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A Dixie Hemingway Mystery #6
Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons
Author Blaize Clement has earned herself a legion of fans with the first five books in her pet-sitting mystery series. Now Blaize's beloved heroine, Dixie Hemingway, is back, and when Dixie's latest assignment turns dangerous, it's up to her to save the day.
Dixie, no relation to you-know-who, is helping an injured and cantankerous man take care of Cheddar, his orange shorthair cat. Soon Dixie finds herself totally smitten with the man's adorable infant great-granddaughter. But the baby's naive young mother has enough knowledge about certain powerful local big-money honchos to send them to prison for life, and they are willing to do anything, even kill her baby, to shut her up.
Caught in the turmoil caused by the grandfather's prickly pride, the granddaughter's misguided plans to regain her young husband's respect by telling the truth in court, and the ruthless determination of wealthy villains to preserve their ill-gotten millions, Dixie is the only person who can rescue the baby. And she has to do it without letting law-enforcement people know -- not even Lieutenant Guidry, with whom she has a new romantic relationship.
Does Dixie have her claws sunk too deep to make it out of this one? Find out in book six of Blaize Clement's splendid series.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published December 22, 2010
24 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
About the author
Blaize Clement
35 books257 followersMy 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
October 9, 2021
This was a rather enjoyable cozy mystery with a great storyline. The only downsides were a bit of language and a few stray sexual remarks.
October 20, 2013
This was a very interesting mystery involving suspense and the rise from the unsurmontable pain and suffering after the loss of a husband and a child. Dixie was able to overcome many adversities and eminent danger in her daily life and eventually became comfortable with her new life on her own, with the help and encouragement of her brother, friends, and acquaintances along the way. This was a GREAT read!
September 3, 2018
Dixie Hemingway gets thrust into a mystery after she is kidnapped by some thugs who think she is another woman.
In general, I've enjoyed this series of cozy mysteries. I love hearing about Dixie's pet-sitting, the atmosphere of the Florida keys, the interactions between her and her friends, and the slow burn romance with a cop in her life. This was my least favorite book so far though. The pet-sitting aspect is maybe 5% of the book while the 'ooh, look, a baby - a sweet, cute baby I must hold and risk my life for' is a solid 80%. I read these books to get my animal fix so this disappointed me. I'll still try the next one in the series but I don't feel a burning urge to get right to it.
I co-read this with my mom, who is in her 80's. She liked it, too, but said that it wasn't as good as the others.
In general, I've enjoyed this series of cozy mysteries. I love hearing about Dixie's pet-sitting, the atmosphere of the Florida keys, the interactions between her and her friends, and the slow burn romance with a cop in her life. This was my least favorite book so far though. The pet-sitting aspect is maybe 5% of the book while the 'ooh, look, a baby - a sweet, cute baby I must hold and risk my life for' is a solid 80%. I read these books to get my animal fix so this disappointed me. I'll still try the next one in the series but I don't feel a burning urge to get right to it.
I co-read this with my mom, who is in her 80's. She liked it, too, but said that it wasn't as good as the others.
February 18, 2012
I've liked this series about an ex-deputy turned pet-sitter who gets embroiled in mysteries. But the MC has a tendency to jump into dangerous situations without telling anyone else in a way that bothers me, coming from someone with a supposed law-enforcement background. At the beginning of this book she is kidnapped, and although she admittedly is fairly quickly released (when the kidnappers realize they have the wrong woman) the degree to which she blows off the experience strikes a false note for me. And the way she works outside the law and does not report important information, despite having both a boyfriend and a brother-in-law who are cops, is irritating. That's a personal quirk on my part. The author justifies it because the bad guy is very rich and therefore may have informants in the police department. Other readers may find this rationalization satisfactory. These books are well written and I did enjoy this one too, but the niggling annoyance I feel toward the MC made it a three-star read for me.
April 16, 2018
These are my favorite cozy mysteries. The pace is fast, characters well defined, dialogue bright, and of course, since I live within a couple of miles from the sites of all Dixie’s troubles, I enjoy seeing my favorite places in a new light. These books can be read in a few hours. I like to fully emerge myself into the characters’ worlds, so I usually read two or three Dixie books back to book. The series is long enough to do this several times. Binge-worthy.
June 19, 2018
I am new to this 'cozy mystery' genre. This was very light easy reading if somewhat unbelievable in content. As my usual choice of book is quite heavy the genre makes an excellent change of pace which I will continue to enjoy in between more in depth titles.
November 6, 2025
Due to mistaken identity, Dixie Hemingway becomes tangled up with a young woman who is scheduled to testify against people running a high-end Ponzi scheme. These alleged criminals kidnap the young woman's baby, and Dixie becomes obsessed with getting the baby returned unharmed.
December 28, 2013
I liked it just fine. Didn't love it, but it was definitely a pretty good story; fun but tinged (more than tinged...I'll say...informed) by some pretty deep and horrifying sadness.
I like Dixie's world, and I like her a lot as well. It's a bit different for me, to encounter a cozy protag with such a tragic past, but that's not a bad thing. There were a few things I skipped over because honestly, a cozy is about escapism for me, and this one's a bit more serious. Again, not a bad thing and I enjoyed the story overall. It just wasn't what I was expecting. But it IS very well written. I enjoyed the style of it.
Back to the world, though: I'm very close to the area in which this story takes place, and that freaked me out a bit (in a good way). I would love to have Dixie's job, and her apartment, and her brother. Even her weird schedule (daytime naps are one of my favorite things).
I will say that the main step towards the...let's say resolution was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too convenient. Seriously, very-way-too-a lot-totally-completely-too convenient. I forgave, mostly, and continued on, but did skim through the 'suspense' to the resolution.
Yeah, so! Overall, a pretty god cozy. I found the next two (this was six, I believe) at the library and am 85 pages into one of them (seven). It's pretty good :)
I like Dixie's world, and I like her a lot as well. It's a bit different for me, to encounter a cozy protag with such a tragic past, but that's not a bad thing. There were a few things I skipped over because honestly, a cozy is about escapism for me, and this one's a bit more serious. Again, not a bad thing and I enjoyed the story overall. It just wasn't what I was expecting. But it IS very well written. I enjoyed the style of it.
Back to the world, though: I'm very close to the area in which this story takes place, and that freaked me out a bit (in a good way). I would love to have Dixie's job, and her apartment, and her brother. Even her weird schedule (daytime naps are one of my favorite things).
I will say that the main step towards the...let's say resolution was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too convenient. Seriously, very-way-too-a lot-totally-completely-too convenient. I forgave, mostly, and continued on, but did skim through the 'suspense' to the resolution.
Yeah, so! Overall, a pretty god cozy. I found the next two (this was six, I believe) at the library and am 85 pages into one of them (seven). It's pretty good :)
June 4, 2017
"Cat Sitter Among the Pigeons" by Blaize Clement.
Pet/Cat sitter, Dixie Hemingway, has a new client. This time it's a cat named Cheddar attached to a human by the name of Mr. Stern. Mr. Stern is elderly and apparently has no bonds with another human but does have a strong bond with cheddar.
Soon Mr. Stern's grand-daughter, Ruby, appears on his doorstep carrying a tiny baby. It seems to Dixie that Ruby is more of an intruder than a welcomed family member by Mr. Stern.
Dixie notices a woman glaring at her from the next door neighbor's window. Who is this woman and why does she have such an evil glare in her eye? Later that day as Dixie is preparing to drive away in her SUV she is grabbed and forced into a car by unknown assailants.
What happens next is the beginning of a new mystery in Dixie's life. A mystery that only she can unravel...but not on her own.
I loved this story and love this series. This book took a little longer to get to the nitty gritty of the mystery but once it did I was drawn into every page of every chapter. The ending was NOT predictable. It was breath taking with new developments until the very end.
5 stars.
Pet/Cat sitter, Dixie Hemingway, has a new client. This time it's a cat named Cheddar attached to a human by the name of Mr. Stern. Mr. Stern is elderly and apparently has no bonds with another human but does have a strong bond with cheddar.
Soon Mr. Stern's grand-daughter, Ruby, appears on his doorstep carrying a tiny baby. It seems to Dixie that Ruby is more of an intruder than a welcomed family member by Mr. Stern.
Dixie notices a woman glaring at her from the next door neighbor's window. Who is this woman and why does she have such an evil glare in her eye? Later that day as Dixie is preparing to drive away in her SUV she is grabbed and forced into a car by unknown assailants.
What happens next is the beginning of a new mystery in Dixie's life. A mystery that only she can unravel...but not on her own.
I loved this story and love this series. This book took a little longer to get to the nitty gritty of the mystery but once it did I was drawn into every page of every chapter. The ending was NOT predictable. It was breath taking with new developments until the very end.
5 stars.
April 3, 2011
I really like this series. The heroine, Dixie Hemingway (no relation)- "a direct phrase from the book", is a bit hard-boiled for my taste, but when your learn her history (which you will in the first book), you know she has reason to be cynical, a bit cold and closed-off.
Dixie seems to becoming more "alive" in this book, starting to move beyond her past and learn to live again. Unfortunately, more hurt may be in store for her ahead, but she seems more prepared to deal with it.
Ah, the mystery - I'm not exceptionally choosie about the mystery story - I really don't care if you know in the beginning "who dun it" or have to struggle through a complex plot - I just like a beginning, middle and an end. So, the mystery was not complex, but enough for me. I really enjoyed the character development in this book - not only Dixie, but also the "new" characters that probably won't recur again. I truly enjoy mysteries, but this book seemed a touch more to me.
I did enjoy this.
Dixie seems to becoming more "alive" in this book, starting to move beyond her past and learn to live again. Unfortunately, more hurt may be in store for her ahead, but she seems more prepared to deal with it.
Ah, the mystery - I'm not exceptionally choosie about the mystery story - I really don't care if you know in the beginning "who dun it" or have to struggle through a complex plot - I just like a beginning, middle and an end. So, the mystery was not complex, but enough for me. I really enjoyed the character development in this book - not only Dixie, but also the "new" characters that probably won't recur again. I truly enjoy mysteries, but this book seemed a touch more to me.
I did enjoy this.
October 8, 2014
While there is a cat, his only purpose is to draw the protagonist into the household where bad things are about to happen, so this is not a book about cats.
Dixie lives in Florida and pet-sits; quiet after her former job of deputy police officer. One of her new clients has a granddaughter arrive unexpectedly while Dixie is tending the cat - he can't feed it himself with an injured arm. The granddaughter Ruby has a small baby and is about to give evidence in a major trial. I could not see any reason why this young woman would come to stay next door to the person she'll be testifying against. Nor could I see the police allowing this to happen. But it does and intimidation naturally follows.
There is an interesting cast of characters and Dixie is an admirable heroine, sharp-thinking and quick on her feet. I enjoyed the way that she has to keep shooing herons, ibises and other large birds off her car in the mornings. The book is very readable and I'll look out for more.
Dixie lives in Florida and pet-sits; quiet after her former job of deputy police officer. One of her new clients has a granddaughter arrive unexpectedly while Dixie is tending the cat - he can't feed it himself with an injured arm. The granddaughter Ruby has a small baby and is about to give evidence in a major trial. I could not see any reason why this young woman would come to stay next door to the person she'll be testifying against. Nor could I see the police allowing this to happen. But it does and intimidation naturally follows.
There is an interesting cast of characters and Dixie is an admirable heroine, sharp-thinking and quick on her feet. I enjoyed the way that she has to keep shooing herons, ibises and other large birds off her car in the mornings. The book is very readable and I'll look out for more.
May 6, 2011
Another winner for Blaize Clement. Dixie, a animal sitter, takes on the job of caring for Cheddar. Cheddar is owned by a cantankerous old man who complains about everything. He recieved Cheddar from his granddaughter who returns to live with him. Dixie gets mistaken for the granddaughter and is kidnapped. Before it is over Cheddar's home is torched, the granddaughter's baby is kidnapped and Dixie gets her man.
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August 9, 2011I really liked it,now i can't wait for the next one in the series.
one quote from the book i love it is on page 116 " ... to give more thought to the four F's in life,
family, friends, food and fun-than to career goals, achievements, possessions, status, or bank
statements." I just found out that Blaize Clement passed away on July 20, 2011. I will miss her
writing so much! If you love this author as much as me, read her blog.
one quote from the book i love it is on page 116 " ... to give more thought to the four F's in life,
family, friends, food and fun-than to career goals, achievements, possessions, status, or bank
statements." I just found out that Blaize Clement passed away on July 20, 2011. I will miss her
writing so much! If you love this author as much as me, read her blog.
February 19, 2019
Once again Dixie has landed in the middle of things. She is assisting Mr. Stern to take care of his cat because his arm is in a sling and he can't manage. Then his granddaughter shows up with her baby and Mr. Stern becomes decidedly grumpy and demanding. Dixie is seen leaving Mr. Stern's home and is kidnapped. However, when she is delivered to "Tuck" he tells "Vern" that he grabbed the wrong woman. Tuck orders Vern to set this one free unharmed and Dixie is dropped off in a restaurant parking lot. It seems Ruby, who resembles Dixie, is set to testify in a major court case and apparently she is the one Vern was supposed to grab.
January 7, 2021
Ah, Dixie is hit right in the heart with this book, with reminders about her child and husband who were killed a few years ago. I love reading about the Florida Keys and visiting with some of the same characters each time, but that was more limited in this book. There was more action this time and the plot moves quickly. And Dixie is left with a decision to make that will affect the rest of her life.
February 16, 2017
Does the hot water ever run out?
On one hand, ILove Dixie and and all the regulars who populate her books but truthfully, I am sick of showers, the need for clean Keds and everything else that screams OCD to the nth degree. If only Ms Clement were still here so I could tell her and look forward to at least a yearly helping of the next installment.
On one hand, ILove Dixie and and all the regulars who populate her books but truthfully, I am sick of showers, the need for clean Keds and everything else that screams OCD to the nth degree. If only Ms Clement were still here so I could tell her and look forward to at least a yearly helping of the next installment.
December 8, 2019
I like books about cats, and I like mysteries, so I did enjoy this one, which is probably the best of the cat sitter mystery genre, more sizable than you'd think. Dixie is a likable heroine, and the cats and other animals are likable as well. It does kind of fade from the memory quickly, but then I suppose you could read the whole cozy series again.
June 11, 2024
It was cute and enjoyable but too many cat puns for me and I think because I read it out of order in the series, previous mentioned details weren’t as clear to me as they would be if I read it in series order. Overall I enjoyed it and it had a good pace and enough references to the prior books that I could follow the main history/backstory points without being lost
June 26, 2018
Still enjoying this series a lot! I thought things weren't going to turn out well with the ominous beginning, but was glad things wrapped up nicely. Looking forward to the next book and hoping it keeps the same feel as the first one did (since the author passed).
July 28, 2020
I love this series. Blaize Clement was such a talented author, and I'm very sorry, she's no longer with us. But she left some amazing books for readers to enjoy and treasure. I highly recommend this series.
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November 2, 2020this was a fun book to read and I cracked up near the end with the line" Mix another batch and dye the snatch to match" I've never heard it put quite like that before. Cute cozy with dogs cats and a crime solving ex deputy turned pet sitter. Another new author for me :)
October 25, 2021
This series is such a relaxing read. Dixie works hard to find the kidnapped baby while always thinking of her own daughter she lost. I had thought Dixie was finally going to find someone special in her life, but towards the end of this book it does not look that way.
December 17, 2017
Cute mystery and a good light read.
July 22, 2018
First time i read this author and really enjoyed her book. Not the involved stories usually read but sometimes you need something in between those books. Will definitely check out her other books. ♥️
May 3, 2019
dnf this book.
May 27, 2019
By mistake I read the one that follows this one ,so I already knew the results ,but I enjoyed this book so much too
February 12, 2022
Perfectly average (non-murder) mystery. Great way to kill some time.
February 13, 2023
Great book, lots of action, suspense, and intrigue. Ms. Clement is an excellent writer.
June 28, 2023
This was fun, but kind of sugar-coated, and I just didn't connect with the story, or with any of the characters, as much as I'd have liked.
August 12, 2023
A really cute book, a good mystery. And, since I'm cat sitting this week...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews