A Cat with No Clue

Alice Nestleton Mystery #19

by Lydia Adamson

For an anniversary present, actress and amateur sleuth Alice Nestleton gifts elderly actor friends Alex and Lila with a meal that is exactly like the one they shared on their first date. But the next day the couple is dead from food poisoning. The only witnesses are the couple's two kittens, so Alice becomes the prime suspect!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cats, Animals

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

Lydia Adamson is the pen name for Franklin B. King who is an author, free-lance writer and copywriter. In addition to the Alice Nestleton series, he is the author of the Deirdre Quinn Nightingale and Lucy Wayles series. He lives in New York City and also wrote under the name 'Frank King'.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book kept my attention throughout, but the ending seemed unfinished. Up until that point I wanted to read more in this series. Not sure if I will now or not.

[PenNPaper52 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book because I loved the cover. The two tabby cats looked adorable and I was curious to know how the cats were involved in this mystery. The title suggests there are probably other Alice Nestleton Mysteries, but this is the first I have read. I found the book reminiscent of that old TV show, Murder She Wrote. Alice Nestleton comes up with a great anniversary gift for Alex and Lila, their first meal together. Unfortunately her idea goes horribly wrong with both Alex and Lila dying and Alice becoming the number one suspect. When I was reading the book, I started understanding why men find women complex. The book goes through several plots, new suspects just emerge out of the blue, and the woman who comes up with these particular scenarios is usually Alice. Her band of novice detectives is also quite amusing, with two being on-off ex bfs, one being an old hack writer and Nora, from whose restaurant the deadly meal was supplied from. Oh and there are approx. 5 or 6 cats... Quite a treat for cat lovers...

[Carolyn Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Crime Solved; Another Cat Saved

Alice investigates the murder of two friends and finds a home for their kittens. She struggles to make her theories fit the crime. After several false starts she succeeds in solving the crime.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was listed as a ‘cozy mystery’. The more I read cozy mysteries the more I dislike them. I much prefer police procedural mysteries or stories where the sleuth, if not a detective, is trained, not some bumbling idiot who ‘lucks out’. Other than that, it was entertaining to read.

[Rhonda Leanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember loving these kind of stories back in the '90s, but now, I found it very average. The characters were rather over-the-top, but not in an endearing way - I found them rather annoying, especially her male friends.

[Alora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love murder mysteries, especially cat murder mysteries but this one was dull.
I got tired of hearing about Alice's ex-lovers.

[Kathei]

If you like cats and you like mysteries then this series is for you.

[Phillis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice didn't have to set a trap this time she accidentaly stumbled over one of the conspirators. It wasn't who she thought it was. But ultimately she found out who killed two of her long time friends.

[Mary (Biblophile) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't grab my interest. I just didn't care for the characters.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would give it a 2.5 if I could. Very disjointed with not very likable characters. Perhaps if I had started earlier in the series it would make more sense.

[Todd Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story. My first Alice Nestleton mystery and I feel I can read more. Gave me a murder she wrote feeling.