CAT PAY THE DEVIL

The feisty feline sleuths of Molena Point, Calif., must rescue their human friends from brutal kidnappers.

An unusual heat wave is not the most urgent subject of conversation among cats Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit. Hearing that Cage Jones has escaped from jail, they fear for Dulcie’s housemate, retired federal officer Wilma Getz. Dulcie’s fears are realized when Wilma’s old partner is shot and Wilma disappears from a shopping mall. Luckily, Joe and his friends find that the feral felines living in the hills have a few members with the gift of gab who observed Wilma dragged to a cabin where Cage and his buddy are trying to learn the whereabouts of a stash they think she stole. The cats also saw the kidnapping of Wilma’s niece Charlie, the wife of police Captain Max Harper. Frantic to pick up clues that will lead to Wilma and Charlie, the animals search the house of the buddy’s sister. At length, Wilma escapes; the feral felines rescue Charlie; and a brave but frightened Cotton leaves the feral band to tell the town cats what he has seen, paving the way for a party that brings together humans and cats.

The 12th tale in the series (Cat Breaking Free, 2005, etc.) may be a tough slog for readers who aren’t already familiar with the established characters. Aspiring fans of talking felines might well want to start at the beginning.