Cats Can't Shoot by Clea Simon, a Mysterious Review.

Review: Pet behaviorist — and psychic — Pru Marlowe comes to the defense of a Persian cat accused of murdering its owner in Cats Can't Shoot, the second mystery in this "pet noir" series by Clea Simon.

Socialite Donal "Don" Franklin is most definitely dead, his body next to an antique decorative pistol. And the guilty party is in the room with him, spattered with black powder from the blast. Open and shut case. But is it? What's surprising to both Pru and the cop investigating the crime is that the killer is apparently the man's cat. Worse for her — the cat, that is — is that there's more evidence of her guilt: a tuft of fur is in the trigger housing, and paw prints all over the weapon. But the cat only hisses at Pru, refusing to admit her guilt … or proclaim her innocence. Pru sets out to network with the dead man's associates — and their gossipy pets — to find out who may have wanted Franklin dead … and tried to pin the blame on an innocent cat.

Cats Can't Shoot is an amusing mystery that spins its paranormal element in an innovative way. Pru enjoys her role so much that the investigation almost seems secondary to her; she relishes the opportunity of interacting with the animals for almost any reason. Pet lovers will no doubt be thoroughly entertained by the goings-on, but even those who consider pets to be someone else's hobby will find themselves drawn into this interesting mystery with its appealing sleuth.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Cats Can't Shoot.

Acknowledgment: Poisoned Pen Press provided an ARC of Cats Can't Shoot for this review.

Probable Claws
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), April 2009
ISBN-13: 9781590585641; ISBN-10: 159058564X

Parrots Prove Deadly
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover), April 2013
ISBN-13: 9781464201028; ISBN-10: 1464201021

Cats Can't Shoot

A Pru Marlowe Mystery by Clea Simon