Pussyfoot

Second book in the Midnight Louie cat 'detective' series - this cat gets around and into any place he wants to go. He has a knack for being where people get murdered, and he's quite good at helping his 'residential companion' solve the murders. (Although in this book, his amorous side takes center stage.)

PR freelancer is dragged into a job for an exotic dance competition, but learns a good deal about the people in the business - and why some of them do what they do. Unfortunately, somebody doesn't like what they do and is killing them, day by day. As the bodies pile up, Temple just can't keep her curiosity at bay and once again helps LVMP Lt. Molina solve the crimes.

The mystery was better constructed than the first....I certainly didn't show more suspect the murderer, but it fit nicely when revealed and wasn't far-fetched. I love reading these books from the early 90's - before cell phones and facebook. Definitely will continue with the series as I have the time. Want to see what happens with the side stories of Temple's disappearing magician boyfriend Max, and the hot new neighbor Matt. Also really like the crazy character of Electra, the landlord, who even helps with the investigation in this book by going undercover and entering the "Over Sexty" division for the stripper competition. What a hoot! show less

Temple Barr and her 20 pound black cat, Midnight Louie, get caught up in another murder mystery. This time, Temple is working as a fill-in Public Relations Director for a Stripper Convention after the regular PR man has a heart attack following his discovery of the murdered body of one of the exotic dancers. Once again Temple spars with the abrasive Lieutenant Molina, but she becomes just a wee bit more human in this novel. The Stripper Convention is being picketed by an offended feminist, and the next day she is joined by an offended Christian. While Temple is dealing with these PR emergencies, another stripper is found murdered.

Midnight Louie is drawn to the dressing rooms of the exotic dancers because he is in love with the Divine show more Yvette, a petite silver-furred Persian belonging to one of the competitors, Miss Savannah Ashleigh. He witnesses the first murder, but only sees the legs of the perpretator. He is interested in the murder as well, but very much distracted by the lovely Divine Yvette.

This second novel in the Midnight Louie mystery series was an improvement over the first, [Catnap]. The mystery itself was constructed much better, the pacing was much improved, and the chapters narrated by Midnight Louie were more convincing. The Stripper Convention setting was strange, and there was a lot of discussion between Temple and various characters about the morality and sociology of the exotic dancers. Care was taken to explain that they were not prostitutes, but dancers who exploited their men customers for cash as much as they were exploited. However, they also discussed how an extremely high percentage of them came from abused childhoods, and many now suffer from abusive relationships. In [Pussyfoot], we learn more about Temple and her missing lover, Max the Magician. It was a good mystery, and I enjoyed my second encounter with Midnight Louie on the glitzy Las Vegas Strip. show less

I must say I was a little disappointed with this book. I bought it because I really liked a Midnight Louie story I happened to read: the protagonist's sardonic voice reminds one of Humphrey Bogart and the hard-boiled American private eye. In this novel also, Ms. Douglas's writing is as good as ever, but the mystery leaves much to be desired. And Louie's involvement is only marginal - he is more interested in running after the "divine" Yvette than solving mysteries!

I rate this book somewhere between 2 and 3 stars.

The author tries too hard. Later in the book the author forgets herself, and the book really improves. Overall the writing is contrived - way too much useless alliteration and word play. But it's Vegas all the way, what with the stripper convention etc.

Louie and his "flatmate" Temple delve into a murder at a stripper's convention. Lots of fun.