Cat in a Kiwi Con: A Midnight Louie Mystery

Rating:
Summary: I Almost Didn't Finish this One!
Review: I have read all the books in this series, and found myself wishing that ONE of the loose ends would please be tied up in this one....but nope, just a new loose end and more cat babbling. I enjoy books with animals....talking and otherwise, but this cat "talks" too much! I heartily enjoyed the first books in this series, but the neverending Max/Matt campaign is wearing thin. The fun part of the book is the science fiction convention, but it is not enough to engage a casual reader. My stubborness to finish the book was really the only reason I did finish it! Maybe the next one will wrap up some plot lines.... we can only hope!

Rating:
Summary: I love ya Louie
Review: I love Louie, but this book was something of a disappointment. Mrs. Douglas kept us on the outside the whole time so it was hard to really get into the book. I have to admit though I was rolling on the ground at her depiction of a preteen girl. No preteen girl I have ever known is scared of a simple amusement ride and would hold her escort's hand. Mrs. Douglas hit so wide of the mark that she not only missed the barn she ended up 2 states over. Otherwise, an enjoyable if not particularly engrossing read.

Rating:
Summary: A cat copes with a convention
Review: In a neighbourhood copious with cats, it was inevitable that someone would confront me with this series. Douglas' twist of a cat acting as a major character [although not the primary one as the "Midnight Louie [sic] Mystery" on the dust jacket implies] is handled with finesse. The cat is observant, independent and adaptable. Thankfully, "Louie" isn't over-anthropomorphised. While instrumental, he isn't the primary sleuth you might expect. Instead, Douglas uses her feline character to air some causes she's concerned about - in this case the threatened extinction of Kiwis [the birds, not the European "pakeha"] in New Zealand. On the other hand, she plops some invective into the narrative against selected targets, of which more later.

There are some murders to keep the plot within the "mystery" genre, some of which are leftovers from previous books. These tend to be added to keep your interest. Will they be solved here or go on to further revival later in the series? There is the usual rivalry of "cops" versus "private" sleuths, although none of the "private" characters are in the business. Instead, one is a "public relations whiz", one a magician and one a former priest. Douglas takes these three on a merry mazurka of personal relationships. Only one of these characters seems to have a clear view of the assigned role. Douglas has fun with her creations, but character development isn't her forte. Even the repartee doesn't achieve the "clever" level that some mystery writers attain. Perhaps this is Douglas' way of imparting realism.

The author's real strength is in descriptive prose. She shines at that. In this book there are many opportunities to show her stuff as it takes place around a "sci-fi" convention. Although she correctly disparages the term "sci-fi", she seems unaware of Harlan Ellison's long-standing suggestion "SF" be rendered "Speculative Fiction". Her knowledge of television and film SF is ample. Characters relocated from their fictional realm into the convention's arena with aplomb. Writers clash, roles are depicted and characterisations dissected. For unexplained reasons, Douglas lashes out at Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine character from Star Trek: Voyager. The reason for her calumny seems focussed on the physical, which seems out of place in a "feminist" writer. The repetition of her scurrility against this one character becomes boring, especially when she transfers it to one of her minor characters.

Usually, in such a series reading the first volume is mandatory, but that constraint doesn't seem to apply, here. So much of this tale is interwoven with past events, one has the feeling reading the others would be repetitious. This book, one of the latest, is a good introduction to Douglas. The plot line is convoluted enough to satisfy the most demanding mystery buff. The SF/fantasy environment allows Douglas to bring in "weird" characters who impinge but lightly on the story. It's good beach/cottage reading material, but of limited scope and less interest. The whole series would be a chore, unless you have an extended holiday. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Rating:
Summary: A cat copes with a convention
Review: In a neighbourhood copious with cats, it was inevitable that someone would confront me with this series. Douglas' twist of a cat acting as a major character [although not the primary one as the "Midnight Louie [sic] Mystery" on the dust jacket implies] is handled with finesse. The cat is observant, independent and adaptable. Thankfully, "Louie" isn't over-anthropomorphised. While instrumental, he isn't the primary sleuth you might expect. Instead, Douglas uses her feline character to air some causes she's concerned about - in this case the threatened extinction of Kiwis [the birds, not the European "pakeha"] in New Zealand. On the other hand, she plops some invective into the narrative against selected targets, of which more later.

There are some murders to keep the plot within the "mystery" genre, some of which are leftovers from previous books. These tend to be added to keep your interest. Will they be solved here or go on to further revival later in the series? There is the usual rivalry of "cops" versus "private" sleuths, although none of the "private" characters are in the business. Instead, one is a "public relations whiz", one a magician and one a former priest. Douglas takes these three on a merry mazurka of personal relationships. Only one of these characters seems to have a clear view of the assigned role. Douglas has fun with her creations, but character development isn't her forte. Even the repartee doesn't achieve the "clever" level that some mystery writers attain. Perhaps this is Douglas' way of imparting realism.

The author's real strength is in descriptive prose. She shines at that. In this book there are many opportunities to show her stuff as it takes place around a "sci-fi" convention. Although she correctly disparages the term "sci-fi", she seems unaware of Harlan Ellison's long-standing suggestion "SF" be rendered "Speculative Fiction". Her knowledge of television and film SF is ample. Characters relocated from their fictional realm into the convention's arena with aplomb. Writers clash, roles are depicted and characterisations dissected. For unexplained reasons, Douglas lashes out at Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine character from Star Trek: Voyager. The reason for her calumny seems focussed on the physical, which seems out of place in a "feminist" writer. The repetition of her scurrility against this one character becomes boring, especially when she transfers it to one of her minor characters.

Usually, in such a series reading the first volume is mandatory, but that constraint doesn't seem to apply, here. So much of this tale is interwoven with past events, one has the feeling reading the others would be repetitious. This book, one of the latest, is a good introduction to Douglas. The plot line is convoluted enough to satisfy the most demanding mystery buff. The SF/fantasy environment allows Douglas to bring in "weird" characters who impinge but lightly on the story. It's good beach/cottage reading material, but of limited scope and less interest. The whole series would be a chore, unless you have an extended holiday. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Rating:
Summary: Good but enough of the Science Fiction references
Review: The book started off alright but quickly became dragged down. There was not enough of Louie and too many Buffy references. This is a mystery/comedy novel. To many plot lines that need to be connected and finished. Unfortunately if you are a big fan, which I am, you will need to read this book to catch up on the many different trains of thought Temple/Max/Matt/Molina/Louie have before reading "...Leopard Spot".

Rating:
Summary: This series and this author is great
Review: This year's TitaniCom, the world's largest science fiction and fantasy convention, is being held at the Las Vegas New Millennium Hotel and Casino. Mariah, daughter of police lieutenant C.R. Molina wants to attend. Former priest Matt Devine is willing to escort the young girl because he needs to get away from his troubling thoughts involving his first date with police sketch artist Janice Flanders. Also attending the convention is publicist Temple Barr's cat Midnight Louie who seeks the individuals who kidnapped and neutered him.

Ex-spy and retired magician Max Kinsella gives Temple a sketch of a man he plans to watch, who is allegedly staying at the hotel. He wants Temple to locate the man for him. Always eager to help her lover, Temple visits the New Millennium where she meets Matt, Mariah, and Louie. The group stumbles upon the murdered corpse of a conventioneer, which should not surprise anyone since there is a high correlation between dead bodies and Temple. Once again, the cast seeks to solve a murder.

There is no finer amateur sleuth than Midnight Louie, the feline equivalent to Spencer (or perhaps Hawk). Carole Nelson Douglas infuses humor throughout her story line, which keeps readers alternating between grinning and laughing. Told from the various perspectives of the major players, a dangerous technique for a lesser talent, the plot contains snappy insight into the thinking of several charcaters, which in turn leads to multiple surprises. Enthusiasts will realize that CAT IN A KIWI CON is one of the better works in this long running series which is filled with superb novels. With his charm and appeal still reaching out towards the reader, Midnight Louie continues to steal readers' hearts.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Good but enough of the Science Fiction references
Review: When Science Fiction writers get together, they complain about getting ripped off--even as murder runs through the convention. Carole Nelson Douglas has written another funny, quirky mystery. Again, Midnight Louie, the cat, plays the staring role.

Louie, along with Temple and Max, solve the crime, but there is a bigger crime here--one left to be solved in a later book in the series. Read this one for the fun of it, not to have all the loose ends tied up.

Rating:
Summary: Writers Rant
Review: When Science Fiction writers get together, they complain about getting ripped off--even as murder runs through the convention. Carole Nelson Douglas has written another funny, quirky mystery. Again, Midnight Louie, the cat, plays the staring role.

Louie, along with Temple and Max, solve the crime, but there is a bigger crime here--one left to be solved in a later book in the series. Read this one for the fun of it, not to have all the loose ends tied up.