Garrison Allen

I love this series, the characters are goofy, whimsical, and way way out in left field, but they still feel like real people. I know people like the role-playing romance novelist and her laconic cowboy boyfriend. They're strange, but true. This book isn't true, but it's got that quality. The mysteries are enjoyable, with enough clues and no cheap tricks. This book is the first of the series and introduces the characters. Mike is a believable cat, and a charming one, without being cutesy. A show more book worth owning. show less

This the first in the Big Mike Mystery Series, with Mycroft, aka Big Mike, a 25 lb. Abyssinian cat. The owner Penelope Warren finds a dead body on her doorstep and investigates, along with Mike, several friends, and two police detectives she nicknames Tweedledee and Tweedledum.

The characters are interesting, quirky, but believable. The cat is authentic. And the mystery was really a mystery to the end.

Unfortunately, the first half of the book dragged, except for the cat parts which were show more interesting. Perhaps it was because a lot of background material was included to set up the entire series, or maybe because Penelope's character was a bit one-dimensional, until her sister arrived. Anyway, about half-way through, the book really caught my attention and improved steadily to the surprising end. show less

Book two in the series sees Penelope Warren elevated to Queen of the Empty Creek Elizabethan Faire after the original queen is stabbed. She quickly discovers that ruling merry old England (c. 1595) and investigating murders can be a risky business.

The books starts off well, goes along quite well, and finishes up nicely. While some of the characters are a bit over the top, they are all believable and lovable. And Big Mike, the cat, is wonderfully written.

This is not a book that will change show more your life, but it is a very enjoyable read! show less

When the person playing Queen Elizabeth at the Empty Creek Elizabethan Fair is murdered local bookseller Penlope Warrenn is drafted into the role. While at the fair Penelope, with the assistance of her cat Big Mike, investigate the murder. Some of the characters are funny but it was way too easy to guess the murderer.