Midnight Louie is a big black cat with more than the
requisite nine lives, as he's now on his twenty-fifth
murder mystery along with his owner Temple Barr, who does
publicity work in Las Vegas. As author Carole Nelson
Douglas has now ventured into a paranormal series as well,
it's not so surprising that Louie should get a visit by
aliens....
CAT IN AN ALIEN X-RAY begins promisingly with Temple
phoning her mother, whom she hasn't visited in some years,
to say that she'd like to come and introduce her fiancé
Matt, an ex-priest. Minnesota is conservative and Temple
just hopes her parents will approve of her choice. Matt
has a syndicated radio show, and Temple has taken a long
time to settle down with him, having been a social
butterfly. News is just beginning to spread of UFO
sightings near Vegas.
A crime syndicate which Temple has been pursuing undercover
for some books is top of the list for discussion with Matt,
Temple's ex Max, and other friends. Temple does her PR work,
meeting clients for lunch while Louie slinks along unseen
to ensure her safety. Temple's trademark high heels are for
once swapped for pumps, but even those are no match for the
rubble of a building site which she views. A client named
Farnum, in a clear nod to showman Barnum, is responsible
for the supposed UFOs and wants her help to catch
attention. Temple's seen the Copperfield shows, but what
this man has in mind is crazy. Then a body is found on the
site. Meanwhile Matt has encountered a razor-wielding woman
who is obsessed with Max, and not in a good way....
I've always found it confusing that Temple's alternate
boyfriend was called Max. She's had on-off relationships
with both men for some books and it would have been easier
to follow if they had totally different names. A table
listing of past crimes and suspects may not show up well on
every e-reader. Some of the scenes strike me as having too
much conversation, slowing the story, but that's the
author's style. Louie chats his own version of events
between chapters, like a Mike Hammer of the feline world,
and is clearly devoted to Temple. The cosmopolitan,
vibrant Vegas atmosphere adds to the mix, in a lively read
for fans of Carole Nelson Douglas in CAT IN AN ALIEN X-
RAY.
Carole Nelson Douglas's Cat in an Alien X-Ray takes the Las Vegas gang on a science-fictional roller-coaster ride, as Midnight Louie, feline PI, and company encounter UFO enthusiasts, conspiracy nuts who are too bizarre even for tin foil hat therapy. An Area 51 attraction on the Strip threatens to bring more than starry-eyed enthusiasts to town. Once again it is up to that furballed PI Midnight Louie to keep his crew in line and save them from the attack of the creatures from the beyond…or common criminals that prey on the innocent.
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