Eleven-year-old Robin wants to join a popular gang at school. They'll accept him, though only if he kidnaps the prize-winning cat of old Mrs. Nordling first. But when Robin sneaks into the Nordlings' house in the dark of night, he gets more than just a schoolyard thrill. An argument, strange sounds, a woman's cry, and the cat—hurled out of a room—are all Robin needs to grab the frisky kitty and get packing. Then Mr. Nordling, covered in his wife's blood, lurches out into the hallway, and Robin runs for his life...feline prize in hand. A brutal crime has been committed. Mr. Nordling knows someone besides the cat witnessed it, and he will stop at nothing to learn who it was. But Robin, the cat—and an extremely nosy neighbor—have other ideas...
Author
Marian Babson, a pseudonym for Ruth Stenstreem, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, but lived in London for the greater part of her life. She worked as a librarian; managed a campaign headquarters; was a receptionist, secretary, and den mother to a firm of commercial artists; and was co-editor of a machine knitting magazine, despite the fact that she can’t knit, even with two needles. A long sojourn as a temp sent her into the heart of business life all over London, working for architects, law firms, the British Museum, a Soho club, and even a visiting superstar. She also served as secretary to the Crime Writers’ Association. She became a full-time writer whose many interests included theatre, cinema, art, cooking, travel, and, of course, cats, which feature in many of her mystery books. Her first published work was 'Cover-Up Story' in 1971 and 'Only the Cat' (2007) was her 44th novel. The publisher's tagline for her style is "Murder Most British," a style reflected in each of her novels. Any violence is not graphically described and the sleuths are usually amateurs. She re-used certain characters, such as the publicity firm Perkins & Tate, and a couple of ageing actresses, her books all stand-alone and can be read in any order. Gerry Wolstenholme September 2010
