I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Something the Cat Dragged In
by
Charlotte MacLeod
amateur sleuth, cozy mystery in a Kindle edition that was published by Mysterious Press on November 6, 2012 and has 275 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Rest You Merry, The Luck Runs Out, Wrack and Rune
Fourth in the Peter Shandy cozy mystery series revolving around an amateur sleuth. The focus is on a nasty political campaign.
My Take
It’s Edmund’s latest capture that starts events off. He doesn’t often, ever, bring in a wad of human hair. That Edmund does crack me up.
Wow, MacLeod has some interesting notes on the easiness of the past with those big jars of morphine pills available for anyone.
While MacLeod uses third person global subjective point-of-view, the perspective is mostly from Peter Shandy. Do keep in mind that we learn about thoughts and events from other characters too.
MacLeod is also amazing in her humor. She pokes fun at everything, including Harry Goulson’s pride in his son and in his business. That description of Twerks’ “squireship” was pretty funny. More fun is aimed at correspondence schools. And, sadly, the lack of funding for the police. As for that “duel” with Thorkjeld wielding his tusk, well, *laughter* Ottermole wishes he’d brought popcorn.
Ooh, ooh, Shandy notes that the real professional politicians are the ones who remember they represent the people of their district. Take that one! Then there’s that comment about how it’s only harassment when it’s from the opposition. The big corporations that sold us all a bill of goods about how demeaning it is to work with your hands.
I gotta love Alonzo Bulfinch. He’s such an innocent *grin*! It’s while questioning Alonzo that we learn of the disaster at Mary Ellen’s. ROFL. Okay, okay, it’s a traumatic event, but still . . .
Balaclava Junction is pretty ideal with residents and students who are sincere in their interests. And yet, they have all these murders!
That sneaky Claude is a scumbag! Luckily Shandy manages to nip that riot in the bud with help from the students, *more laughter*. More of these idiots include the members of the Balaclavian Society — Peter can’t figure out what they have to be so snooty about, lol. More scumminess was the reasons for Ungley’s inclusion in the club. Jeez.
As for all those herrings MacLeod kept dragging across the pages . . . oy! Then there’s the agitation what with Ruth’s plotting, Claude’s underhandedness, and Edna Jean Bugleford’s right-wing views and disgust about that filthy, un-American environmental talk. Oops, then she finds out that Edna Mae is her late husband’s brother’s daughter! Foot. In. Mouth.
It’s mostly characters with some action in Something the Cat Dragged In abetting in murder, bribery, money laundering, and conspiracy. Who knew this small town could be so busy?
It is sad that honest men the to lose out to the dishonest.
The Story
It was a sneaky plan, undermining the college with that silo. As for the Balaclavian Society, well, it seems there’s a lot more behind their congregating.
The Characters
Professor Peter Shandy is married to Helen, an assistant librarian at the college in charge of cataloging the Buggins Collection. He’s known for his co-development of a super rutabaga and his increasing reputation for solving mysteries. Jane is the kitty they acquired in Wrack and Rune, 3.
Betsy Lomax (a Swope from Lumpkin Upper Mills), Ungley’s landlady, is also the cleaning lady for a number of the professors. Perkin Lomax is her deceased husband, who had been one of the founders of Balaclava Junction. Priscilla, a nurse at Hoddersville Hospital is a relative. Marge seems to be another relative. Betsy’s cousin, Fred Swope, is a plumber. Cronkite Swope is a reporter for the Balaclava County Weekly Fane and Pennon and has been quite active in previous stories.
Balaclava Agricultural College is . . .
. . . located in Balaclava Junction. Thorkjeld Svenson is the mighty president of the college. Sieglinde is his indomitable wife. Dr Engberg has been the previous president and Dr Trunk previous to him. Dr Porble is the head of the library. Grace Porble is his wife.
The tedious and greedy Professor Emeritus Herbert Ungley is touchy about his hairpiece, a member of the Balaclavian Society, and has lived in his upper flat for twenty-nine years. He’s been working on a history of the county. Edmund is Ungley’s more social cat.
Professor Jim Feldster, who teaches the Fundamentals of Dairy Management, has joined multiple organizations — to get away from his wife, the very nosy Mirelle. They’re neighbors of the Shandys’. Professor John Enderble, a sweetheart (as is his wife, Mary) and another neighbor, teaches Local Fauna. Professor Frank Joad has a science-minded family (that includes Ted) and now occupies the Cadwell house (Rest You Merry, 1). Professor Daniel Stott is head of the Animal Husbandry Department. He married Iduna in The Luck Runs Out, 2.
College security includes Silvester Lomax — he’ll become a temporary deputy chief — who had been in the army with Alonzo “Lonz” Bulfinch, Ungley’s heir, who now works for the college as a guard. Silvester and his brother, Clarence, are jointly in charge of security since Rest You Merry. And they’re cousins-on-law with Betsy. Frank is Clarence’s son. Purvis “Purve” Mink is another guard who will temporarily be deputized. Evelyn is Silvester’s wife and Maude is Clarence’s. Mary Ellen appears to be one of Silvester and Evelyn’s kids; Jim, her husband, is a truck driver and doesn’t know about her disaster. Cousin Sally will babysit. They’ll call in the Varsity Horsemen’s Team who will ride the college’s Balaclavan Blacks Odin, Thor, Freya, Hoenir, Heimdallr, Loki, Tyr, and Balder.
Mrs Mouzouka runs the college cafeteria, which has a good reputation. Peters has a niece who is a student. Angela is a fellow student.
Fred Ottermole is the chief of police for Balaclava Junction. He’s also friends with Edmund. Edna Mae is Fred’s wife. His officers include Budge Dorkin. Joe Bugleford will become a police cordon. Dr Melchett is the medical examiner. Henry Goulson is the local undertaker. Judge Jeffreys.
State Representative Bertram G Claude (Mrs Claude isn’t impressed by her husband) is anti-agriculture and running against Sam Peters, who is the current federal representative. Edna Jean Bugleford is Mrs Claude’s aunt by marriage and a loyal constituent. Old Mrs Mawe will go anywhere she can get a cuppa and a piece of cake.
Ruth Smuth is handling Claude’s campaign. Her husband is not a paragon of “beauty” and is not unhappy.Some guy named JB at work is three rungs above Smuth.
The Balaclavian Society is a snooty group of very few members, which include Mr and Mrs Pommel — he’s head of the First Balaclava County Guaranteed National Trust, Savings, and Loan, and she’s president of the Garden Club. Lot Lutt used to be on the board of directors of the soap factory. The rude Henry Hodger is a too-good lawyer. Whitney is Hodger’s clerk. William Twerks has never done anything in his life. Jim and Ethel Purkiser work for Twerks. He takes care of the outside and she takes care of the inside, and Twerks doesn’t really take care of them. The useless Congressman Sill, a gasbag, had served a term in the state legislature under Governor Alvan T Fuller. Mrs Sill is no longer a member. Loula is his housekeeper.
The Silo Supporters had raised funds for a new silo for the farmers. The Balaclava College Endowment Fund was there to help fellow students and local farmers. Solly Swain has a van over at the apple warehouse. The Flackleys have been the farriers for the county for years. Mrs Pearworthy is old and seems to be easily frightened.
Jemima Ames had been the first victim of (Rest You Merry). The Horsefalls had been the center of attention in Wrack and Rune who were up against Guff Gaffson. Philo Vance is a fictional amateur detective originally featured in 12 crime novels by SS Van Dine in the 1920s and 1930s. Carey’s Fish Market. The Bursting Bubble is a beer joint.
The Cover and Title
The cover is consistent with previous ones. And it’s boring. It has a chocolate brown background with two overlapping khaki green circles featuring two black cats crouching, facing each other. Mirror images of each other. At the very top is an info blurb in white with the author’s name, also in white, beneath it. Under the circles is the title in the same khaki green. Beneath that is the series info in white.
The title starts with Something the Cat Dragged In that catches Mrs Lomax’s attention and ends with concern.
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