cover image Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta: A Midnight Louie Mystery

Cat in a Vegas Gold Vendetta: A Midnight Louie Mystery

Carole Nelson Douglas. Forge, $24.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-7653-2746-8

In Nelson's cutesy 23rd Midnight Louie caper (after Cat in an Ultramarine Scheme), Las Vegas public relations expert Temple Barr undertakes her first job as a PI when actress Savannah Ashleigh hires her to investigate the death of Pedro Gomez, her aunt Violet Weiner's yardman. The dying Violet lives with a large "clowder" of cats while various relatives and hangers-on vie for her favor. Barr has other worries as well: ex-lover Max Kinsella returns with injuries and without memory after supposedly being killed; current lover Matt Devine returns from Chicago with a lucrative job offer there; notorious Kathleen O'Connor (aka Kitty the Cutter) appears to still be stalking all of them; and Las Vegas homicide detective Carmen Molina is on the trail of the infamous Barbie Doll killer. Tomcat sleuth Midnight Louie provides the heroic feats and sly commentary series fans expect. (Aug.)