The House That Jack Built
Susan YarinaMystery
Available from Treble Heart Books
ISBN: 1-931742-51-0
August 2003
| Annie Hill doesn't need another kitten, but she can't resist the tiny brown
piece of fluff at the dog pound. Now she has two, Alfred and Agatha. They
seem to be able to speak to her in her mind. Her mother doesn't want them,
and her fiancé Victor doesn't like cats. And when Victor tells her that she
must give up her career as a private investigator to be his wife, she has
had it. She dumps him. Then her mother's dog breaks a Tiffany lamp chasing
one of her kittens. Her friend and assistant Keela has been telling her it's
time she was on her own. She has always liked the small town of Clarion, and
since business has been poor, she moves. She leases a house with
exceptionally low rent. She has moved in, and Keela has joined her, before
she discovers the house is haunted. In the parlor of the house is a big mirror. On Friday nights there is a party-- in the mirror. She and Keela, the cats too, can see the people dancing and laughing. Especially outstanding is a beautiful blonde woman. The first time they're watching, a man in the mirror even sticks his tongue out at her. Those people can see her too. The chairs that came with the house levitate a couple feet off the floor, even when someone is sitting in them. Everyone in Clarion knows house is haunted, and they are afraid to come there. This is bad for business. Annie meets the gorgeous Rick while he is working as a volunteer fireman. Gradually her business improves, if she meets customers elsewhere. Rick is a professional handymen, and she hires him to do small repairs in the house. He warns her never to leave the house empty, because something awful will take place. She and Keela leave to see what will happen, and while they are gone an axe is thrown at the back door. When they return, it is stuck there, covered with blood and fingerprints. Rick says this is what always happens. Annie is a private investigator, and she just has to find out why her house is haunted. Who is the beautiful blonde? Why does she sometimes look so sad? Annie and her cats are determined to find out. She does her research, finding out who built the house, who owns the house now, and about the feud between two families. Families that still live in Clarion. It is a surprise to discover the Rick is a member of one of these families. She needs to find out the things they consider dirty laundry. Of course cats are smarter than humans, and sometimes they think she will never 'get it'. THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT is a marvelous little cozy mystery, well plotted and well written. Annie Hill and Keela make a good team, competent and smart The cats are smart too, very entertaining, and the part that they play in the ending of this book is perfect. I want so badly to tell you, but I can't Susan Yarina and her Slinky Sleuths have a winner here. I can't wait for the next one in the series. (By the way, I don't own a cat.)
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Judy Cook |
