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Cat’s Claw |
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| Cat’s Claw by Alex Matthews Intrigue Press 311 pages, 2000 ISBN 1890768227 Reviewed by PJ Nunn Cassidy McCabe is a therapist who works in a home she loves, with a cat she loves and an investigative reporter named Zach that she loves. Or tolerates, depending on what day it is. In this, the fifth in the McCabe series, Cassidy has plenty around the home front to keep her occupied. Cassidy’s neighbor, Olivia, is known up and down the street as the cat lady. She’s quiet and plain and keeps to herself, feeding the neighborhood strays much to the others’ chagrin. Cassidy, ever the social worker, is endeavoring to forge a relationship with the isolated soul, but her opportunity is short lived. Not long after Olivia seeks Cassidy’s help, she turns up dead in her own basement. Of course, Cassidy’s curiosity won’t let her rest until she finds out what really happened and Zach’s too busy working a hot undercover story to interfere with her efforts. As he slides off into the dark of night, Cassidy needs something to keep her mind off her own relationship issues. Before long, Cassidy is afraid for the future of her relationship with Zach. After a little more persistent investigation into Olivia’s murder, she’s afraid for her own future. Matthews’ creation of Cassidy McCabe has given her a lot of maneuvering room for mystery topics and she’s handled them admirably. This edition is a little different, however. In Cat’s Claw, Cassidy’s profession is minimized, leaving the bulk of the story to explore Cassidy’s personal life and relationships. Even the mystery, well planned and executed, takes a back seat to musings about why people do what they do and how relationships are forged. It also offers a glimpse into how relationships disintegrate. An interesting case study, to be sure, but not a typical mystery outing, cats or no cats. It’s nice to see an author’s work that evolves as Matthews does, and for the better, I might add. |
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