[York Cat Crime Mystery 01] • The First of Nine

Introducing Theodore, York’s first cat detective.

When Theodore discovers his neighbour Peter Morris with his head bashed in, he sets out on the trail of the Clementhorpe Killer.

Set among the back alleys of York, The First of Nine is a murder mystery with a feline twist. It is Theodore’s first foray into crime detection. It is the first of his nine lives…

“Brilliant! Compulsive reading! A murder on one's back doorstep! Theodore the cat, whose musings are very human and observant, engenders much empathy. Not all the humans in this novel are quite so endearing! A story with a moral or two. Full of humour.” Claire I.

“I enjoyed reading this. I love York and cats, and mysteries. The device of having a cat leading the reader through the story worked really well, love the humour as well.” Mrs H.

“The First of Nine is more than a shaggy cat story. It’s pre-Brexit Britain in a nutshell, or a back alley in York to be more accurate – and seen through the eyes of a cat... I’m never going to look at my own cat in the same light again.” Mr. W Wolfe.

“The idea of cat as detective is not new: Lilian Jackson Braun and Shirley Rousseau Murphy are two who spring to mind. Theodore has several hard acts to follow, and, to be fair, he does quite well. He certainly behaves like a cat, but his personality so far is rather limited, although he gets full marks for grit, determination, and intelligence - it's a pity several of his two-legged (unfeathered) neighbours aren't up to his standards...” Annie W.

“I was expecting a cute fluffy cat story. Instead I was presented with a tale of murder, sex and drugs, all seen through the eyes of an intelligent feline sleuth. Did not disappoint. Highly recommended.” Ms Milne.