Rating: 
Summary: Weakest entry in the series
Review: I've read all the Louie mysteries up through this one (awaiting my copy of "Kiwi Con") and this one was, as another reader said, much more of a chore to finish than the others.IMO, all the Elvis trivia and the sheer amount of time spent on the Elvis con/competition/hotel opening was filler for what was a thin plot to begin with. I normally enjoy spending a few hours with Temple, Louie, Matt, et al, but this time there was none of the internal dialogue or the conversations that really make each of these people "spark". Temple seemed to be there just to help move point A to point B or ask the pertinent question that would let the Elvis information pour forth. Matt was much too one note; his sole purpose seemed to be to show up, wonder about being a local media star for a few moments and then disappear again. It was like reading a book where all the main characters were reduced to cameo appearances by an unwieldy, boring plot that forced its way to center stage like a 300 pound diva. One of the things I've really enjoyed about the series is the way Douglas lets us into Matt's, Temple's and C.R. Molina's minds. It makes them much more well-rounded as characters and I feel I "know" them. This book was incredibly short on that aspect as compared to the other novels in the series. I'm also very tired of Max/Matt/Temple triangle. I suppose the main reason is I don't care for the Mundane Max very much. I find him more a convenient plot point than anything else. Need something that might be a little extralegal? Max shows up! Need to remind everyone there's a romantic triangle? Max pops up out of nowhere! *yawn* I find him to be the weakest character in the series because I have very little to base him on in my mind. I don't know whether it's Douglas' intention to make him appear mysterious or what, but one or two glimpses into what Max is thinking other than "Kinsella thought that he had the upper hand" type stuff or appearing to be jealous when Temple seems to have Matt foremost on the mind would go a long way towards filling him out as a character and making him seem more like a real person than simply someone invented for those times when you need someone with extralegal access to the info needed to move the plot along. The background she gives him doesn't ring very true to me for several reasons too long to go into here. I will say that it just ended up feeling like another smokescreen. I generally end up skimming the Max chapters for the necessary info and then jumping back into the story. All in all, I enjoy the Louie series immensely. They may not be entirely logical at times or gritty and real, but they're (for the most part) well-written, fun, full of people with very individual voices (including Louie), and I think Douglas has done a fantastic job with the character of Matt and showing what it might be like for someone to try and become part of a world that he never really knew. But after such great previous novels, I found "Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit" to be below the standard of the other Louie books.
Rating:
Summary: Weakest entry in the series
Review: I've read all the Louie mysteries up through this one (awaiting my copy of "Kiwi Con") and this one was, as another reader said, much more of a chore to finish than the others. IMO, all the Elvis trivia and the sheer amount of time spent on the Elvis con/competition/hotel opening was filler for what was a thin plot to begin with. I normally enjoy spending a few hours with Temple, Louie, Matt, et al, but this time there was none of the internal dialogue or the conversations that really make each of these people "spark". Temple seemed to be there just to help move point A to point B or ask the pertinent question that would let the Elvis information pour forth. Matt was much too one note; his sole purpose seemed to be to show up, wonder about being a local media star for a few moments and then disappear again. It was like reading a book where all the main characters were reduced to cameo appearances by an unwieldy, boring plot that forced its way to center stage like a 300 pound diva. One of the things I've really enjoyed about the series is the way Douglas lets us into Matt's, Temple's and C.R. Molina's minds. It makes them much more well-rounded as characters and I feel I "know" them. This book was incredibly short on that aspect as compared to the other novels in the series. I'm also very tired of Max/Matt/Temple triangle. I suppose the main reason is I don't care for the Mundane Max very much. I find him more a convenient plot point than anything else. Need something that might be a little extralegal? Max shows up! Need to remind everyone there's a romantic triangle? Max pops up out of nowhere! *yawn* I find him to be the weakest character in the series because I have very little to base him on in my mind. I don't know whether it's Douglas' intention to make him appear mysterious or what, but one or two glimpses into what Max is thinking other than "Kinsella thought that he had the upper hand" type stuff or appearing to be jealous when Temple seems to have Matt foremost on the mind would go a long way towards filling him out as a character and making him seem more like a real person than simply someone invented for those times when you need someone with extralegal access to the info needed to move the plot along. The background she gives him doesn't ring very true to me for several reasons too long to go into here. I will say that it just ended up feeling like another smokescreen. I generally end up skimming the Max chapters for the necessary info and then jumping back into the story. All in all, I enjoy the Louie series immensely. They may not be entirely logical at times or gritty and real, but they're (for the most part) well-written, fun, full of people with very individual voices (including Louie), and I think Douglas has done a fantastic job with the character of Matt and showing what it might be like for someone to try and become part of a world that he never really knew. But after such great previous novels, I found "Cat in a Jeweled Jumpsuit" to be below the standard of the other Louie books.
Rating: 
Summary: Gold Star Review for Jeweled Jumpsuit
Review: It was inevitable. Who better than one legend to delve into the mystery of another legend? Thus, it is only fiting when the ghost of Elvis is spotted lurking about the Crystal Phoenix construction site that Midnight Louie himself take up the case of the mysterious apparition. It is surely no coincidence that a super new casino dedicated to the King is celebrating its opening with an Elvis impersonator contest. As a wild assortment of Elvi congregate in rehearsal, it becomes clear that someone is out to rig the competition with malice aforethought, including murder. Miss Temple Barr, pet human of Midnight Louie, is no slouch in the sleuth department either. Determined to protect the daughter of a friend participating in the pageant, she brings in the big guns -- nine Fontana brothers all dressed as the King! Meanwhile, her friend Matt, a former priest turned radio talk show host, is fielding calls purportedly from Elvis himself, sparking a bevy of newspaper headlines and much heated debate. Just what is going on? Only the anaconda knows who... And only Midnight Louie can find out why! Integrating the extraordinary power of the Elvis phenomenon into a cleverly conceived mystery, Ms. Douglas takes her artistry to a higher level as she views past and present through this uniquely American prism. The end result is as haunting in its intensity as the legend himself. Romantic Times, 4 1/2-star Gold M. Helfer
Rating:
Summary: Love the series, but this is the weakest link
Review: The author substituted Elvis trivia for character development and made EVERY major character spout said trivia at the drop of a hat. Maybe having one avid fan pop in with some tidbits now and again would have been bearable, but this felt almost like a lecture with a few murders thrown in. The lack of susbtance shows.
Rating:
Summary: Love the series, but this is the weakest link
Review: The author substituted Elvis trivia for character development and made EVERY major character spout said trivia at the drop of a hat. Maybe having one avid fan pop in with some tidbits now and again would have been bearable, but this felt almost like a lecture with a few murders thrown in. The lack of susbtance shows.
Rating:
Summary: Everone's Favorite Cat is Back-Midnight Louie
Review: The construction crew remodeling the Las Vegas' CrystalPhoenix Hotel refuse to continue their work because they believe theplace is haunted. Temple persuades the workers to return to the job because the ghost is only Elvis. Merle begs Temple to watch out for her daughter Quincy who is playing the part of Priscilla Presley at the Kingdome Hotel and Casino Elvis impersonation contest. The place is a shrine to Elvis. Many of the worshippers feel Priscilla is Judas and so Quincy receives some threatening experiences. Temple agrees to act as a bodyguard. However, with Louie at her side, Temple soon finds herself competing and cooperating with the FBI as two homicides occur. CAT IN A JEWELED JUMPSUIT is an excellent addition to the Midnight Louie tales. There is a vein of mysticism running throughout the story line that leaves readers wondering if Elvis is on the scene. The fascinating mystery is augmented by the glimpse inside the Elvis cult. However, the irascible Midnight Louie steals the show (as usual), leaving even a living, ghostly, or is it an impersonator Elvis to know that even the great one cannot compete with a feline animal star.
Rating: 
Summary: Too much Elvis not enough plot
Review: Very Disappointing. So different from the previous books in this series. Way too much Elvis trivia not enough of the cast of characters I have grown to love. The only reason I made it to the end of this book was the hope that the next one will be better and I will need to know what went before. My advise... borrow it from the library. But don't give up on the series yet.
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