), as well as three nonfiction books: Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings; Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads; and The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.
The recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Thisbe. Find her at Clea Simon.com
This follows Bad Boy Beat a fast-paced amateur sleuth mystery featuring a novice crime reporter with a nose for news who is convinced a series of street-level killings are connected.
In a different mood, Clea's most recent cozy is To Conjure a Killer, the fourth in her "Witch Cats of Cambridge" series.
She is also the author of the psychological suspense novels, Hold Me Down and World Enough, both named "Must Reads" by the Massachusetts Book Awards, as well as the dystopian Blackie and Care black cat series (The Ninth Life), the Dulcie Schwartz feline/academic mysteries (Shades of Grey), the Pru Marlowe pet noir mysteries (Dogs Don't Lie), and the Theda Krakow cats & crime & rock & roll mysteries (Mew is for Murder), as well as three nonfiction books: Mad House: Growing Up in the Shadow of Mentally Ill Siblings; Fatherless Women: How We Change After We Lose Our Dads; and The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats.
The recipient of multiple honors, including the Cat Writers Associations Presidents Award, she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her husband, Jon Garelick, and their cat, Thisbe. Find her at Clea Simon.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
September 8, 2020
3.5 stars
Theda is a reporter and has an idea for a story on cat hoarders after she comes across an older lady in her neighbourhood who seems to have an abundance of cats. She may or may not be a hoarder, but the neighbour sure doesn’t like the woman or her multiple cats. When Theda comes around again, she discovers the woman dead. The police think she just fell, so it was an accident, but Lillian (the old woman)’s young friend and helper (and musician) Violet, doesn’t agree. She insists Lillian must have been murdered.
30-some years old and Theda’s still a bit of a partier, so I wasn’t crazy about that (I thought she acted way younger than her age). Wasn’t as interested in the bar hopping and the music, but loved the cats! So, it was up and down for how interested I was in certain parts of the book, but overall, I liked it enough to look into the next in the series. If it has more focus on animals, I’ll continue; if it’s more focus on music, it’s unlikely. (Another one with a cat title, so I will continue on.)
Theda is a reporter and has an idea for a story on cat hoarders after she comes across an older lady in her neighbourhood who seems to have an abundance of cats. She may or may not be a hoarder, but the neighbour sure doesn’t like the woman or her multiple cats. When Theda comes around again, she discovers the woman dead. The police think she just fell, so it was an accident, but Lillian (the old woman)’s young friend and helper (and musician) Violet, doesn’t agree. She insists Lillian must have been murdered.
30-some years old and Theda’s still a bit of a partier, so I wasn’t crazy about that (I thought she acted way younger than her age). Wasn’t as interested in the bar hopping and the music, but loved the cats! So, it was up and down for how interested I was in certain parts of the book, but overall, I liked it enough to look into the next in the series. If it has more focus on animals, I’ll continue; if it’s more focus on music, it’s unlikely. (Another one with a cat title, so I will continue on.)
August 20, 2012
I enjoyed Mew is for Murder tremendously! Theda Krakow is an engaging, sympathetic, and fun protagonist. I especially enjoyed how her work as a free lance journalist was woven throughout the story.
In Mew is for Murder, Theda, a cat lover, stumbles upon Lillian - the local crazy cat lady. Theda thinks Lillian would be a good subject for a story about cat hoarding. Theda runs into a major problem - when she goes to Lillian's house to try to speak with her, she discovers Lillian laying in a pool of her own blood.
Lillian's death introduces Theda to a motley cast of characters who add vibrancy and bright slashes of color to the story.
Will Theda be able to figure out who killed Lillian? Will she be able to save Lillian's cats?
This is a quick read that kept me entertained and up late to see what would happen next!
In Mew is for Murder, Theda, a cat lover, stumbles upon Lillian - the local crazy cat lady. Theda thinks Lillian would be a good subject for a story about cat hoarding. Theda runs into a major problem - when she goes to Lillian's house to try to speak with her, she discovers Lillian laying in a pool of her own blood.
Lillian's death introduces Theda to a motley cast of characters who add vibrancy and bright slashes of color to the story.
Will Theda be able to figure out who killed Lillian? Will she be able to save Lillian's cats?
This is a quick read that kept me entertained and up late to see what would happen next!
February 2, 2013
Theda Krakow is a 33-year-old freelance journalist in Cambridge, Massachusetts who accidentally stumbles into a dead body. While researching for a story she's writing about a neighborhood "cat lady," she finds the woman dead in her kitchen. The police assure her that the death was accidental, but Krakow -- egged on by her neighborhood barista, Violet -- suspects something more sinister has happened. The journalist, who is fostering one of the kittens found in the cat lady's home, tries to uncover what really happened, all while introducing us to the neighborhood's occupants, the Boston music scene, and the life of a freelance journalist.
For much of Mew Is for Murder, the murder mystery takes a back seat to these secondary topics. Simon writes at length -- too much length -- about the concerts, clubs, and parties Krakow attends and the music she listens to for work and pleasure. A slew of additional characters are introduced, including multiple potential romantic interests, but only Violet is well-developed. Although the novel is billed as being in the ever-growing "cat mystery" genre, don't go into it expecting Lilian Jackson Braun-level feline involvement; whole chapters pass with no appearances made by Musetta, the foster cat.
As a character, Krakow feels dated and immature simultaneously. In her 30s, she's still hanging around college bars, using the slang of another generation and dressing too young for her years. She makes the judgment calls of a teenager, certainly out-of-character for a big-city journalist. (I found myself asking "Why are you doing that?" a lot.) She doesn't evoke any strong sense of connection or appeal for the reader, falling squarely into the "likeable enough" category. In addition, an increasingly unnerving thread of ableism regarding mental health issues becomes more profound as the book goes on -- though it must be stressed that Simon, who has written about growing up with mentally-ill siblings, seems to mean well.
The big "reveal" at the end pushes beyond believability, and even a casually attentive reader will have seen the solution to the if-and-whodunit early in the book. This, of course, is the biggest problem a mystery can have, so good mystery-solvers will probably want to pass on this one; hopefully Simon's storytelling has improved in her subsequent Krakow novels.
Still, due to Simon's talent for writing strong visual descriptions, the mostly interesting peek at the life of a freelancer, and the fact that I never actually stopped wanting to see how things were formally wrapped up, I rate the book generously. I wouldn't re-read Mew Is for Murder, but I haven't been scared off from Simon's writing, and indeed I'm curious to see what she's done with Theda Krakow in her follow-ups.
Review republished from Marginalia.
For much of Mew Is for Murder, the murder mystery takes a back seat to these secondary topics. Simon writes at length -- too much length -- about the concerts, clubs, and parties Krakow attends and the music she listens to for work and pleasure. A slew of additional characters are introduced, including multiple potential romantic interests, but only Violet is well-developed. Although the novel is billed as being in the ever-growing "cat mystery" genre, don't go into it expecting Lilian Jackson Braun-level feline involvement; whole chapters pass with no appearances made by Musetta, the foster cat.
As a character, Krakow feels dated and immature simultaneously. In her 30s, she's still hanging around college bars, using the slang of another generation and dressing too young for her years. She makes the judgment calls of a teenager, certainly out-of-character for a big-city journalist. (I found myself asking "Why are you doing that?" a lot.) She doesn't evoke any strong sense of connection or appeal for the reader, falling squarely into the "likeable enough" category. In addition, an increasingly unnerving thread of ableism regarding mental health issues becomes more profound as the book goes on -- though it must be stressed that Simon, who has written about growing up with mentally-ill siblings, seems to mean well.
The big "reveal" at the end pushes beyond believability, and even a casually attentive reader will have seen the solution to the if-and-whodunit early in the book. This, of course, is the biggest problem a mystery can have, so good mystery-solvers will probably want to pass on this one; hopefully Simon's storytelling has improved in her subsequent Krakow novels.
Still, due to Simon's talent for writing strong visual descriptions, the mostly interesting peek at the life of a freelancer, and the fact that I never actually stopped wanting to see how things were formally wrapped up, I rate the book generously. I wouldn't re-read Mew Is for Murder, but I haven't been scared off from Simon's writing, and indeed I'm curious to see what she's done with Theda Krakow in her follow-ups.
Review republished from Marginalia.
October 14, 2012
FREE on Kindle.
At one time we had a dog and several cats. The smallest cat, and she was a tiny little thing, had never particularly distinguished herself, except that she was a great hunter.
The dog loved to ride in the car and we usually let him. But one day just after a rainstorm (during which time the dog entertained himself by frolicking pretty energetically in the mud) we needed to go to the store. No way was he tracking all that mud into the car.
At such times, our usual method of preventing him from getting in the car was to run around the car in circles until he got bored and to then suddenly jump in before he knew what was what.
(There are numerous other methods of getting in a car while managing to leave a dog behind, but none of the other ones we had thought of were anywhere near as funny.)
Until that day, this method had always worked. But that day the dog was determined not to be left behind. We ran in circles and he chased us until all our tongues were hanging out. Then we tried chasing him away and yelling at him and opening the doors on the side of the car where he wasn’t and various combinations of the above. Nothing worked. We were getting pretty steamed.
Meanwhile, this little cat was sitting on the rock wall by the driveway watching the action. Apparently our tussle began to cut into her nap time, or something, because all of a sudden, she let go with a blood curdling yowl, jumped down from her perch on the wall, charged the dog, stopped inches from his nose, arched her back, and hissed like no cat of any size had ever hissed before.
The dog made a sound like, “Oops,” the cat took a swipe at his nose and came away with pieces of it clinging to her claws, he turned around and ran down the sidewalk and up the porch steps, and she chased him there.
I yelled, “Get in the car,” everybody did, and when we drove away the dog was standing at the top of the stairs looking completely baffled and the cat was sitting at the bottom of the stairs idly licking chunks of his nose from her claws.
I only tell this story because some cats do some things in this mystery that, if I hadn’t lived through the above tale, I would have thought were far-fetched. I would have thought they were so far-fetched that I would have gotten mad and quit reading. But because of that little cat’s actions that day, I read the things Clea Simon’s cat characters did and thought, “It could happen.”
I liked the main character, a free-lance writer/cat lover who’s into the contemporary music scene in Cambridge, Mass. The plot moved along nicely and, even though I’ve been in a mood lately where I’m clicking a lot of partially-read “free” books over into archive purgatory, I read this one to the end.
At one time we had a dog and several cats. The smallest cat, and she was a tiny little thing, had never particularly distinguished herself, except that she was a great hunter.
The dog loved to ride in the car and we usually let him. But one day just after a rainstorm (during which time the dog entertained himself by frolicking pretty energetically in the mud) we needed to go to the store. No way was he tracking all that mud into the car.
At such times, our usual method of preventing him from getting in the car was to run around the car in circles until he got bored and to then suddenly jump in before he knew what was what.
(There are numerous other methods of getting in a car while managing to leave a dog behind, but none of the other ones we had thought of were anywhere near as funny.)
Until that day, this method had always worked. But that day the dog was determined not to be left behind. We ran in circles and he chased us until all our tongues were hanging out. Then we tried chasing him away and yelling at him and opening the doors on the side of the car where he wasn’t and various combinations of the above. Nothing worked. We were getting pretty steamed.
Meanwhile, this little cat was sitting on the rock wall by the driveway watching the action. Apparently our tussle began to cut into her nap time, or something, because all of a sudden, she let go with a blood curdling yowl, jumped down from her perch on the wall, charged the dog, stopped inches from his nose, arched her back, and hissed like no cat of any size had ever hissed before.
The dog made a sound like, “Oops,” the cat took a swipe at his nose and came away with pieces of it clinging to her claws, he turned around and ran down the sidewalk and up the porch steps, and she chased him there.
I yelled, “Get in the car,” everybody did, and when we drove away the dog was standing at the top of the stairs looking completely baffled and the cat was sitting at the bottom of the stairs idly licking chunks of his nose from her claws.
I only tell this story because some cats do some things in this mystery that, if I hadn’t lived through the above tale, I would have thought were far-fetched. I would have thought they were so far-fetched that I would have gotten mad and quit reading. But because of that little cat’s actions that day, I read the things Clea Simon’s cat characters did and thought, “It could happen.”
I liked the main character, a free-lance writer/cat lover who’s into the contemporary music scene in Cambridge, Mass. The plot moved along nicely and, even though I’ve been in a mood lately where I’m clicking a lot of partially-read “free” books over into archive purgatory, I read this one to the end.
April 23, 2012
I only just discovered Clea Simon's books two years ago. I'm getting over a case of sinusitis and can't seem to sit up for any length of time right now. So today was spent in my easy chair reading. Having finished up "Every Secret Thing" by Laura Lippman (see previous post), I was in the mood for something a little lighter.
This is the first in Ms. Simon's "Theda Krakow" series which she finished up recently. (She has two new characters, Dulcie Schwartz, struggling grad student and cat lover, and Pru Marlowe, pet psychic. Both are fun characters. I started reading the Theda series in the middle, so I got a copy of the first book. Unlike some people, I'm not obsessed with starting a series at the beginning!
Anyway, this first book introduces Theda, formerly a copy editor at a Boston newspaper, who has decided to chuck it all and go freelance. She's 33, just broker up with her boyfriend, plus her cat, James, had to be put down. (She misses James a LOT more than the old BF!)
She learns about an older woman who may be a cat hoarder and persuades her editor to let her write a story about her. Unfortunately, when she gets there to meet the woman, she finds her dead. The police are convinced that she fell and died as a result of the fall, but Theda is not convinced. She is bolstered in that conviction by her friend, Violet, a purple-haired barrista and musician. This was one of those fun mysteries where everything turns out ok in the end.
If I have one gripe, it's a minor one. One of the characters is referred to as a realtor. PLEASE! Realtor is not another name for real estate agent. Not every real estate agent is a Realtor. The word Realtor should always be capitalized and should probably not be used in a work of fiction.
This is the first in Ms. Simon's "Theda Krakow" series which she finished up recently. (She has two new characters, Dulcie Schwartz, struggling grad student and cat lover, and Pru Marlowe, pet psychic. Both are fun characters. I started reading the Theda series in the middle, so I got a copy of the first book. Unlike some people, I'm not obsessed with starting a series at the beginning!
Anyway, this first book introduces Theda, formerly a copy editor at a Boston newspaper, who has decided to chuck it all and go freelance. She's 33, just broker up with her boyfriend, plus her cat, James, had to be put down. (She misses James a LOT more than the old BF!)
She learns about an older woman who may be a cat hoarder and persuades her editor to let her write a story about her. Unfortunately, when she gets there to meet the woman, she finds her dead. The police are convinced that she fell and died as a result of the fall, but Theda is not convinced. She is bolstered in that conviction by her friend, Violet, a purple-haired barrista and musician. This was one of those fun mysteries where everything turns out ok in the end.
If I have one gripe, it's a minor one. One of the characters is referred to as a realtor. PLEASE! Realtor is not another name for real estate agent. Not every real estate agent is a Realtor. The word Realtor should always be capitalized and should probably not be used in a work of fiction.
February 26, 2018
A well-written mystery and the cats behave like your cat. The first book in this series Theda is a freelance journalist and a rock music lover. She is looking for stories when hears about a Cat Lady in the neighborhood. She decides a story about hoarders might be a good story. Theda goes to check it out and finds the woman dead in the kitchen. Hearing that cats were being taken to animal control, she recuse a kitten that she sees there. The police think it is an accidental death. Rumors begin to circulate that the Cat Lady was murder. Her friend punk rocker, Violet keeps searching the house for something. Theda becomes more involved especially when she heard most of the cats would be destroyed unless adopting. A portion of the story is about music that Theda likes. Theda has several questions to find answers Will she find the answers in time to save the cats? I am ready to read the next book.
September 17, 2012
Another free Kindle download that will not lead to me buying the rest of the books. The writing was awkward, the story was predictable, and again, it wasn't BAD, but it just wasn't really good, either. I will even admit to having enjoyed most of the "The Cat Who" series- I'm a kitty mystery liker. But this? Meh for Mew is for Murder.
December 10, 2011
Smart, amusing and has cats! This is a mystery series expressly executed for me!
December 26, 2020
While I would not talk about this as great literature, it has sufficient elements with promise to make you want to come back to the series. Of special interest to me was the great humanizing work on the stereotype of the crazy cat woman.
July 24, 2013
I enjoyed "Mew Is For Murder". We learn hoarding isn't about numbers but having a mission and providing care. 'Lillian's' disdaining neighbour misjudged her and cats, at first. People must be aware: all animal centres aren’t 'shelter' in the safe sense. Executions are conducted for being sick or homeless, as if lack of space justifies it. Clea warns about this and a time limit lent urgency to her tale. But advocates like 'Thea' and 'Violet' would have directed Lillian's cats to a no-kill group. I'm onboard the education but Thea and Violet were too accepting of execution as a potential outcome.
Police wouldn't remove animals without seeking a will, since there were caregivers handy and Lillian would leave instructions with someone accessible: the director of her son's residence, Violet, the abundance of friends at her memorial. Finally, Clea put me off with two digs about vegetarianism demonstrating lack of knowledge. The lifestyle is not about depriving but rather replacing live meat. She indicated it's a phase and practitioners are dying for a hamburger. In reality, many adopt the lifestyle because they don’t consider animals disposable or edible. I’m disappointed Clea endeavoured to enlighten animal issues but fed a cliché.
I delighted in shattering the stereotype that clubs are for teens. The paradox is, they are filled with 18-25 year-olds but I know few with broad tastes. Those over 30, not stuck on one genre, understand what music is. Some might feel we delve considerably into music and freelance writing. It’s hard to balance a plot and expand a character. It also seems hard for a cover to suit a book. To the contrary of being fluffy, the content is dark and should categorize as ‘cozy’. But other than the instances I noted, the novel’s boldness is what I liked best.
Police wouldn't remove animals without seeking a will, since there were caregivers handy and Lillian would leave instructions with someone accessible: the director of her son's residence, Violet, the abundance of friends at her memorial. Finally, Clea put me off with two digs about vegetarianism demonstrating lack of knowledge. The lifestyle is not about depriving but rather replacing live meat. She indicated it's a phase and practitioners are dying for a hamburger. In reality, many adopt the lifestyle because they don’t consider animals disposable or edible. I’m disappointed Clea endeavoured to enlighten animal issues but fed a cliché.
I delighted in shattering the stereotype that clubs are for teens. The paradox is, they are filled with 18-25 year-olds but I know few with broad tastes. Those over 30, not stuck on one genre, understand what music is. Some might feel we delve considerably into music and freelance writing. It’s hard to balance a plot and expand a character. It also seems hard for a cover to suit a book. To the contrary of being fluffy, the content is dark and should categorize as ‘cozy’. But other than the instances I noted, the novel’s boldness is what I liked best.
September 11, 2012
Mew is for Murder: A Theda Krakow Mystery by Clea Simon was recently available free for Kindle, but this is a story I wouldn't have minded paying a few dollars for, and in fact I might buy some of the subsequent books in the Theda Krakow series! I wavered between giving this story 3 and 4 stars, and would more honestly rate it a 3.5. Theda Krakow, a freelance journalist who specializes in the Boston rock scene, stumbles upon a mystery in her Cambridge neighborhood when she discovers local "cat lady" Lillian Helmhold dead. Theda, a cat lover who recently lost her beloved cat James, is sucked into the mysterious death and works with a new friend, punk rocker/barista Violet, to prove that Lillian was murdered. This is Simon's debut novel and the plot is fun but a bit predictable. However, the characterizations and atmosphere Simon's provides more than make up for the weak plot. The reader learns a great deal about the world of freelance journalism through Theda, and although I've only visited Cambridge once, I felt a real affinity towards the city and its music scene. If you are a cat lover, than the story and its wacky cat-filled ending will be an added bonus!
Check out more reviews on my blog, Not Just a Librarian!
Check out more reviews on my blog, Not Just a Librarian!
September 5, 2012
As a mystery lover, as well as a cat lover, I was interested in this free offering. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this book. In addition to a light, clever mystery, the author gives the reader an insight into a unique world - freelance writers. Most people do not realize that a significant number of the reporters they read, see and hear are not full-time employees of the media outlets they work for.
In "Mew Is for Murder," a freelance writer's love of writing and cats seem destined to write an insightful story about a woman in the neighborhood who takes care of a number of cats. But before the first interview could take place, the woman is dead. The police say it was a terrible accident but a friend of the woman is convinced she was murdered.
As the death is investigated, the reader gains insight into various topics ranging from mental illness to the independent music scene.
I recommend this book for an enjoyable mystery read.
In "Mew Is for Murder," a freelance writer's love of writing and cats seem destined to write an insightful story about a woman in the neighborhood who takes care of a number of cats. But before the first interview could take place, the woman is dead. The police say it was a terrible accident but a friend of the woman is convinced she was murdered.
As the death is investigated, the reader gains insight into various topics ranging from mental illness to the independent music scene.
I recommend this book for an enjoyable mystery read.
Read
January 8, 2016Cats and Music
A well written mystery and the cats behave like your cat. The first book in this series Theda Is a freelance journalist and a rock music lover. She is looking for stories when hears about a Cat Lady in the neighborhood. She decides a story about hoarders might be a good story. Theda goes to check it out and finds the woman dead in the kitchen. Hearing that cats were being taken to animal control she recuse a kitten that she sees there. The police feel it is an accidental death. Rumors begin to circulate that she was murder. Her friend punk rocker, Violet keeps searching in the house for something. Theda becomes more in especially when she hears most of the cats would be destroy unless adopt. A portion of the story is abut music that Theda likes. Theda has several questions to find answers.will find the answers in time to save the cats. I am ready to read the next book.
A well written mystery and the cats behave like your cat. The first book in this series Theda Is a freelance journalist and a rock music lover. She is looking for stories when hears about a Cat Lady in the neighborhood. She decides a story about hoarders might be a good story. Theda goes to check it out and finds the woman dead in the kitchen. Hearing that cats were being taken to animal control she recuse a kitten that she sees there. The police feel it is an accidental death. Rumors begin to circulate that she was murder. Her friend punk rocker, Violet keeps searching in the house for something. Theda becomes more in especially when she hears most of the cats would be destroy unless adopt. A portion of the story is abut music that Theda likes. Theda has several questions to find answers.will find the answers in time to save the cats. I am ready to read the next book.
August 27, 2007
MEW IS FOR MURDER (Amateur Sleuth-Boston-Cont) – G+
Simon, Clea – 1st in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2005- Hardcover
Theda Krakow is a freelance journalist and cat lover. Passing a house in her neighborhood with a multitude of cats, she is concerned the elderly woman, Lillian, may be a cat hoarder. On a return visit, Lillian has fallen and died. Thea, concerned about the cats and unconvinced Lillian's fall was accidental, becomes involved with a young musician/waitress who had been helping Lillian.
*** More a traditional mystery than a cozy, this is a delightful debut. The characters and dialogue are convincing, including, for those of us who love our pets, Thea's conversations with the cats—no, the cat's aren't verbal. Simon clearly loves Boston and knows the music scene. The plot is tight and believable. The book is lighter than I normally read, but enjoyable.
Simon, Clea – 1st in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2005- Hardcover
Theda Krakow is a freelance journalist and cat lover. Passing a house in her neighborhood with a multitude of cats, she is concerned the elderly woman, Lillian, may be a cat hoarder. On a return visit, Lillian has fallen and died. Thea, concerned about the cats and unconvinced Lillian's fall was accidental, becomes involved with a young musician/waitress who had been helping Lillian.
*** More a traditional mystery than a cozy, this is a delightful debut. The characters and dialogue are convincing, including, for those of us who love our pets, Thea's conversations with the cats—no, the cat's aren't verbal. Simon clearly loves Boston and knows the music scene. The plot is tight and believable. The book is lighter than I normally read, but enjoyable.
October 31, 2015
In Clea Simon's Mew is for Murder, the first installment in the Theda Krakow cozy mystery series, you'll be charmed by Theda and her love for cats. Poor Theda. Her boyfriend was gone for good, while she mourned the loss of her cat, and she just made a big career leap that left her finances flat. During a stroll in Cambridge, she spotted an adorable stray kitten. It had led her to a decrepit old home of Lillian Helmhold, who was a classic cat hoarder in her home. This story intrigued her enough to help get her out of the dumps. But when she interviewed her, she found Lillian's dead body of an apparent accident. But when the cops weren't interested on solving the case, it lead Theda to do some investigating of her own with a cast of wild suspects. As she'd gotten closer to the truth, this had shaken her to the core.
April 10, 2011
Mew is for Murder is the first book in a terrific series featuring freelance writer & cat lover Theda Krakow.Following a precious stray kitten, Theda stumbles upon an old woman holed up in a decrepit house full of cats. Thea goes to interview " cat " lady Lillian and finds her dead.Everything points to her death being an accident except for the fact that someone keeps breaking into Lillian’s house.It is rumored there is hidden treasure in the house. Theda is determined to get to the bottom of things and prove Lillian was murdered and why. The neighbors are celebrating her demise. The local police aren't listening to Thea's claims it wasn't an accident. Thea skilled with her investigative journalism savvy jumps in to find Lillian's killer & save the lovable kitties left behind.
October 6, 2015
Another fantastic cat based mystery series, however this one isn't really focused on the cats giving the clues. I honestly didn't mind that, so long as the cats were there, lurking in the background and ready to swoop in and save the day. Theda is a fantastic character too, and investigates the crime with zeal and sometimes a little bumbling humor. I liked her, despite her awful taste in men haha. Definitely need to read more in this series, highly recommended! Five stars!
May 11, 2009
This is the first in this series about a freelance writer who wants to write about a woman who she believes may be a crazy cat lady...when that woman is found unexpectedly dead, she must get to teh bottom of who would want her dead and why. This ended better than expected and I will read more in the series!
November 29, 2007
Really liked the second half of this book. First part of the book was really slow. Love the fact that the main character in these mysteries is a younger, hipper female than what you typically see in this genre of books.
May 29, 2008
This is the author's first book. She's a good writer with some very "tasty" characters. I like how she treats the cats (i.e., not personified and cutsied-up). I will probably read more in the Theda Krakow series. Does anyone know if that is the name of a real cinematic person?
December 25, 2011
I can't wait to read another book by this author! Great story and I love her characters and way of immersing me into it!
October 17, 2021
It's the first installment in the "Theda Krakow" cozy mystery series. Story is related in first person pov by the main character, freelance writer Theda.
Theda's life has been spiraling out of control. She broke up with her boyfriend, and her beloved cat died. She's also gone from being a copy editor to a freelance journalist, which does not guarantee a steady stream of income. Theda thinks she's on to a great personal interest story when she meets a woman in her neighborhood who seems to be a crazy cat lady. When she returns to interview Lillian, however, Theda finds the woman dead in her cluttered home. The police chalk it up to an accident, but Lillian's young friend, punk-rocker/barista Violet, is convinced she was murdered. Theda is intrigued enough to launch her own investigation, much to the consternation of police officer Bill Sherman. Violet is also convinced that Lillian left a will that stipulates the care of the cats, and if it's not located, those who aren't adopted within a week will be euthanized. As a result, Violet has been using Lillian's spare, hidden key to let herself into the house in her spare time to search for the will, but it seems that she's not the only one searching the house. There have long been rumors that Lillian was hiding a treasure in her home, and it may be what someone was willing to kill for.
I could not get into this story. I loved the cat angle, and I liked that Theda had a unique job (as far as cozy mysteries go), but she was heavily into the club/bar/party scene, and that is so not me. As a result, I didn't feel a connection to her at all. It was a short book, but it took me 2 weeks to slog through it. Guh. The story was well-written, it simply didn't resonate with me.
I'm giving this three stars. It was well-written, but I didn't care for it much.
Theda's life has been spiraling out of control. She broke up with her boyfriend, and her beloved cat died. She's also gone from being a copy editor to a freelance journalist, which does not guarantee a steady stream of income. Theda thinks she's on to a great personal interest story when she meets a woman in her neighborhood who seems to be a crazy cat lady. When she returns to interview Lillian, however, Theda finds the woman dead in her cluttered home. The police chalk it up to an accident, but Lillian's young friend, punk-rocker/barista Violet, is convinced she was murdered. Theda is intrigued enough to launch her own investigation, much to the consternation of police officer Bill Sherman. Violet is also convinced that Lillian left a will that stipulates the care of the cats, and if it's not located, those who aren't adopted within a week will be euthanized. As a result, Violet has been using Lillian's spare, hidden key to let herself into the house in her spare time to search for the will, but it seems that she's not the only one searching the house. There have long been rumors that Lillian was hiding a treasure in her home, and it may be what someone was willing to kill for.
I could not get into this story. I loved the cat angle, and I liked that Theda had a unique job (as far as cozy mysteries go), but she was heavily into the club/bar/party scene, and that is so not me. As a result, I didn't feel a connection to her at all. It was a short book, but it took me 2 weeks to slog through it. Guh. The story was well-written, it simply didn't resonate with me.
I'm giving this three stars. It was well-written, but I didn't care for it much.
November 3, 2017
Theda Krakow is a writer who has quit a permanent job and taken a freelance one. After having an encounter with an older woman over a kitten, she asks her editor if she might write a story about her. She discovers the woman takes in unwanted cats and cares for them. Trying to decide if the woman is truly caring for the cats or a hoarder, she soon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when what the police think is an accident seems more like something else.
First off, let me state that I love books with animals, so I was really looking forward to reading this. But I just couldn't get interested in the plot nor in Theda. She seemed rather boring, honestly. And the plot, while intriguing, couldn't keep my interest. It took me several times to finish this book, and that's never a good sign.
While I know that Ms. Simon is a prolific author, and this is the first in the series, I'm hoping that others will prove to be better (as they usually are); I at least plan on giving one more a shot in the hopes I'm right. When we come to the end and all is discovered, it seemed okay, but sort of as if something was missing. Not one of my favorites, but perhaps others will like it better.
November 23, 2017
The main character, Thea Krakow, is an interesting character for a sleuth. Though a journalist, she is not an investigative reporter but a free-lance features writer so is not exactly an expert in investigations. Her other main interest, other than cats, is music and though older than most who would be going to a lot of clubs and music events (she's in her thirties), she doesn't let other people's expectations deter her love of it. I also loved getting a taste for a part of Boston/Worcester area that I am not familiar with.
I did get a bit annoyed with her doubting Violet's analysis of Dougie's character and the veracity of what he said. Though he didn't always have a great grip on reality, a lot of times he did and Thea herself accepted somethings he said, particularly about Dougie and Davey. Violet had a lot more time with Dougie than Thea did and would have had a judgement of what he said.
Cats were an integral part of the story but it wasn't so overwhelming that non fanatical cat lovers would be turned off.
I would read another in the series.
I did get a bit annoyed with her doubting Violet's analysis of Dougie's character and the veracity of what he said. Though he didn't always have a great grip on reality, a lot of times he did and Thea herself accepted somethings he said, particularly about Dougie and Davey. Violet had a lot more time with Dougie than Thea did and would have had a judgement of what he said.
Cats were an integral part of the story but it wasn't so overwhelming that non fanatical cat lovers would be turned off.
I would read another in the series.
September 18, 2019
Quick disclaimer: Clea Simon is a friend of mine.
Because Clea is a friend I've bought most of the books she's written also because she's a friend I've delayed reading any of her series involving cats until now.
I love cats and have read other cat/mystery series which I've enjoyed but they were never quite up to the level of "good" books. Oh they were fun and quick reads but I didn't want to be disappointed in my friend's work, what would I say to her?!
Well, I'm not disappointed, as a matter of fact, I'm delighted. Mew is for Murder was not only a fun read but was well written and set in the Boston/Cambridge areas that I love. The story is filled with artists, writers, music venues and musicians.
Writer Theda Krakow spends her time-saving cats, seeking out interesting stories, and her evening hours bopping to music in the local club scene. The story kept me on my toes and encouraged me to spin cd's and sometimes my old vinyl on the turntable.
I recommend this to anyone.
Because Clea is a friend I've bought most of the books she's written also because she's a friend I've delayed reading any of her series involving cats until now.
I love cats and have read other cat/mystery series which I've enjoyed but they were never quite up to the level of "good" books. Oh they were fun and quick reads but I didn't want to be disappointed in my friend's work, what would I say to her?!
Well, I'm not disappointed, as a matter of fact, I'm delighted. Mew is for Murder was not only a fun read but was well written and set in the Boston/Cambridge areas that I love. The story is filled with artists, writers, music venues and musicians.
Writer Theda Krakow spends her time-saving cats, seeking out interesting stories, and her evening hours bopping to music in the local club scene. The story kept me on my toes and encouraged me to spin cd's and sometimes my old vinyl on the turntable.
I recommend this to anyone.
August 16, 2020
Second attempt to read this last night. Didn’t get very far. Too much time spent waffling about interviewing some punk band, about which I Did. Not. Care. Maybe it’s relevant to the plot later, but it bored me and I skimmed it. Didn’t find any of the characters even mildly appealing. I don’t care for first person narrative, and when our supposed cat-loving protagonist called a calico cat HE, I quit. Don’t know if it was the character’s or the author’s ignorance, but it was the last straw. Deleted from library.
July 14, 2023
When freelance writer Theda was out for a morning walk in her neighborhood when she found her next story. The "cat lady" as the woman next door called her as she was telling Theda that she was going to call animal control again. Theda starts looking into ways to present her story when the "cat lady" was found dead. Theda couldn't stop thinking about the cats and the "cat lady" as she did her other stories. As Theda and Violet (the "cat lady's" friend) try to save all the cats the mystery deepens.
November 10, 2020
I have some other books by this author. This book was ok, but I felt not one of her best. Theda is a freelance reporter. She is all set to interview a older woman who has many cats about the cats, only to arrive at the house and find the woman is dead. The death is labeled accidental but a good friend of the woman's insist it was murder. As usual with Simons' books a cat theme runs throughout which I enjoy.
May 6, 2021
What a very fun start to a new-to-me series! Theda Krakow is a free-lance journalist with a nose for news...and for mews! Yes, of course there is a cat. Her name is Musetta. She does not talk, she does not do magic. She is "just" a cat, but an entrancing one, and more than willing to give Theda all the moral support any poor human could need when neck deep in bills, deadlines and dead bodies!
April 13, 2018
Fairly standard cozy with cats. Somewhat uneven writing, some plot elements that add little to the story. A few "twists" in the plot, but they don't follow very well from the previous action. The author's later books are much better.
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