“A knockout read. For anyone who loves mysteries, animals, or just plain great writing, this is a book to savor.”—Laurien Berenson, author of Doggie Day Care Murder on Curiosity Killed the Cat Sitter In this fifth installment of the wildly popular Dixie Hemingway mystery series, a mysterious young girl is missing. Lieutenant Guidry, the hunky homicide detective with whom Dixie has an on-again, off-again relationship, is trying to find the girl because she may be a material witness to a murder. Finally Dixie must go it alone to confront criminals who will stop at nothing to get what they want.From Publishers WeeklyAt the start of Clement's sprightly fifth Dixie Hemingway mystery (after 2009's Cat Sitter on a Hot Tin Roof), the Siesta Key, Fla., pet sitter and former cop takes an instant liking to Jaz, a mixed-race pubescent girl she first meets at the vet, where Jaz has brought an injured wild rabbit. A nervous man claiming to be Jaz's stepfather (he looked like a junior high school principal who had learned too late that he hated kids) admits he accidentally hit the rabbit in his car. Later, three young thugs looking for Jaz confront Dixie at the home of one of Dixie's clients. Dixie's homicide detective love interest, Lt. Jean-Pierre Guidry, suspects the three are connected to the knifing murder of a local elderly man, and the chase is on to find the thugs before they get to Jaz. Smooth prose, a lush background, and engaging animals—in particular, Big Bubba, a talkative African gray parrot who loves to watch police shows on TV—make for a fine-feathered read. (Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistThe latest Dixie Hemingway mystery finds the Florida pet sitter caring for a chatty parrot and giving medication to a cranky cat. Meanwhile, Dixie can’t get a mysterious, animal-loving teenage girl named Jaz out of her mind. Turns out Jaz is the only witness to a West Coast gang shooting, and she is being sequestered on Siesta Key until the trial. Certainly, the location should be safe enough, except for the unfortunate fact that a meeting of top-level drug dealers from around the country just happens to be taking place at a nearby hotel. Dixie can’t leave the mystery of Jaz alone, especially after the teen disappears (despite her new career as a pet sitter, Dixie has never really lost the instincts she honed as a Sarasota cop). This continues to be a solid cozy series with a well-realized Florida setting and plenty of animal elements to satisfy pet-loving mystery readers. --Jessica Moyer

The Cat Sitter's PajamasBlaize ClementDixie Hemingway, no relation to you-know-who, accepts a job taking care of celebrity linebacker Cupcake Trillin’s cats while he’s away. What seems like a simple cat-sitting job turns scary when Dixie finds a high-profile fashion model in Cupcake’s house. The woman refuses to leave and she also claims to be Cupcake’s wife. Only problem? Dixie has met Cupcake’s wife—and she’s not this woman. Before long Dixie is spun into the world of counterfeit high fashion…and a whole lot of cat fur. When a valuable list of fake-merchandise sellers goes missing, the criminals go after Dixie. Just when she thought she could have her (cup)cake and eat it too, Dixie finds herself with her tail between her legs. Can she claw her way out of this one?From BooklistPet sitter Dixie Hemingway returns for a seventh adventure on Siesta Key in this charming cozy series. When checking on the cats of football player Cupcake Trillin while he and his wife are in Italy, Dixie discovers nearly nude supermodel Briana, who claims to be the star’s wife. Dixie calls police while waiting outside. Upon returning, she finds a different woman dead on the floor in a pool of blood. After rescuing the cats from the crime scene, Dixie is stopped by Briana, who now insists that she did not murder anyone but admits that she and Cupcake, as teens, used to commit crimes together in their hometown. Dixie convinces Briana to turn herself in and then starts asking questions to find out the truth. In the meantime, she agonizes over her decision not to go to New Orleans with boyfriend Guidry. The characters and setting bring this mystery to life. Fans of pet mysteries, such as those by Laurie Berenson, will enjoy it, as will anyone hankering for a little virtual travel to Siesta Key. --Amy Alessio ReviewPRAISE FOR BLAIZE CLEMENT ANDCAT SITTER AMONG THE PIGEONS“Dixie’s latest adventure keeps you glued to your seat from the first chapter.”—Kirkus Reviews“A riveting and rewarding read.”—*Richmond Times-Dispatch*RAINING CAT SITTERS AND DOGS“Another enjoyable tale from Blaize Clement.”—Kirkus Reviews“Smooth prose, a lush background...a fine-feathered read.”—*Publishers Weekly* CAT SITTER ON A HOT TIN ROOF“Thoughtful and compelling.”—Publishers Weekly“A feel-good [series]…Recommend this one for readers who liked the southern setting and animal characters in Joyce and Jim Lavene’s The Telltale Turtle.” —BooklistEVEN CAT SITTERS GET THE BLUES “Gutsy, sexy…Dixie is Siesta Key’s favorite pet sitter.”—Sarasota Herald-Tribune“Blends elements of cozy and thriller to produce an unusual and enjoyable hybrid . . . sure to delight readers.”—Publishers Weekly *“For fans of Susan Conant and Clea Simon.”—Library Journal *“Ingenious…captivating. Here is a series that even people who dislike pet mysteries can enjoy.”—Reviewing the Evidence“Will have readers begging for more treats.”—Lansing State JournalDUPLICITY DOGGED THE DACHSHUND“Fast paced…the canine caper crowd will enjoy Florida’s leading pet-sitter.”—Midwest Book Review“Clement’s fast-paced sophomore effort…builds suspense and delivers startling revelations.”—Publishers Weekly

Pet sitter Dixie Hemingway is on the prowl again in the newest installment of Blaize Clement's classic and beloved series of cozy mysteries, now written by her son, John Clement, using Blaize's notes and ideas for future adventures. Set in the sleepy beach-side town of Siesta Key, Florida, THE CAT SITTER'S WHISKERS catches up with Dixie as she heads off for work one morning in the dimly lit hours before sunrise. Her very first client of the morning is Barney Feldman, a Maine coon cat with a reputation for mischief who's guarding his vacationing owner's valuable collection of decidedly creepy antique masks. But someone's hiding in the house when she arrives, and they sneak up and knock her out cold. When the cops arrive at the house, there's just one problem: no one has broken in and nothing is missing.Searching for answers, Dixie soon finds herself hopelessly trapped in a murky world of black market antiques, dark-hearted secrets, and murderous revenge... a...