The Cats Pajamas [Paperback]

A movie is being filmed in White Sands and Kate, Jake, Jeremy and the cats are all involved! They soon find out that the Hollywood lifestyle isn't all that it's cracked up to be. When the acting double of an old flame of Jake's turns up dead, everyone's a suspect. From the nasty producer that everyone hates to the costar to wants a bigger role to even Jake himself, the small town becomes shaken by the murder. But when a second killing happens just days later, the only ones who can solve the case have four paws and a tail. It's up to Jacques and Cleo to come to the rescue again!

I thought that this book was lots better than the first book in the series. The cats get more talking time and a bigger role in this book. They even get to star in the movie! I liked how Jacques and Cleo have more conversations and more opinions on their owners. I think that they are smarter than Kate and Jake in regards to their relationship. There are more new characters introduced in this book. Because of the movie being filmed in the town, many Hollywood type folks enter the scene. Avis, the lead actress, and Jake have a past but their relationship felt very fake. I felt that the remarks by the producer, Aaron Tobin, were quite harsh especially the racist comments he made. He definitely comes off as a character everyone loves to hate. Jake still comes off as a very unlikable character to me. Even though there are several scenes where he helps out those around him (ie taking care of Ocie) he still acts like a jerk. Two scenes that come to mind are when he gets mad at Kate for going out with Bev and tells her he would give her a whipping if she was his daughter. This comes off very chauvinistic because he's acting jealous for no reason and plus Kate had done absolutely nothing wrong. The other scene is when he throws Jacques, who has very dangerous claws, at an actor simply because Jake doesn't like his choice of career. Eric ends up getting hurt but Jake never apologizes which I felt was really distasteful of his actions since Kate had warned him that Jacques could do serious damage.

The mystery once again is a good one. I did guess the ending this time but overall I enjoyed the whole story. I always enjoy reading books about what it is like to make a movie. Overall I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading this book. I just hope that Jake's character will change in the third book, as it stands I'm still not a fan of him.

Those rascally cats Jacque the Ripper, and Cleo are at it again. Along with their person Kate, her son Jeremy and the Intruder, better known as Jake Novak, they are all off on another mystery. Living in their inherited home on the beach with all the other animals, they are soon swept into another episode of two murders and a stabbing.

This time it involves a movie-making crew and Hollywood stars that have come to the beach at White Sands, Alabama. Kate and Jake have been invited to a party at the home where the movie crew is staying. The reason is to discuss the use of the two cats, Jacque and Cleo in the movie. The producer Aaron, and the director Jesse, are father and son, and are very different in temperament. The father is a bully and the son a meek-appearing young man. The people in the crew that accompanies them have various reasons to hate Aaron. Even the actors and actresses hold resentments toward him. Jake soon learns that an old flame from his past is the star of the movie.

When the first murder occurs, Jake is pulled in for questioning, as he was the last person to see the victim alive. After Jake is able to show his innocence, he is asked to help the local sheriff to help with the investigation. He puts aside the novel he is writing to help. Another murder and a stabbing happen, and no one is able to solve this mystery, until Jacque the Ripper finds a major clue.

This is second in a series and is a fun read. It involves twists and turns making you think you know "who done it," and then finding out you were totally wrong. So when is the next adventure for this menagerie?

Armchair Interviews says: As much fun as What the Cat Dragged Inwas, with these two cat characters.

Since I started reading cat mysteries about three years ago Mr. Morris's series was a delighful surprise. I started with Liian Jackson Braun (The Cat Who...I loved them), followed by Rita Mae Brown series (Mrs. Murphy and The Hunt series)(which I loved) followed by the Joe Cat Mysteries and then I discovered I had read all of the books published by these three authors. Gilbert Morris's series is fun, light, and a very good read.